In the wake of yet more religiously-motivated murders, I don't expect this week's thought experiment to reach and change the minds of any potential perpetrators, but I know that anyone reading this blog must interact with people of faith and perhaps they can use this story to sow seeds of reasonable doubt where there is currently unwarranted certainty.
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And the Lord spake unto the philosopher, "I am the Lord they God, and I command thee to sacrifice thy only son."
The philosopher replied, "There's something not right here. Your commandments say, "Thou shalt not kill."
"The Lord giveth the rules and the Lord taketh away," replied God.
"But how do I know you are God?" insisted the philosopher. "Perhaps you are the devil trying to fool me?"
"You must have faith," replied God.
"Faith — or insanity? Perhaps my mind is playing tricks? Or maybe you're testing me in a cunning way. You want to see if I have so little moral fibre that at the command of a deep voice booming through the clouds, I commit infanticide."
"Me almighty!" exclaimed the Lord. "What you're saying is that it is reasonable for you, a mere mortal, to refuse to do what I, the Lord thy God, commands."
"I guess so," said the philosopher, "and you've given me no good reasons to change my mind."
Source: Fear and Trembling by Søren Kierkegaard, 1843.
Baggini, J., The Pig That Wants to Be Eaten, 2005, p. 172.
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What do you think? Can people of faith be taught to doubt like this philosopher speaking to "God"?
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And the Lord spake unto the philosopher, "I am the Lord they God, and I command thee to sacrifice thy only son."
The philosopher replied, "There's something not right here. Your commandments say, "Thou shalt not kill."
"The Lord giveth the rules and the Lord taketh away," replied God.
"But how do I know you are God?" insisted the philosopher. "Perhaps you are the devil trying to fool me?"
"You must have faith," replied God.
"Faith — or insanity? Perhaps my mind is playing tricks? Or maybe you're testing me in a cunning way. You want to see if I have so little moral fibre that at the command of a deep voice booming through the clouds, I commit infanticide."
"Me almighty!" exclaimed the Lord. "What you're saying is that it is reasonable for you, a mere mortal, to refuse to do what I, the Lord thy God, commands."
"I guess so," said the philosopher, "and you've given me no good reasons to change my mind."
Source: Fear and Trembling by Søren Kierkegaard, 1843.
Baggini, J., The Pig That Wants to Be Eaten, 2005, p. 172.
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What do you think? Can people of faith be taught to doubt like this philosopher speaking to "God"?
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