Is having low intelligence a sin?

[quatona]

Well, is it?
And how exactly does low intelligence figure into the "freewill" thing?

 

[cantata]

*grin*

Another reason why relying on notions of "free will" when deciding about people's eternal destiny is an unreasonable move on God's part

 

[LittleNipper]

All problems of this world are the end result of the FALL and the introduction of sin into GOD's creation. However, just as with the blind man, who sinned the blind man or his parents, in that case it was neither, but so GOD might be glorified through him.

 

[lawtonfogle]

All problems of this world are the end result of the FALL and the introduction of sin into GOD's creation. However, just as with the blind man, who sinned the blind man or his parents, in that case it was neither, but so GOD might be glorified through him.

And a God who could do anything wasn't able to bring glory to Himself without having to blind a man for many years (and the blind back then were probably much worse off than current day).

 

[LittleNipper]

And a God who could do anything wasn't able to bring glory to Himself without having to blind a man for many years (and the blind back then were probably much worse off than current day).

The introduction of sin ultimately blinds everyone. It is GOD that enlightens the blind.

 

[Bombila]

The introduction of sin ultimately blinds everyone. It is GOD that enlightens the blind.

Has it ever once occurred to you that you may be the unenlightened blind man of whom you speak?

Self deceit is a common human failing, against which we all must guard.

 

[LittleNipper]

Has it ever once occurred to you that you may be the unenlightened blind man of whom you speak?

Self deceit is a common human failing, against which we all must guard.

Possibly, but I'm not the one taking pot-shots at GOD. I look to GOD for enlightenment and not my own merit.

 

[feral]

Is having low intelligence a sin?

Well, is it?
And how exactly does low intelligence figure into the "freewill" thing?

A sin, in my understanding of the term, refers to a conscious decision to engage in prohibited behaviour. People aren't given the chance to decide for themselves whether they will be born particularly clever or not, so how could it be a sin? I'd say willful ignorance is bordering on a sin, because in my definition (admittedly not a Christian one), a sin means destructive behaviour, and being purposefully ignorant of a subject creates big problems for the individual and society -- but that's different than failing to be born with Einsteinian intelligence.

The second question is a good point, though. If someone is not smart enough to make a good decision, can they really be blamed for the consequences?

 

[TeddyKGB]

Possibly, but I'm not the one taking pot-shots at GOD. I look to GOD for enlightenment and not my own merit.

I don't know. You have to acknowledge that at the base of all this magical thinking is the premise that you rely on your own judgment. And you, more than most, seem to be utterly certain that the stuff residing in your head - where no one else can get to it - accurately represents God's characteristics and messages.

How do you classify that as something other than your own merit?

 

[Philothei]

A sin, in my understanding of the term, refers to a conscious decision to engage in prohibited behaviour. People aren't given the chance to decide for themselves whether they will be born particularly clever or not, so how could it be a sin? I'd say willful ignorance is bordering on a sin, because in my definition (admittedly not a Christian one), a sin means destructive behaviour, and being purposefully ignorant of a subject creates big problems for the individual and society -- but that's different than failing to be born with Einsteinian intelligence.

The second question is a good point, though. If someone is not smart enough to make a good decision, can they really be blamed for the consequences?

No, God does "makes up" for our weak will in that case an impaired will... I hate it when I hear of this kind of talk . i.e. ministers not to give communion and such to people with impaired will due to illness...grrrr... If God is loving to us who consciously sin and we ask for forgiveness and are given forgiveness why whould He not give it to them???

No sense here....

Being of less intelligence has little to do with our understanding about God... either. As Christ says let the young children come to me for to them belongs the kingdom of heaven... It is in the heart that God wants us to be with Him not ONLY in our mind.... That would point that even "undeveloped" wills are okay... Christ does not call ONLY the ones who are healthy but all of us


Another point I want to make is the involuntary vesus voluntary sins. And again God forgive us both... as we are not with it all the time and sometimes we do have to ask for forgivness of both.

 

[jcook922]

Possibly, but I'm not the one taking pot-shots at GOD. I look to GOD for enlightenment and not my own merit.

That would make you blind then, for not looking at the effects of your own judgement to determine your own self-worth.

 

[feral]

No, God does "makes up" for our weak will in that case an impaired will... I hate it when I hear of this kind of talk . i.e. ministers not to give communion and such to people with impaired will due to illness...grrrr... If God is loving to us who consciously sin and we ask for forgiveness and are given forgiveness why whould He not give it to them???

Can you elaborate a bit upon how you think God makes up for weak will? Isn't the very act of compensating for someone else's weak will a violation of free will?

I agree with you that discrimination is problematic.

 

[EbonNelumbo]

If it is, my inlaws are doomed

Seriously though, people are built differently. I am 'intelligent' when it comes to English, literature, and the like, or science, but when it comes to math??? Not so much. There's no relative intelligence thing because there are different things that can be measured more than just 'intelligence.'

 

[Philothei]

Can you elaborate a bit upon how you think God makes up for weak will? Isn't the very act of compensating for someone else's weak will a violation of free will?

I agree with you that discrimination is problematic.

Hmmm...Yes it is problematic... isn't it? I remember over my New Testament class in grad school stubmling over the healing of the paralytic man. My prof question was the same ...was it he who wanted to be healed or was it the people who carried him through the roof that wanted him to be healed? That what stuck on my mind all these years about the "free will" issue. Like you I was wondering... We know that Christ conversed with the paralytic and on a conscious level asked him if he "desired to be healed"...
I think that looking from that perspective we do need the person to consent to follow christ i.e. in that case partaking communion to its best ability. If though the person with the impaired will does not consent to that the only thing we can do it pray that he will get to know Christ in his best ability. Just because a person has an impaired will due to illness or low intelligence that does not mean that God would "take over".... or that the person cannot 'know' God as knowing God is also a spiritual experience.

Just as example I know two people who in my church who were born with disabilities (Cerebral paulsy) and both of them (males) serve in the altar.

Actually these people exibit such devotion and innocense that they are shinning examples to me and others that God transcends disabilities in people's lives......and transforms them into shiny examples for His Glory.

In cases where there is severe mental illness i think that God does compersate and through his abudant grace and mercy does saves...that individual. If there is a conscious level that the person can make an ethical decision then God does allows for that... What I am trying to say here is that God does not 'save" at will rather he saves where the will is not there...due to illness and impaired will. That would make sense since it would be totally unfair and unloving of God to do otherwise and we know God to be love... and act on the principle of love... at least to my understanding.

Hope that helps.

 

[allhart]

So, Who are the one's to determine self worth? First thing that comes to my mind is elementary school and how cruel kids can be. The only thing that has happened or changed since that time is that all of us are just bigger and some are more meaner.

 

[CGL]

its the cardinal sin in satanism.