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My dad and I are debating an issue and need help on who is right
His friend is ill but it's not a painful illness, has dementia and is basically a vegetable. My dad prays for him to pass away. I understand that the friend has no quality of life.
However, the wife would be financially troubled by his passing. My feeling is that praying for his death is also praying for her misfortune.
He's going to die sooner or later and if he's not in pain or a burden to her, why would you pray for the trouble it would bring her?
So simply stated is praying for A = praying for B since if A happened then so will B?
C. This is reminder to both of you and his wife how short human life is and how soon death can touch one's shoulder. Instead of "praying" for anyone else, get YOURSELF ready, as know you not what the bony hand touched yours.
C. This is reminder to both of you and his wife how short human life is and how soon death can touch one's shoulder. Instead of "praying" for anyone else, get YOURSELF ready, as know you not what the bony hand touched yours.
That doesn't answer the question.
Let's ask it a different way
If I pray for the Yankees to win then am I passively praying for the Mets to lose
The fundamental moral imperative is no human can determine the mortality of another human being.
However in the practical side of reality, deviation from the above absolute will happen but the gap between the moral ideal and practical must be as narrow as possible. This is why capital punishment are heavily argued all over the world.
In other cases, the stopping of life supporting systems are also heavily reviewed and deliberated instead of basing on subjective and flimsy decisions. In any case the professional doctors, the spouse and nearest relatives' views should be consulted.
In this OP case, your father [even with good intentions] is not the doctor-in-charge, spouse nor near relatives, it is not morally 'right' for your father to openly pray for his death. He may have a silent/secret wish but that is also not preferable. It is possible a 'miracle' could happen that enable the patient to live another 10 years actively. Therefore as merely a friend your father should refrain from such a wish.
The test is, if it is permissible for every one on Earth to pray [decide] on the mortality of say your father's friend, one will note there will be millions of varying views and opinions. So who is right? Why should one view be more right than the others.
Thus the attention should be diverted to the one who prays for the death of the other. This is a case of excess empathy and compassion that should be managed. Obviously this competence is too late for people who are older. In general all humans should develop mental competence to modulate their empathy, compassion and altruism optimally. [note the extreme cases of non-optimal compassion where 3 good human 'samaritans' were drowned trying to save a drowning dog]
The fundamental moral imperative is no human can determine the mortality of another human being.
However in the practical side of reality, deviation from the above absolute will happen but the gap between the moral ideal and practical must be as narrow as possible. This is why capital punishment are heavily argued all over the world.
In other cases, the stopping of life supporting systems are also heavily reviewed and deliberated instead of basing on subjective and flimsy decisions. In any case the professional doctors, the spouse and nearest relatives' views should be consulted.
In this OP case, your father [even with good intentions] is not the doctor-in-charge, spouse nor near relatives, it is not morally 'right' for your father to openly pray for his death. He may have a silent/secret wish but that is also not preferable. It is possible a 'miracle' could happen that enable the patient to live another 10 years actively. Therefore as merely a friend your father should refrain from such a wish.
The test is, if it is permissible for every one on Earth to pray [decide] on the mortality of say your father's friend, one will note there will be millions of varying views and opinions. So who is right? Why should one view be more right than the others.
Thus the attention should be diverted to the one who prays for the death of the other. This is a case of excess empathy and compassion that should be managed. Obviously this competence is too late for people who are older. In general all humans should develop mental competence to modulate their empathy, compassion and altruism optimally. [note the extreme cases of non-optimal compassion where 3 good human 'samaritans' were drowned trying to save a drowning dog]
Ok, let's remove the death part of the question because you're still not answering the crux of the argument.
If you wish for A but the success will negatively impact B, are you or aren't you basically wishing B ill?
Ok, let's remove the death part of the question because you're still not answering the crux of the argument.
If you wish for A but the success will negatively impact B, are you or aren't you basically wishing B ill?
Now why don't you think more positively like hasten income for the embalmer, etc., bed available for the next waiting patient, etc. There will be other negatives as well.
The pertinent point I believe in this case is the moral issue.
No. Being willing to accept B is not the same as praying for B. Passive acceptance vs actively seeking.
Thanks. This is the closest to an answer to the actual question. My dad feels like this. I said you're wishing harm on B, he says " no way" but B will be severely harmed.
I feel like the negative impact for B far outweighs the positive impact for A.
Ok, let's remove the death part of the question because you're still not answering the crux of the argument.
If you wish for A but the success will negatively impact B, are you or aren't you basically wishing B ill?
You're assuming wishes are granted like God is some sort of a genie.
My dad and I are debating an issue and need help on who is right
His friend is ill but it's not a painful illness, has dementia and is basically a vegetable. My dad prays for him to pass away. I understand that the friend has no quality of life.
However, the wife would be financially troubled by his passing. My feeling is that praying for his death is also praying for her misfortune.
He's going to die sooner or later and if he's not in pain or a burden to her, why would you pray for the trouble it would bring her?
So simply stated is praying for A = praying for B since if A happened then so will B?
If prayers are that powerful, why dont he pray for A to get better than die? I will certainly pay for him to get better.
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