would you Fear

**imthefrgt10** · August 29, 2006, 06:09 PM

would you be in fear if someone threatend you because of what you believed in, or would you continue to defend you position about it?

**Tom Paine** · August 29, 2006, 06:38 PM

Are the two mutually exclusive? One can be in fear and yet continue; it is what I hope I would do. A belief is more than a man; as V says, ""Beneath this mask there is more than flesh. Beneath this mask there is an idea, Mr. Creedy, and ideas are bulletproof."

**boofhead** · August 29, 2006, 06:53 PM

Originally Posted by imthefrgt10

would you be in fear if someone threatend you because of what you believed in, or would you continue to defend you position about it?

I personally would defend my belief unto DEATH. If we are not allowed to hold our own opinions, then what do we have left? People have threatened me with death on occasions on the net: my response is to email or PM them and say 'Bring it On you Mfkr'. They don't.

Maybe I am stupid and one day will suffer. But so what? At least I lived the life of a full-blooded MAN.

**Lee1026** · August 29, 2006, 07:18 PM

Originally Posted by imthefrgt10

would you be in fear if someone threatend you because of what you believed in, or would you continue to defend you position about it?

I would convert and say all the prayers that they can think up. Why bother defending my beliefs?

**God** · August 29, 2006, 07:21 PM

I personally would defend my belief unto DEATH. If we are not allowed to hold our own opinions, then what do we have left? People have threatened me with death on occasions on the net: my response is to email or PM them and say 'Bring it On you Mfkr'. They don't.

What if it happenned in real life though? Would you react the same way?

Originally Posted by Lee1026

I would convert and say all the prayers that they can think up. Why bother defending my beliefs?

Me too. I can say I believe but that doesn't actually mean I do. If I was being threatened I would 'convert' immediately.

**boofhead** · August 29, 2006, 07:39 PM

Originally Posted by God

What if it happenned in real life though? Would you react the same way?

Me too. I can say I believe but that doesn't actually mean I do. If I was being threatened I would 'convert' immediately.

I like to think I would react the same way in real life. But who knows until it happens? If my family was under threat that is a different story, but if it was just me....well.....we all have to die sometime so why not go out with style?

**Ó Cathasaigh** · August 29, 2006, 07:25 PM

Would I fear? Of course, would it necisarily make me say something I didn't beleive? Not realy. I'd **** my pants though.

**I Have a Clever Name** · August 29, 2006, 07:36 PM

would you be in fear if someone threatend you because of what you believed in, or would you continue to defend you position about it?

Yeah, as Squeaker has already stated, it is a bit of a loaded question. You could defend your position, and still be in fear. You could back down, and have no fear. You could back down and be in fear. You could defend your position and not be in fear. Four possibilities.

But I think such logical details detract from the intent behind the OP - would I continue acting in accordance with my beliefs for all to see, or instead back down under the influence of coercion? I have thankfully never been in a position where contempt for my convictions could have lead to violence, and as such I have never really felt threatened. Would I take a beating, perhaps suffer disfigurement or even die for my beliefs? I hope I am never placed in such a situation, so I cannot honestly say. Probably, for appearances sake, I would appear to practice a different set of beliefs and yet retain my subjective sentiments.

If however these imposed beliefs required action that was contrary to my subjective convictions, well, at that stage it would be a battle between my sense of what is 'right' and my desire for self-preservation. Perhaps I might enact upon the former, provided I could strike back at my oppressors at a later time and therefore make concessions in order to bring about a greater good. It is largely dependent on many, many factors - often unique to the situation.

**hulahooplolli** · August 29, 2006, 07:51 PM

Along with what Clever and Grim said, I also think it deals with how dear this belief is to you. What kind of belief is it. I would like to think that I would stand up, and continue on with my current beliefs, but who can know, unless they are in that situation. I for one, have never been confronted with a life or death situation of any kind, much less one concerning my beliefs.

**Ardeur** · August 30, 2006, 07:44 AM

Along with what Clever and Grim said, I also think it deals with how dear this belief is to you. What kind of belief is it. I would like to think that I would stand up, and continue on with my current beliefs, but who can know, unless they are in that situation. I for one, have never been confronted with a life or death situation of any kind, much less one concerning my beliefs.

Totally agree. I absolutely love Chicago-style hot dogs. I believe there's very little in the blue-collar culinary arsenal that matches up. But if someone were to point a gun at my head and say, "Stop believing those dogs are so good or I'll blow your brains out." My response would be something to the effect of "Please pass the salad."

There are some beliefs that matter, and some that do not. Some are worth dying for, others are not. Just keep your focus. If you're presented with a "die for your faith" situation, and you go into it thinking, "Gee if I do this, they might write books, movies, and songs about me!" you aren't actually dying for your beliefs, you're dying for your ambition.