Ethical dilemma

[ScottBot]

Stop begging the question.

How is it that they own these natural resources?

Ambition, greed, theft, blessings from God. I haven't interviewed them all to know the specifics.

 

[ScottBot]

So our misusing it would appear to be somewhat presumptious.

Misusing what? Stop speaking in riddles.

 

[SonOfSophroniscus]

Not the kind of answer I sought - What right is it that they possess in order to be able to claim ownership of these things?

Ambition, greed, theft, blessings from God. I haven't interviewed them all to know the specifics.

 

[SonOfSophroniscus]

Did God create man equal, or not?

Misusing what? Stop speaking in riddles.

 

[Quijote]

Hiya, I was thinking of something the other day and it's bugging me.

Say that you were strolling by the beach one day, and saw a person drowning. You 're an apt swimmer, and could easily rescue them. If you walk on by without rescuing them, are you committing a sin?

I would say yes.

 

[Quijote]

Ok, what if driving down some lonely street you encountered a man bleeding to death, and drove on by instead of lugging him into your car and driving him to the hospital. Would this also be a sin?

I would say yes. (I"m assuming that the person in the car has chosen to let the other one suffer and die and not drive by w/out seeing him )

 

[Quijote]

If that's a yes, then it seems that we Christians have a problem. You see, there are many starving nations in the world, which we have the resources and capabilities to help. This case is no different from the others - So our witnessing countries starving without rescuing [not merely helping] is actively committing sin. What do people think of this?

Many Christians give money to charities who help those countries, so I would say that those Christians are not sitting around doing nothing but helping.

Also, many of the Third World countries are rich in resources but yet have a large poor population. Why is that? One common cause is a corrupt government.

In other situations, aid is given to the countries by the international community only to have the local government use the aid for its own good (ie, build palaces for themselves and increase the power of their military).

 

[catlover]

Ok, what if driving down some lonely street you encountered a man bleeding to death, and drove on by instead of lugging him into your car and driving him to the hospital. Would this also be a sin?

Yes.

 

[Nadiine]

Hiya, I was thinking of something the other day and it's bugging me.

Say that you were strolling by the beach one day, and saw a person drowning. You 're an apt swimmer, and could easily rescue them. If you walk on by without rescuing them, are you committing a sin?

The answer's real simple:

James 4:17
Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it,
to him it is sin.​

 

[Nadiine]

Ok, what if driving down some lonely street you encountered a man bleeding to death, and drove on by instead of lugging him into your car and driving him to the hospital. Would this also be a sin?

Listing 30,000 different scenarios of situations of people in distress that need rescue doesn't change the answer any.

It's based on the PRINCIPLE of loving our fellow man. The law of God is to "love your neighbor as yourself". If you were drowning, falling, dying, crashing, spinning, sinking...... whatever scenario you want to put one in, you would desperately want someone to do something and not stand there looking at you suffer.
If you stand by watching it when you know full well there IS something you can do or you're equipt/able to do, then yes, it's a sin.

If you cannot literally help (hands on), then you're obligated to GET help by making a fone call or running to find someone on the scene. It is an obligation of love & compassion.
Obviously, if there's a bomb hooked onto somebody tied to a chair, it's out of your hands to help them becuz you have no means to help them first hand, they need someone qualified to save their life.

 

[NHB_MMA]

Hiya, I was thinking of something the other day and it's bugging me.

Say that you were strolling by the beach one day, and saw a person drowning. You 're an apt swimmer, and could easily rescue them. If you walk on by without rescuing them, are you committing a sin?

Yes, that is a sin.

Ok, what if driving down some lonely street you encountered a man bleeding to death, and drove on by instead of lugging him into your car and driving him to the hospital. Would this also be a sin?

In this day and age, I would not condemn anyone that kept driving, because you never know if the guy is actually bleeding to death or if it's a scam and some other guy is waiting around the corner to hit you over the head with a brick.

If that's a yes, then it seems that we Christians have a problem. You see, there are many starving nations in the world, which we have the resources and capabilities to help. This case is no different from the others - So our witnessing countries starving without rescuing [not merely helping] is actively committing sin. What do people think of this?

I don't think much of that argument. Many of those starving in the world are starving because they're ran by tyrants and dictators and many times the aide that is provided is taken by corrupt warloads and militias, such as happened in Somolia. I don't favor spending one nickel on prolonging such a problem. The only answer is coercion via sanctions, or overthrowing such governments either by internal or external forces.

 

[NHB_MMA]

Not the kind of answer I sought - What right is it that they possess in order to be able to claim ownership of these things?

Domestic laws and trade agreements, I reckon.

 

[NHB_MMA]

Did God create man equal, or not?

Equal in value, as in a precious human life. Equal in circumstance or abilities? Heck no!

 

[Nadiine]

In this day and age, I would not condemn anyone that kept driving, because you never know if the guy is actually bleeding to death or if it's a scam and some other guy is waiting around the corner to hit you over the head with a brick.

Yes, especially women. But as I mentioned in my post, there are some things we aren't capable of handling.
You may not have to drag them into your car (becuz you could harm them if they have some condition & you're setting yourself up for a possible lawsuit), but you can't leave them to die without contacting help after driving away imo.

 

[BAFRIEND]

Hiya, I was thinking of something the other day and it's bugging me.

Say that you were strolling by the beach one day, and saw a person drowning. You 're an apt swimmer, and could easily rescue them. If you walk on by without rescuing them, are you committing a sin?

If the person who drowns has children, ask their kids what they feel about your actions.

 

[Piedpiper123]

Several years ago I did jump in the sea to swim out and save a drowning girl. I'm no hero though. On seeing her and the seconds before I jumped in my thoughts were, "I could drown!" and "What will people think of me if I don't jump in and save her?" SO, perhaps I saved her out of a selfish motive (my reputation) and therefore sinned. Of course it would have been a greater sin to let her drown.

 

[Piedpiper123]

I have worked in disaster areas, principly war zones. Money in the hands of good trustworthy NGOs saves lives without a doubt and I have seen it first hand. However, the people who help the most are those back at home who are campaigning politionas and governments to get involved. Journalists, photographers and TV crews are crucially important as they raise awareness back at home. I was in Bosnia when the market place in Sarajevo was bombed. The press showed the horrors of it and people back home in the US and UK and other countries demanded action LOUDLY. This led to NATO going in and the war quickly came to a screaming halt. Several years later I saw the same thing in Kosovo. Photographers and journalists stired an outrage, action was demanded by people back home, Nato (US and UK mainly) go in, end of war!

Direct military action is not always the answer of course. But a campagining to spur your government on to get involved and paying your taxes will often help a lot more than just giving a few Dollars to an aid agency (which you can do as well).

 

[ScottBot]

What if you are walking down the street and someone begins to blaspheme? What if you go to a hotel lobby and see an anatomically correct chocolate statue of our crucified Lord (sans loincloth)? Would remaining silent be a sin?

 

[Piedpiper123]

What if you go to a hotel lobby and see an anatomically correct chocolate statue of our crucified Lord (sans loincloth)

It would be sinful not to eat the statue!

 

[Nadiine]

What if you are walking down the street and someone begins to blaspheme? What if you go to a hotel lobby and see an anatomically correct chocolate statue of our crucified Lord (sans loincloth)? Would remaining silent be a sin?

AMEN!