Existential Strike

  • Thread starter Thread starter IWantGod
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
I

IWantGod

Guest
If all the non-religious people of the world went on existential strike, refusing to do anything (refused to do anything in existence, refused to eat, drink, or work, even to the point of starvation) until God reveals himself to the masses, how would the Church respond to this?
 
Last edited:
They’d probably point out that Jesus said:

Matthew 12: 38-42
38
Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to him, “Teacher,* we wish to see a sign from you.”
39
He said to them in reply, “An evil and unfaithful generation seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it except the sign of Jonah the prophet.
40
Just as Jonah was in the belly of the whale three days and three nights,* so will the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights.
41
At the judgment, the men of Nineveh will arise with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and there is something greater than Jonah here.
42
At the judgment the queen of the south will arise with this generation and condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and there is something greater than Solomon here.
Click to expand...
Then, they’d warn against it, pointing out that it won’t be good for them. They make make an anathema declaration, since that is putting God to the test and making unreasonable demands of Him. Then, they’d let people do what they chose to, because the Church will not impede a person for using their free will, even if that use will result in their damnation.
 
Last edited:
ProdglArchitect said:
They make make an anathema declaration, since that is putting God to the test and making unreasonable demands of Him.
Click to expand...
I see how that would apply to people of faith. But the people in this scenario are seeking evidence of what they don’t know. It’s an extreme scenario i know, but i imagine it would be treated a little differently.
 
Not really. Faith or no Faith, putting God to the test like this will never work out well for someone because it shows a fundamental lack of respect for even the concept of God, let alone the reality.

Asking God to give you a sign, asking Him to open your heart to Him or to make Himself know is far different from the type of demand you’ve outlined.

Also, it wouldn’t really accomplish anything. An existential hunger strike wouldn’t do anything to God, it’s not a motivation because God doesn’t lack anything. It isn’t harming him, and He’s already shown that He will allow us to use our free will even to our own detriment, so this sort of strike wouldn’t change anything. God doesn’t need our prayers, so withholding them only hurts us.
 
I get what your saying. But that which is done in ignorance is not necessarily warranting of hell. It’s true that the church in her wisdom would have to say no to such an act. But while God is not caused by us to do anything, i would not assume that perhaps some revelation would not occur. It’s just so unlikely that nobody in good conscience could support such an act.
 
Maybe I’m missing something here, but wouldn’t that simply empty the world of non-religious people?
 
After all the non-religious people except one had died of starvation, all the religious people would turn to the survivor and say: “There! Was that a good enough sign for you?”

Then the survivor would quickly convert, and go back to pizzas and fries.
 
Most likely yes. I accept that in good conscience we couldn’t allow that to happen.
 
They are non believers, therefore they don’t believe, therefore they would not fast and go through hardship for a sign
 
IWantGod said:
If all the non-religious people of the world went on existential strike, refusing to do anything (refused to do anything in existence, refused to eat, drink, or work, even to the point of starvation) until God reveals himself to the masses, how would the Church respond to this?
Click to expand...
Hey, it’s your idea. You go first.
 
Are these non-religious people simply uncertain about the nature/properties of God or are they uncertain about God’s existence?

Anyways, the question is about how the Church would react, not God directly. I’ll guess the more charitable organizations in the Church would mobilize to care for the sick and failing bodies. Meanwhile I’d presume a short statement or comment about God’s interaction with free will and allowing natural consequences would come from the top levels of the Church.

And finally, the apologists would go out en mass to these people. Not sure how effective I’d be against this in the midst of intentionally killing themselves over their opinion on this matter.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top