The Moral Instinct:

http://www.usmessageboard.com/scien...n-humans-and-non-human-speci.html#post1289110

 

You are driving down the road in your car on a wild, stormy night,
when you pass by a bus stop and you see three people waiting for the
bus:


1.. An old lady who looks as if she is about to die.


2.. An old friend who once saved your life.


3.. The perfect partner you have been dreaming about.


Which one would you choose to offer a ride to, knowing that there
could only be one passenger in your car? Think before you continue
reading.


This is a moral/ethical dilemma that was once actually used as part
of a job application. You could pick up the old lady, because she is
going to die, and thus you should save her first. Or you could take
the old friend because he once saved your life, and this would be
the perfect chance to pay him back. However, you may never be able
to find your perfect mate again.






YOU WON'T BELIEVE THIS....................




The candidate who was hired (out of 200 applicants) had no trouble
coming up with his answer. He simply answered: 'I would give the car
keys to my old friend and let him take the lady to the hospital. I
would stay behind and wait for the bus with the partner of my dreams.'


Sometimes, we gain more if we are able to give up our stubborn
thought limitations.


Never forget to 'Think Outside of the Box.'






HOWEVER...., The correct answer is to run the old lady over and put
her out of her misery because Obama's health care won't pay for her, have sex with the perfect partner on the hood
of the car, then drive off with the old friend for a few beers.


God, I just love happy endings!

 

The correct answer is to drive by them all, only losers take the bus.

 

Man, that's fucked up. And hilarious!

 

Even without the connection to God or Jesus, what would you have done? Sacrifice those people on the train to save your son or sacrifice your son?

Anne Marie

 

There are two things I'd like to address about your post, Anne.

#1. I don't know what I would do in that situation, since I haven't yet had any children. But, my first reaction, speculating of course, is: screw the people on the train - I don't know them and the planet's overpopulated anyway. I know that sounds selfish, and there is no doubt that it is, but that's how I feel about it.

#2. The analogy is inaccurate when compared to God sacrificing his Son. This is why I say that:
a. Jesus is God and vice versa. There is no risk for God since He can't die and He can't go to Hell or even remain in Purgatory.
b. Jesus knew he was going to die, and that he would be resurrected. He was only dead 3 days, which is a helluva lot shorter a time than for the rest of his Father's life or the rest of any father's life were his son to die.
c. There was no chance Jesus wasn't going to Heaven to be received as a VIP. He went straight to Heaven, no red tape at all. Its almost as if God didn't sacrifice His son at all and really only called him home.

Now, I know Jesus was tortured, whipped, beaten, and nailed to a crucifix, and I know that isn't a pleasant way to spend that last few hours of your life, but knowing and I mean KNOWING that without a doubt you'll be resurrected to join your Father in paradise far beyond anything anyone has experienced on this planet in the history of the Universe, in just a few days sure makes it easier. John McCain went through worse, not knowing if he'd be killed (and uncertainty can be very tortuous, being subjected to torture for years, being locked up, barely fed, allowed no contact with his family or friends, and this went on for YEARS not just a few hours followed by a few days of reprieve before going to Paradise as Jesus did, to be received with the greatest honors that anyone allowed into Heaven has ever received.

I'm sorry, but that seems a little weak. Millions of human beings have suffered worse and died far worse and horrible deaths than Jesus, and many of those people lived shitty lives and/or saw their loved ones murdered or even tortured and raped before they were killed (think natives and Catholic conquistadors or African slaves in the 16th, 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries).

Jesus had it good compared to them, and God had it good compared to any parent who has ever lost a child and who would never see that child again (unless you believe in an afterlife, but that could still be decades of estrangement). A sacrifice, yes, but not that much of a sacrifice.

 

Now see, JB? I got your thread going for you again.

 

It's an interesting scenario. When you sit and think about it it is a hard decision but the simple fact is that when I play it through in my mind, I am already running across that bridge the second I hear my daughter's voice. I would not willingly sacrifice my daughter for anyone. If there were time I might try and break the lock so that it would stay locked and the people on the train would live as well, but my first priority would be my child.

 

Hi Colorado,

Okay, where should I begin here?

Moral integrity is not exclusive to the practice of religion, the worship of God or the cannons of any established church. JB's thread deals with Moral Integrity not necessarily God or religion. But there is a universal continuity in doing the right thing. How we acknowledge that is a reflection of our upbringing and our greater perspective of life and humanity.

As parents our ultimate responsibility is to act in the best interest of our children. That young son should not have been walking on the railroad track but he was so comes the ultimate sacrifice in a split second decision.

That son's father did the right thing overall because he had complete control over the faith of both parties. To have saved his son instead of an unknown amount of passengers would have been selfish after all was said and done, although the initial issue with that faulty switch was not his fault. But no-one could be held to such a standard as we are human beings and our love for our children usually transcends such courage and ultimate sacrifice.

Anne Marie