Is this is a sin...?

[outhwaar]

The point of a hypothetical question is that you accept the premises of the question. Supposing you had to make this choice, would you kill the other family so that your family could survive, or would you just let everyone starve? To come up with ways to avoid making that choice is to change the problem, and to not answer the question.

 

[UberLutheran]

The point of a hypothetical question is that you accept the premises of the question. Supposing you had to make this choice, would you kill the other family so that your family could survive, or would you just let everyone starve? To come up with ways to avoid making that choice is to change the problem, and to not answer the question.

Sometimes the solution to a a problem involves "thinking outside the box."

A few pieces of fruit won't last anybody very long.

A few pieces of fruit, some fish, some fresh water and a heat supply will do wonders to solve a problem -- way beyond "do I kill your family or do you kill my family"? which I don't think is a viable solution to the problem, especially when there is a chance that both families might be saved.

At least, assuming we've made SOME moral progress in the last nine or ten thousand years as a species.

 

[HopeBforJC]

Sometimes the solution to a a problem involves "thinking outside the box."

A few pieces of fruit won't last anybody very long.

A few pieces of fruit, some fish, some fresh water and a heat supply will do wonders to solve a problem -- way beyond "do I kill your family or do you kill my family"? which I don't think is a viable solution to the problem, especially when there is a chance that both families might be saved.

At least, assuming we've made SOME moral progress in the last nine or ten thousand years as a species.

If your on an island, I usually think..ok..ocean. You can't drink water from an ocean. You could do some nifty little tricks to get some water from when it rains, but that wouldn't be nearly enough (that you could get into something to drink) for two families.

I liked the reply..."pray, wait for someone to starve, eat them" Works for me. Sept I think that would probably wind up being a kid...

 

[rita727]

Thank you!

Why? I mean, I know killing is a sin. But..shouldn't a person have the right to survive?

Not trying to start a debate or anything, im seriously curious.

Killing is still a sin, no matter the circumstances.

Because of the situation around it, it becomes more understandable in our eyes. But not in God's.

When God made the 10 commandments, He didn't add fine print with it, or what-if-and-maybe loopholes. It's still a sin.

[/churchy]

 

[UberLutheran]

If your on an island, I usually think..ok..ocean. You can't drink water from an ocean. You could do some nifty little tricks to get some water from when it rains, but that wouldn't be nearly enough (that you could get into something to drink) for two families.

I liked the reply..."pray, wait for someone to starve, eat them" Works for me. Sept I think that would probably wind up being a kid...

Which is also why I stated, earlier, "Take some wood and make a fire, and then use parts of leaves to make a distillery to convert some of the salt water to fresh water."

Granted, distilling is not a very efficient way of turning salt water in to fresh water; but we're on a desert island and we don't have desalinization filters to convert the salt water to fresh like they do in Key West, FL.

 

[HopeBforJC]

Killing is still a sin, no matter the circumstances.

Because of the situation around it, it becomes more understandable in our eyes. But not in God's.

When God made the 10 commandments, He didn't add fine print with it, or what-if-and-maybe loopholes. It's still a sin.

[/churchy]

You really think God would want them to just sit there and starve? Not sure I'd be willing to do that.

Ever had your head dunked under water? And you started to freak? I have. It scares the crap out of you. Why? A sense of uncontrol, a sense of "crap, I could die". Sure, you know that the person dunking you wont "kill" you, because they're probably a friend. But human nature just makes us react in such a way to where we can't help but flip.

(or wait...is this just me???)

I think the same thing would go for any situation where you thought you could die. I heard so many say they'd sacrifice themselves. I don't believe that. And if they really did, I would definitely be shocked at their great courage (or whatever wonderful word would fit there best) for being willing to sacrifice themselves for the lives of another.

I personally think after the realization of "oh crap, if i dont eat soon, I'm going to die" would mentally screw me up enough to where I'd do anything to survive.

 

[lmnop9876]

if such a situation were to occur in real life & not merely hypothetically (i.e. it's impossible to catch any fish, crabs, &c. & the island only has a single plant of any description, this tree), we would have to think commonsense and know that we're all going to die soon if we're not rescued, this tree won't produce food every day and the amount it produces even while it is making fruit is limited.

so i would say share it even if it means all of us starving to death. then no-one is responsible for anyone's death, we have merely hastened the inevitable.

and PRAY, God is love and does good to all, so however it turns out, we will know that it is in God's best interests for all of us.

 

[lmnop9876]

You really think God would want them to just sit there and starve? Not sure I'd be willing to do that.

Ever had your head dunked under water? And you started to freak? I have. It scares the crap out of you. Why? A sense of uncontrol, a sense of "crap, I could die". Sure, you know that the person dunking you wont "kill" you, because they're probably a friend. But human nature just makes us react in such a way to where we can't help but flip.

(or wait...is this just me???)

I think the same thing would go for any situation where you thought you could die. I heard so many say they'd sacrifice themselves. I don't believe that. And if they really did, I would definitely be shocked at their great courage (or whatever wonderful word would fit there best) for being willing to sacrifice themselves for the lives of another.

I personally think after the realization of "oh crap, if i dont eat soon, I'm going to die" would mentally screw me up enough to where I'd do anything to survive.

there are certain people who i would gladly sacrifice myself for (at least hypothetically, and given that this is a hypothetical situation...) and this includes not only my own family, friends, and people i love, but all children and vulnerable people. some people i wouldn't sacrifice myself for, and they are those who are not willing to sacrifice themselves for those they love & the vulnerable members of our society.

 

[catlover]

Just a quick question:

If two families are on an island, that has 1 fruit tree (The only sourse of food), that can only support one family (if they try to share it between 2, people WILL starve), is it a sin to try to kill members of the other family so your can survive?

