Oh for sure. But just looking at it at face value, it brings up some weird questions about the metaphysics involved.
Considering the omnipotence factor, he could’ve just let them know not to sacrifice people some other way, too.
Of course it’s just a myth meant to instruct people in virtues (piety, obedience, not sacrificing people) but there are a great many folks who view the bible as literally true and for whom this line of argumentation would pose some issues.
Christianity literally said “love thy neighbor, do unto others, love thy enemy”, and still its followers have fought wars and murdered people. I seem to remember that the Quran says “if you kill one person you kill the whole world”. That passage apparently is not as prioritized as others. I could go on.
God / The ancient israelites knew that telling people doesn’t quite do it. Ref the 10 commandments. People only seem to learn from lived experience, and in some cases, the lived experience of people they respect. Hence the story is Isaac is actually a lot smarter than we give it credit for.
I think god just telling Abraham would be like telling people not to vote for Trump. You know you’re right, they know you’re right, but they do it anyway.
I think he tries this with Moses later and then people don’t do what they’re told.
The value is shows me is that you should do whatever god tells you, even human sacrifice - not to not do human sacrifice. I think you may be looking at it too optimistically lol
I mean, in a world with a god like that, the only rational course of action would be to do what they say. The concept of truly infinite suffering makes that the only rational choice.
That’s why piety is a virtue for Christians, first and foremost. Being a “good person” by their metrics is a byproduct of obeying god since god determines what is good.
Oh for sure. But just looking at it at face value, it brings up some weird questions about the metaphysics involved.
Considering the omnipotence factor, he could’ve just let them know not to sacrifice people some other way, too.
Of course it’s just a myth meant to instruct people in virtues (piety, obedience, not sacrificing people) but there are a great many folks who view the bible as literally true and for whom this line of argumentation would pose some issues.
Christianity literally said “love thy neighbor, do unto others, love thy enemy”, and still its followers have fought wars and murdered people. I seem to remember that the Quran says “if you kill one person you kill the whole world”. That passage apparently is not as prioritized as others. I could go on.
God / The ancient israelites knew that telling people doesn’t quite do it. Ref the 10 commandments. People only seem to learn from lived experience, and in some cases, the lived experience of people they respect. Hence the story is Isaac is actually a lot smarter than we give it credit for.
That’s my take at least
I think god just telling Abraham would be like telling people not to vote for Trump. You know you’re right, they know you’re right, but they do it anyway.
I think he tries this with Moses later and then people don’t do what they’re told.
The value is shows me is that you should do whatever god tells you, even human sacrifice - not to not do human sacrifice. I think you may be looking at it too optimistically lol
I mean, in a world with a god like that, the only rational course of action would be to do what they say. The concept of truly infinite suffering makes that the only rational choice.
That’s why piety is a virtue for Christians, first and foremost. Being a “good person” by their metrics is a byproduct of obeying god since god determines what is good.