A philisophical question...

LennonCook · 02-15-2002, 08:19 PM

Whos is the greater sin- the one who does it, or the one who stands aside and lets it happen ??

Neb · 02-15-2002, 08:23 PM

I'd say that they are equally great, I'd feel that I was every bit as bad as someone who hurt my friends if I just stepped aside and let him do it instead of defending my friends.

I would, however, say that there is no sin in standing aside and avoiding injury to let someone take money or jewelry for example, but standing aside to let someone hurt someone else is something different.

Except of course in "hopeless" situations(One man against 20 gang members armed with guns who are out to hurt his friend.) in such cases standing aside would probably be best since it will then result in one less person being injured, and not standing aside would result in one more person getting injured and the situation not being improved one bit.

andrewas · 02-15-2002, 08:27 PM

Depends.

In general, The one who commits the sin is worse than the one that allows it. The perpetator has gone out of his way to harm someone, the person who does not prevent it has simply not acted to prevent it, he has not acted to cause it. This is not to say the the spectator is innocent either.

At least if you define sin as "harming another person in any way". If you take one of the religious definitions and start going on about what god wants, it gets more complicated.

Lifetime · 02-15-2002, 08:36 PM

A Philisophical Answer..

Sins of Omission and Sins of Commission are both equal in the eyes of God..

Scholarcs · 02-15-2002, 11:14 PM

It is our duty to do what is right, therefore, standing aside and letting it happen is equally as bad as committing it.

Of course that only implies if you could do something to prevent it. If not, no point in trying.

But you dont know until you try....but as my biology teacher says, you dont try, you do.

Yorick · 02-16-2002, 08:22 PM

quote:
Originally posted by LennonCook:
Whos is the greater sin- the one who does it, or the one who stands aside and lets it happen ??

"Lets it happen" implies power to prevent, which if withheld is the same as commiting the deed.

Yorick · 02-17-2002, 12:36 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Yorick:

"Lets it happen" implies power to prevent, which if withheld is the same as commiting the deed.

Well, has the same effect if not the same intent....

Akar Kessel · 02-17-2002, 06:58 PM

it depends onwho is it and wat is it

Charean · 02-18-2002, 09:53 PM

One who commits a sin has made a conscious decision to do so... one who lets it happen has a weakness of character, even indecision.

There is the example of a boy who sees a murder, and wonders who to tell... even if the repercussions could hurt him. It is better to expose the person than to let them commit murder again.

Yorick · 02-19-2002, 01:23 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Charean:
There is the example of a boy who sees a murder, and wonders who to tell... even if the repercussions could hurt him. It is better to expose the person than to let them commit murder again.

Can the boy really prevent it though? That is the issue. Power to prevent yet witholding that and allowing the evil to happen.

02-15-2002, 08:27 PM	#3
andrewas Harper Join Date: October 2, 2001 Location: Aberdeen, Scotland Age: 42 Posts: 4,774	Depends. In general, The one who commits the sin is worse than the one that allows it. The perpetator has gone out of his way to harm someone, the person who does not prevent it has simply not acted to prevent it, he has not acted to cause it. This is not to say the the spectator is innocent either. At least if you define sin as "harming another person in any way". If you take one of the religious definitions and start going on about what god wants, it gets more complicated. __________________ [img]\"http://www.sighost.us/members/Zvijer/andrewas.gif\" alt=\" - \" />

02-15-2002, 08:36 PM	#4
Lifetime Red Dragon Join Date: March 3, 2001 Location: Scotch College, Melbourne Posts: 1,503	A Philisophical Answer.. Sins of Omission and Sins of Commission are both equal in the eyes of God.. __________________ \'Cause its always raining in my head. Forget all the things I should have said..

