Yet another philosophical question 2

[DJPavel]

You're getting old and you find out you have cancer. Do you seek help from medical professionals or do you decide to let it go, as you reason that God wishes you the end at this point?

No matter what kind of life humans live (good or bad), they all eventually die. But we don't just die, we die from something: the body eventually gets weak and becomes vulnerable to infections and other deceases. So, these deceases can't be all work of the Devil: he can't be THAT efficient (100% !!) But even if it is, would you say that if somehow the Devil could be stopped from messing with at least one human, would that human live forever then? Doesn't make much sense either, does it? But if you seek help, then why do you go against God's wish? Are you punished? What about Saints who nevertheless died? All humans get punished? Again, something is not right here. Any thoughts?

DJP

 

[Yekcidmij]

You're getting old and you find out you have cancer. Do you seek help from medical professionals or do you decide to let it go, as you reason that God wishes you the end at this point?

I would think God wished for you to help the person and that probably means getting them medical help. Just letting someone die becuase you assume you know what God wills in this case is assuming too much.

So, these deceases can't be all work of the Devil:

Of course not. God was the one who issued death for all humans.

But if you seek help, then why do you go against God's wish?

You seek help because you don't know God's will in this case, and you choose to follow the example of Christ and help them.

All humans get punished?

All of us die eventually, if that's what you mean.

 

[Solidlyhere]

DJ asks: "You're getting old and you find out you have cancer. Do you seek help from medical professionals, or do you decide to let it go, as you reason that God wishes you the end at this point?"

This question is NOT one question.

Most Cancers have a (relatively) low rate of full recovery.
So, the question could be: "If you ONLY had a 50% of long-term survival, would you 'gamble' on going through several weeks of extreme discomfort, followed by being bald, and (probably looking awful) for several more months?"

Then there are the Millions of people faced with a 20% chance of recovery.
Out of each 5 people who go through the expense, and torture of the treatment, 4 of those people will quickly die too.

That being said, there are more than one reason to refuse treatment.
Of all the Cancer patients who refuse treatment, a few of them will be healed -- called Spontaneous Remission.
These people (later) find out that God gave them their Cancer as a test of their Faith: God can heal me, if He wants to.

AND, there are MANY people who have ignored the "regular" medical care, and who have tried alternative medicine. A percentage of those people also go into Spontaneous Remission.

So, I think the question is unclear.
Maybe it should be: You have a Cancer that is 98% treatable. If you go through the Chemo, you will be vomitting violently on-and-off for several weeks, and as weak as a kitten for weeks or months. Then, you can get on with your Life.

Personally, I don't have too much confidence in Medicine.
If God "gave" me Cancer, I would use that as a signal to deepen my relationship with God ... AND other Loved Ones in my Life.
Then, I would refuse to undergo the months of Torture.
I will accept my mortality : Then, or MUCH, much later.

 

[DJPavel]

I would think God wished for you to help the person and that probably means getting them medical help. Just letting someone die becuase you assume you know what God wills in this case is assuming too much.

Well, my question is really about you getting sick and seeking help, not somebody else. Whoever gets sick might need your help, but those are completely different scenarios.

DJP

 

[DJPavel]

...Most Cancers have a (relatively) low rate of full recovery.
So, the question could be: "If you ONLY had a 50% of long-term survival, would you 'gamble' on going through several weeks of extreme discomfort, followed by being bald, and (probably looking awful) for several more months?"

Then there are the Millions of people faced with a 20% chance of recovery.
Out of each 5 people who go through the expense, and torture of the treatment, 4 of those people will quickly die too....

My hope was that it would be clear that "cancer" is used simply as a metaphor for a "decease causing death". This is not about asking you how you would calculate the danger of side effects from chemotherapy vs chances of survival from a specific form of cancer. This is about you believing in God. So, let me rephrase it to make it more general:

You find out you got a type of infection that causes death in 99.9% of the people, IF LEFT UNTREATED. If you get medical help though, the infection is easily defeated with no side effects (100% success rate). Do you:

a) Seek medical help because you trust statistics and scientific medicine?
b) Seek medical help because you think the Devil did it and God is helpless to cure you?
b) Let it go untreated reasoning that God wants you dead and thefore that's what needs to happen?
c) Let it go untreated reasoning that even though it was the work of the Devil, God will cure you making you that 0.01% of the people who actually recover?

Is this better?

DJP

 

[Tynan]

Again, something is not right here. Any thoughts?

DJP

"something is not right here' I wonder why !?

Religion is all a load of nonsense.

You live, you die.

Be happy and nice to people in between.


And don't forget to have fun.

 

[Solidlyhere]

The OP re-works his situation: "You find out you got a type of infection that causes death in 99.9% of the people, IF LEFT UNTREATED. If you get medical help though, the infection is easily defeated with no side effects (100% success rate)."

The new way he phrases it, it sounds like he's a Christian Scientist.
Maybe the question should be: Do you EVER go to the Doctor?
And, if you DO, will you ever allow your Doctor to prescribe an antibiotic, so you won't die from infection?

Or, I would say it a different way.
I fall off my bicycle.
I cut a gash into my leg.
If I allow a Doctor to stitch me up, I will live.
If I refuse to go to a Doctor I will bleed to death.

If a person wishes to NEVER allow a Doctor to help him, that's fine.
I think the OP's question is silly, and only applies to Christian Scientists.

 

[Emmy]

Dear DJPavel. You are right, we all die sooner or later, and God gave us 3score years or 4 score. Nowadays Medicine is quite advanced, and we live quite healthy lives, until we get we old. You asked if I was old and had cancer, would I?? God does not ask us to fight illness without a doctor, and some doctors a Christians too. For myself, if a had a serious illness, which would need an operation, or other major treatment, I would not choose to go through great pain to exist a bit longer. But in the end it is the person`s own choice, and very often children also want their parents to live a bit longer. The answer to your question whether I would prolong pain, when I am already 4 score years, I think I would say NO. But having said that, DJPavel, I do believe that I would ask the Lord to keep leading me His way. I say this humbly and with love, and send greetings. Emmy, sister in Christ.