Say your the head of one family, what should you do (With respect to what God would want you to do)?

*stole the question from yasic, a non christian...but the question still comes from me*

I would go fishing, clamming, and prepare seaweed and rock soup.

 

[mooduck1]

Thank you!

Why? I mean, I know killing is a sin. But..shouldn't a person have the right to survive?

Not trying to start a debate or anything, im seriously curious.

Are we considering that the 2 opposing families are like seperate countries? if that is the context - ultimately, that on a desert island isolated from any oither sources of food, 2 families would be COULD be considered separate countries. If so, there my be Biblical context for letting the 2 sides fight it out and letting the strong side survive (or which ever God favors wins). That being said, I would probably choose to do without myself so that others can survive ( assuming that the males in the other camp would agree to the same and my family wouldn't be killed off after I was gone.) if I suspected that the other side could not be trusted to fast (even to death) as I would, then i would apply the principle that it is a justifyable war.

 

[mooduck1]

Killing is still a sin, no matter the circumstances.

Because of the situation around it, it becomes more understandable in our eyes. But not in God's.

When God made the 10 commandments, He didn't add fine print with it, or what-if-and-maybe loopholes. It's still a sin.

[/churchy]

Actually, in a biblical context there is a difference between war or murder...REAL question is - is killing off the toher family an act of war (and therefore justifiable) or an act of murder.

 

[HopeBforJC]

Are we considering that the 2 opposing families are like seperate countries? if that is the context - ultimately, that on a desert island isolated from any oither sources of food, 2 families would be COULD be considered separate countries. If so, there my be Biblical context for letting the 2 sides fight it out and letting the strong side survive (or which ever God favors wins). That being said, I would probably choose to do without myself so that others can survive ( assuming that the males in the other camp would agree to the same and my family wouldn't be killed off after I was gone.) if I suspected that the other side could not be trusted to fast (even to death) as I would, then i would apply the principle that it is a justifyable war.

I see what you're saying.

I don't think the families would have any connection to each other, no. Different countries? Uhh...I dont know. But I'm thinking along the terms of they don't know each other, but get stuck on the island together.

 

[childofGod31]

I think killing someone is wrong, no matter what the reason. I think killing in self defense is wrong too, unless it's an accident.

 

[biblestudy123]

Just a quick question:

If two families are on an island, that has 1 fruit tree (The only sourse of food), that can only support one family (if they try to share it between 2, people WILL starve), is it a sin to try to kill members of the other family so your can survive?

Say your the head of one family, what should you do (With respect to what God would want you to do)?

*stole the question from yasic, a non christian...but the question still comes from me*

What about the children of that family? Why don't you just eat the children! LOL

 

[LightDancer]

Just a quick question:

If two families are on an island, that has 1 fruit tree (The only sourse of food), that can only support one family (if they try to share it between 2, people WILL starve), is it a sin to try to kill members of the other family so your can survive?

Say your the head of one family, what should you do (With respect to what God would want you to do)?

*stole the question from yasic, a non christian...but the question still comes from me*

I highly doubt there would be only one source of food as in one fruit tree on an island.

But it there were, the right thing to do is share until help comes.

If help in the way of rescue does not come, then it does not come.

And in a disasterous situation, I would never result to cannibalism in any way not even to save my own life.

 

[Nadiine]

I think it's easy to give answers when we aren't the ones literally starving lol.

Honestly, until I'm IN a crisis situation, I dont know what I'd do or not do... alot depends on other circumstances too.
What if these other people we're supposed to feed (so we starve to death ourselves) are rude & obnoxious & treat us like garbage or do nasty stuff...
There's so many variables to any given situation.

It's easy to sit behind our picket fences & say what we'd do becuz "God tells us to", but until I'm in the situation, I'm going to say, I'd HOPE I did the right thing.

 

[LightDancer]

I've been in a disaster Nadiine. So I answered truthfully. We shared until help arrived. The younger ones abstained from water in order to give it to the elderly and the children.

I know I would share because I've been in that situation.

 

[mooduck1]

I see what you're saying.

I don't think the families would have any connection to each other, no. Different countries? Uhh...I dont know. But I'm thinking along the terms of they don't know each other, but get stuck on the island together.

Bottom line-
It would be my Job, and duty as the one with at least 20% more muscle mass and 20% more weight (Being a male) to defend My family first. I think it's simplistic and 'passing the buck' for those who say ' i would just pray that God would save me. I'd do the same, but I would not shirk my responsability as head of my house hold and sit down and pray while my family starves or is slaughtered. For those who say that ANY killing is sin - Tell that to the Ancient isrealites. The simple fact is that we need to alwasy remember the CONTEXT which is what will determine whether this is an act of war or an act of Mururder. As I've said, if i can find a diplomnatic way to solve it where by all the males starve themselves to death or we draw lots or somthing - fine. But if I don't know the other side, or they are not willing to be diplomatic, I'd get old testiment on thier butts and protect my family.

 

[Nadiine]

I've been in a disaster Nadiine. So I answered truthfully. We shared until help arrived. The younger ones abstained from water in order to give it to the elderly and the children.

I know I would share because I've been in that situation.

I wasn't doubting you light dancer, I would have quoted your post if I was talking to you or about your post directly
No harm meant.

 

[HopeBforJC]

I think it's easy to give answers when we aren't the ones literally starving lol.

Honestly, until I'm IN a crisis situation, I dont know what I'd do or not do... alot depends on other circumstances too.
What if these other people we're supposed to feed (so we starve to death ourselves) are rude & obnoxious & treat us like garbage or do nasty stuff...
There's so many variables to any given situation.

It's easy to sit behind our picket fences & say what we'd do becuz "God tells us to", but until I'm in the situation, I'm going to say, I'd HOPE I did the right thing.

Great answer