02-15-2002, 11:14 PM	#5
Scholarcs Red Dragon Join Date: December 5, 2001 Location: Auckland, New Zealand Age: 38 Posts: 1,557	It is our duty to do what is right, therefore, standing aside and letting it happen is equally as bad as committing it. Of course that only implies if you could do something to prevent it. If not, no point in trying. But you dont know until you try....but as my biology teacher says, you dont try, you do. __________________ <br />\"A child of five would understand this. Send someone to fetch a child of five\" - Groucho Marx<br />Member of the ORT Clan. <br />\"Some birds are not meant to be caged because their feathers are too bright\"<br />Ma bouche sera la bouche des malheurs qui n\'ont point de bouche, ma voix, la liberté de celles qui s\'affaissent au cachot du désespoir. - Aimé Césaire<br />La plus perdue de toutes les journées est celle où l\'on n\'a pas ri. - Sébastien Roch Nicolas

02-16-2002, 08:22 PM	#6
Yorick Very Mad Bird Join Date: January 7, 2001 Location: Breukelen (over the river from New Amsterdam) Age: 52 Posts: 9,246	quote: Originally posted by LennonCook: Whos is the greater sin- the one who does it, or the one who stands aside and lets it happen ?? "Lets it happen" implies power to prevent, which if withheld is the same as commiting the deed. __________________ http://www.hughwilson.com

02-17-2002, 12:36 AM	#7
Yorick Very Mad Bird Join Date: January 7, 2001 Location: Breukelen (over the river from New Amsterdam) Age: 52 Posts: 9,246	quote: Originally posted by Yorick: "Lets it happen" implies power to prevent, which if withheld is the same as commiting the deed. Well, has the same effect if not the same intent.... __________________ http://www.hughwilson.com

02-15-2002, 08:19 PM	#1
LennonCook Jack Burton Join Date: November 10, 2001 Location: Bathurst & Orange, in constant flux Age: 37 Posts: 5,452	Whos is the greater sin- the one who does it, or the one who stands aside and lets it happen ??

02-15-2002, 08:23 PM	#2
Neb Account deleted by Request Join Date: May 17, 2001 Location: . Age: 38 Posts: 8,802	I'd say that they are equally great, I'd feel that I was every bit as bad as someone who hurt my friends if I just stepped aside and let him do it instead of defending my friends. I would, however, say that there is no sin in standing aside and avoiding injury to let someone take money or jewelry for example, but standing aside to let someone hurt someone else is something different. Except of course in "hopeless" situations(One man against 20 gang members armed with guns who are out to hurt his friend.) in such cases standing aside would probably be best since it will then result in one less person being injured, and not standing aside would result in one more person getting injured and the situation not being improved one bit.

02-17-2002, 06:58 PM	#8
Akar Kessel The Magister Join Date: February 15, 2002 Location: Illinois Posts: 114	it depends onwho is it and wat is it __________________ You seek the sights that only your memory can see.<br /><br /> <img border=\"0\" alt=\"[1druid]\" title=\"\" src=\"graemlins/1druid.gif\" /> <br /><br />The most powerful in Menzoberranzanspend their days watching over their shoulders, defending against the daggers that would find their backs. Their deaths usually come from the front.<br />-Drizzt Do\'Urden

02-18-2002, 09:53 PM	#9
Charean Hathor Join Date: March 6, 2001 Location: Waxahachie, TX Age: 60 Posts: 2,201	One who commits a sin has made a conscious decision to do so... one who lets it happen has a weakness of character, even indecision. There is the example of a boy who sees a murder, and wonders who to tell... even if the repercussions could hurt him. It is better to expose the person than to let them commit murder again. __________________ And then there were 6.

02-19-2002, 01:23 PM	#10
Yorick Very Mad Bird Join Date: January 7, 2001 Location: Breukelen (over the river from New Amsterdam) Age: 52 Posts: 9,246	quote: Originally posted by Charean: There is the example of a boy who sees a murder, and wonders who to tell... even if the repercussions could hurt him. It is better to expose the person than to let them commit murder again. Can the boy really prevent it though? That is the issue. Power to prevent yet witholding that and allowing the evil to happen. __________________ http://www.hughwilson.com

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