The moral minefield of a boy's dying wish

www.dailytelegraph.news.com.au ^ | 21dec01 | LUCY CLARK

[WindMinstrel]

Allend, I doubt many here (at least among those who believe in sin) would argue that what the boy did was right. Pre-marital sex is wrong for a Christian -- no denying that.

However, there's nobody I know of (ok, one, but leave Him out of it) who is sinless. All have sinned, right? Does that mean nobody can have salvation? Was Christ crucified in vain?

[ConsistentLibertarian]

"But the legacy for [...] fornicators, and for fortune-tellers [...] is the second death in the burning lake of sulfur." Fornicators and fortune tellers? Hmmm ... Maybe he should have married the girl. That way he could have sex for a few weeks till he died and so long as he didn't read her palm, he'd be OK.

[Chipper]

What is silly? If we should lighten up on this, why not lighten up on anything else. Isn't that the libertarian mantra. Lighten up, if it doesn't hurt anyone else then it is okay.

[Publius6961]

The safest thing to do with thread is not respond.
Having seen the responses, though I can say this:
Some days it is really hard to buy into the "man is a rational being" thing.

[tgiles]

The good thing about hyperjudgemental people is that their judgements don't have a whit of effect on us unless they hold public office or get their ideal candidates elected.

And fortunately, this country is headed in a direction where "sex out of wedlock is a sin" and "birth control is a sin" do not make strong stump speeches.

Those of you that moralize incessantly really should take some more time to think about what good your moralizing does in instances like this one. There is a time and a place.

[malakhi]

Doesn't surprise me that the libertarians have come out on this one.

I thought that libertarians recognized that minors are minors. This is, after all, the way that they are able to condemn child pornography: a minor cannot give consent. Seems like this was a violation of the parents' right to raise their son in the manner they see fit.

[backup]

There's no such verse.

[IASKTHEREFOREIAM]

Can't say for sure, but I wouldn't rule it out.

The question is, are you in the same boat?

[FormerLib]

Ezekiel 16:29 Thou hast moreover multiplied thy fornication in the land of Canaan unto Chaldea; and yet thou wast not satisfied therewith.

[Christian B]

I'm not sure I've met a Christian that apologizes for his sins before they happen (i.e. I'm sorry I'm going to blaspheme tomorrow. I'm sorry I'm going to rob an old lady tomorrow). I think you're supposed to recognize that sin is wrong, and not do it.

[LuvItOrLeaveIt]

I have no problem with what the kid did, and I have a great deal of respect for those who helped fulfill the kid's last wish.

[ConsistentLibertarian]

"No, this is not what he wanted. He wanted to experience the full and complete love of and for another person. They gave him a quickie with a hooker." My guess is that he what he wanted was either multiple quickies with a hooker or a quickie with multiple hookers.

[malakhi]

Mr. ConsistentLibertarian, can minors consent to sexual acts?

[wimpycat]

It sure worked to control you, didn't it?

Well, I don't know about that. God already fixed it so I couldn't ever do it. I'm a gal, not a guy!

[nina0113]

Taking things out of order, a bit:

The difference is that Christ forgives.

To be forgiven, you have to repent. With a gang of 'helpful' therapists around telling him it's fine, how is he even going to know it's a sin, let alone repent of it?

Were that the case, only Jesus Himself would have been saved.

Jesus did not need to be saved. He is the Savior.

In fact, I know of no religion that suggests you can be damned for a single sin.

You must go to a more liberal church than I do. One mortal sin, yes just one, separates you from the grace of God, until such time as you repent, confess & are forgiven.

[steve in DC]

It could not be seen as immoral to deny the request.

It can only be argued that it could be immoral to grant the request.

[QuestionBureaucracy]

Virtue and religious faith are not easy. May God bless the soul of this unfortunate boy and may He have mercy on us all.