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MrIndifference
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Date Joined Jun 2001
Total Posts : 144
 
   Posted 12/6/2001 11:00 AM (GMT -6)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
Much of Christianity views God as being a very "Black and White" God. Our actions are veiwed either as being sinful or not sinful. Everything is judged on this strict dicotomy. This view seems to me that this is a very Calvinistic view of things.

The Open View, among other things, tries to show that God is not as much of a "Black and White" God as many of think. Would a God that at least leaves himself open to the possibility of having compassion and at times change his mind show that he also deals in the grays?

The other day, I was asked whether or not Physician Assisted Suicides should be legal. Initially my first response was to say no. After thinking about it, I started questioning myself on that. Lets set up a sanario for you: Wendell had an accident in which his injuries left him in a state of continual excruciating pain that has not ceased in over 10 years. He was put on some heavy duty painkillers, but they do little to nothing to help. The doctors say that they doubt there will ever be any change in his condition. He had lived a full life, but has no remaining family. Other than his condition he is in reasonabally good health, but has grown tired of life. He wants an escape. The bible says not to kill and to respect. If Wendell were to end his life, would that be a damnable offense? Do you see evidence in the bible to suggest that maybe, just maybe, God would have compassion on him? Of course this is not God's first choice, but is it possible that this could fit into one of those gray areas?

Now for a little twist on the sanario...Lets say that you were Wendell's doctor. Would it be a greater sin to help end Wendells life or to keep him alive. Couldn't keeping him alive be considered a form of torture? Definition for torture: to keep someone alive in a state of continual pain. I don't think that this should be legalized in any respect because of how easily it would be to abuse something like this. Could ending a life be a way to show God's love?

Now back to what I was saying... Does God work in black and white or does he also deal with grays? In what ways do you see this?

Mr I.
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geej
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Date Joined Jul 2001
Total Posts : 93
 
   Posted 12/6/2001 5:45 PM (GMT -6)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
It has always been my impression that we finite, fallible, human beings deal within the realm of grays because we don't know all things; we don't have all the answers. In my own experience, I tend to deal in grays because I don't know what the heck to do and I don't know which is the right way to go; it comes from confusion, too much information, too many good arguments or too little information.
It would seem that God, because of His power and infinite knowledge would not deal in grays. If you subscribe to the Open View, God would change is mind because of new information, changed ways etc. I understand that to mean that God is responding to individual situations and remains consistent.
Just a thought.
Geej

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