M
MysticMissMisty
Guest
Salvete, omnes!
What is an acceptable risk of life for Catholics?
For example, are “daredevils” such as Nik Wallenda acting in line with Catholic doctrine by risking their lives for the thrill of it/entertainment purposes? (I know Mr. Wallenda is Polish, so I’m also wondering if he himself is Catholic… Common thing in Poland.)
Being a classicist, I’m also thinking of an example from antiquity. In these days, many occupations were much more risky to perform than they are today. Even such occupations as captaining a ship and mining for precious metals held much more risk because of both materials available at the time and management/safety techniques (or the lack thereof) employed. So, back then, would God have approved of such things as sailing of ships? I mean, He likely would have in cases such as when the Apostles sailed to spread the Gospel, but did He approve of sailing ships only for purposes of trade/making money/profit? Or, rather, would God have considered sailing for these uproses alone too great a risk? After all, there was always the risk of both unanticipated storms arising and potentially causing shipwreck as well as such things as the risk of piracy and the potential to loose life in that way. Were such risks back then acceptable to God for merchants sailing the seas for trade purposes alone? I believe that there is passage in one of the “deuterocanonical” texts (which one escapes me now) wherein God’s Providence is cited as providing safe passage for merchant ships which would travel the seas. But, is this passage in any way lending direct, inspired approval to such practices at that time or later?
In more modern times, what about flight? I mean, again, I know that, today, the risk of fatal accidents in flight is very minimal, but, I’m, right now, thinking more about the early development of flight when the task was much riskier to life and limb. If the Wright Brothers, say, were Catholic, would they have been acting rightly in risking their lives for flight, especially since they and others often flew merely for pleasure and eventually merely to get people/goods places faster?
And, finally, what about today? Even thoiugh the risk is low, should a Catholic risk his/her life (small as that risk may be) to, say, go on a cruise ship merely for the purposes of pleasure?
Another more modern example would be that of risky sports such as auto racing or even X-Games kinds of sports. Is participating in such sports a properly Catholic thing to do given the risk to life involved?
Basic question in all of this: What is an acceptable risk of life to a Catholic? Can one risk one’s life merely to seek pleasure/improve one’s life? Are there any limits on this? If so, are these limits probability-based? If probability is the determining factor, what are we to say of the ancient examples above like those of ancient seafaring? And, of the more modern examples such as the development of flight? And, finally, of very modern curising? And, perhaps the most extreme example, what of the “daredevils” such as Nik Wallenda? In this latter case, would Catholic teaching even permit him to risk his life for the “thrill” alone, or for the “entertainment value”? (Please note that, in all these cases, I am specifically speaking of risk to life–the most extreme risk–not any lesser risk such as injury. That could very well be a subject for another thread.)
I might also cite the early and modern space programs. Especially in the early days, going into space was obviously much more risky than it is today and many accidents occurred as a result. Many Catholics cite the beauty of space and the thankfulness we have for God’s wonderful universe that results from our exploration of it as sufficient to counter any possible risk to life which may result from our exploring space. Is death truly an acceptable risk for going into space, for the purpose of exploring God’s Creation, for the joy of it, for its benefits to those on Earth, for any reason whatever?
Consider that we now rely so heavily both on air and sea transport, since the early risk was so great in both of their development, is it even right, technically, to take part in these things in modern times, since we are reaping the benefits of those who may have risked their lives too much, if this is, in fact, contrary to Catholic teaching?
Let us not get distracted too much with any one of these examples. I am interested in hearing your thoughts (and, indeed, any Church teaching, infallible or otherwise) regarding all of these scenarios. As a person who specializes particularly in ancient civilizations, I myself am as interested in your/the Church’s take on the ancient examples as I am the modern.
What is an acceptable risk of life for Catholics?
For example, are “daredevils” such as Nik Wallenda acting in line with Catholic doctrine by risking their lives for the thrill of it/entertainment purposes? (I know Mr. Wallenda is Polish, so I’m also wondering if he himself is Catholic… Common thing in Poland.)
Being a classicist, I’m also thinking of an example from antiquity. In these days, many occupations were much more risky to perform than they are today. Even such occupations as captaining a ship and mining for precious metals held much more risk because of both materials available at the time and management/safety techniques (or the lack thereof) employed. So, back then, would God have approved of such things as sailing of ships? I mean, He likely would have in cases such as when the Apostles sailed to spread the Gospel, but did He approve of sailing ships only for purposes of trade/making money/profit? Or, rather, would God have considered sailing for these uproses alone too great a risk? After all, there was always the risk of both unanticipated storms arising and potentially causing shipwreck as well as such things as the risk of piracy and the potential to loose life in that way. Were such risks back then acceptable to God for merchants sailing the seas for trade purposes alone? I believe that there is passage in one of the “deuterocanonical” texts (which one escapes me now) wherein God’s Providence is cited as providing safe passage for merchant ships which would travel the seas. But, is this passage in any way lending direct, inspired approval to such practices at that time or later?
In more modern times, what about flight? I mean, again, I know that, today, the risk of fatal accidents in flight is very minimal, but, I’m, right now, thinking more about the early development of flight when the task was much riskier to life and limb. If the Wright Brothers, say, were Catholic, would they have been acting rightly in risking their lives for flight, especially since they and others often flew merely for pleasure and eventually merely to get people/goods places faster?
And, finally, what about today? Even thoiugh the risk is low, should a Catholic risk his/her life (small as that risk may be) to, say, go on a cruise ship merely for the purposes of pleasure?
Another more modern example would be that of risky sports such as auto racing or even X-Games kinds of sports. Is participating in such sports a properly Catholic thing to do given the risk to life involved?
Basic question in all of this: What is an acceptable risk of life to a Catholic? Can one risk one’s life merely to seek pleasure/improve one’s life? Are there any limits on this? If so, are these limits probability-based? If probability is the determining factor, what are we to say of the ancient examples above like those of ancient seafaring? And, of the more modern examples such as the development of flight? And, finally, of very modern curising? And, perhaps the most extreme example, what of the “daredevils” such as Nik Wallenda? In this latter case, would Catholic teaching even permit him to risk his life for the “thrill” alone, or for the “entertainment value”? (Please note that, in all these cases, I am specifically speaking of risk to life–the most extreme risk–not any lesser risk such as injury. That could very well be a subject for another thread.)
I might also cite the early and modern space programs. Especially in the early days, going into space was obviously much more risky than it is today and many accidents occurred as a result. Many Catholics cite the beauty of space and the thankfulness we have for God’s wonderful universe that results from our exploration of it as sufficient to counter any possible risk to life which may result from our exploring space. Is death truly an acceptable risk for going into space, for the purpose of exploring God’s Creation, for the joy of it, for its benefits to those on Earth, for any reason whatever?
Consider that we now rely so heavily both on air and sea transport, since the early risk was so great in both of their development, is it even right, technically, to take part in these things in modern times, since we are reaping the benefits of those who may have risked their lives too much, if this is, in fact, contrary to Catholic teaching?
Let us not get distracted too much with any one of these examples. I am interested in hearing your thoughts (and, indeed, any Church teaching, infallible or otherwise) regarding all of these scenarios. As a person who specializes particularly in ancient civilizations, I myself am as interested in your/the Church’s take on the ancient examples as I am the modern.
