Abraham was called to sacrifice his then only son to prove that he loved God more.
I'm afraid I find this very disturbing.
If person A--say, someone I loved very much--demanded I do something to hurt (not even kill, just hurt) person B, to prove I loved person A better, I would be disgusted with person A. (Just in case anyone's planning to ask me to throw rocks at my brother to prove I love you more--don't do it; I will think worse of you.)
I would think anyone would be disgusted with person A. And they seem to, mostly. Except when person A becomes a God.
I guess the sticking point is I don't see why that should make any difference. I understand that Gods are magic--it's just that, for me, magic gets no grip on right and wrong, and asking anyone to hurt one entity to prove their love for another is wrong.
Likewise, if person A came to me and said "see, I just hurt person B on purpose to prove how much I love *you*" I would be equally revolted. I am happy to love and be loved, but hurting (or in this case killing) other people or entities does not strike me as a rational or productive way of showing it.
I would think other people would feel the same way about this--and they seem to, mostly, except when person A becomes a God.
no subject
I'm afraid I find this very disturbing.
If person A--say, someone I loved very much--demanded I do something to hurt (not even kill, just hurt) person B, to prove I loved person A better, I would be disgusted with person A. (Just in case anyone's planning to ask me to throw rocks at my brother to prove I love you more--don't do it; I will think worse of you.)
I would think anyone would be disgusted with person A. And they seem to, mostly. Except when person A becomes a God.
I guess the sticking point is I don't see why that should make any difference. I understand that Gods are magic--it's just that, for me, magic gets no grip on right and wrong, and asking anyone to hurt one entity to prove their love for another is wrong.
Likewise, if person A came to me and said "see, I just hurt person B on purpose to prove how much I love *you*" I would be equally revolted. I am happy to love and be loved, but hurting (or in this case killing) other people or entities does not strike me as a rational or productive way of showing it.
I would think other people would feel the same way about this--and they seem to, mostly, except when person A becomes a God.
It's that exception that baffles me.