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This is an hypothetical mind-experiment designed to foster debate and not division. So please approach it in that spirit. I will present two mini-scenarios which pose a dilemma to either people of faith and to secular agnostics/atheists. Details have been purposely left vague so that creative folks cannot wiggle about to avoid answering the questions, if they choose to participate.
Scenario #1:
In the streets of São Paulo, Brazil there emerge reports of a holy woman who it is said can perform miracles, although there is significant skepticism about the claims. However a news crew following the woman films a miracle which is very, very hard to discount as anything else. You are the editor in chief and owner of the media outlet which has recorded, has possession and legal ownership of the video. You claim to be an humanist and an atheist. The video is so astonishing and so defies conventional reason that it will very, very likely affect millions who see it and will very likely inspire and expand both organised religion and personal faith, plus it could perhaps trigger religious intolerance or conflict/war. Do you release the tape, do you suppress it or do you destroy it? Explain why you will do what you choose to do, please.
Scenario # 2:
An archeological discovery is made on a dig which you are in charge of in Western Jordan. You claim to be a person of faith and an adherent to a certain church. A relic which will seriously damage your faith and your church, by disqualifying the central tenet of your religion, is discovered by yourself and two assistants. This is a piece of evidence which could completely disqualify millions of followers' faith in your religion, imperilling their immortal souls from your church's POV . It could also strengthen competing religions which you feel are antithetical to the tenets of your faith. The artefact is very, very clear and persuasive evidence that everything you have believed to date can now be seriously called into question. Do you reveal the artefact to the academic community and to the public, do you suppress it or do you destroy it? Explain why you will do what you choose to do, please.
How would you deal with these two moral/ethical/spiritual dilemmas and why?
Cheers and be well.
Evilroddy.
Scenario #1:
In the streets of São Paulo, Brazil there emerge reports of a holy woman who it is said can perform miracles, although there is significant skepticism about the claims. However a news crew following the woman films a miracle which is very, very hard to discount as anything else. You are the editor in chief and owner of the media outlet which has recorded, has possession and legal ownership of the video. You claim to be an humanist and an atheist. The video is so astonishing and so defies conventional reason that it will very, very likely affect millions who see it and will very likely inspire and expand both organised religion and personal faith, plus it could perhaps trigger religious intolerance or conflict/war. Do you release the tape, do you suppress it or do you destroy it? Explain why you will do what you choose to do, please.
Scenario # 2:
An archeological discovery is made on a dig which you are in charge of in Western Jordan. You claim to be a person of faith and an adherent to a certain church. A relic which will seriously damage your faith and your church, by disqualifying the central tenet of your religion, is discovered by yourself and two assistants. This is a piece of evidence which could completely disqualify millions of followers' faith in your religion, imperilling their immortal souls from your church's POV . It could also strengthen competing religions which you feel are antithetical to the tenets of your faith. The artefact is very, very clear and persuasive evidence that everything you have believed to date can now be seriously called into question. Do you reveal the artefact to the academic community and to the public, do you suppress it or do you destroy it? Explain why you will do what you choose to do, please.
How would you deal with these two moral/ethical/spiritual dilemmas and why?
Cheers and be well.
Evilroddy.