tillingborn wrote: ↑Sat Jan 30, 2021 2:38 pm
To some Christians, the idea of martyrdom is beautiful.
After the fact, perhaps, when one is admiring the courage it takes to stand by a belief; and especially if YOU are not the one being martyred. It's much easier to admire
somebody else's courage in the face of being burnt or shot or starved. But a healthy person, or a healthy Christian, doesn't pursue his or her destruction for the sake of some "aesthetic" exercise. For one thing, Christians are totally aware that they are not superhuman, and are not guaranteed in advance to survive or pass any such test. It's only by the grace of God that any do. And for another, they are specifically commanded by Christ to remain as long as He ordains, to live their lives and share what they know with others, not to seek out "aesthetic" opportunities at self-immolation.
You've got to know that Christians feel pain, just like everybody else. Nobody likes ostracism, abuse, starvation, incarceration, or being killed. What's remarkable is that some of them are willing to endure that for the sake of remaining faithful to a belief that you speculate is merely "aesthetic," -- that they just like pretty ideas, but don't actually believe them.
Does that even seem remotely plausible to you? Is that what you think human beings are like? Ask yourself: are
you the kind of person who puts "aesthetic" impressions ahead of such considerations as your own safety, security, community, happiness and even life itself? And do you pursue "aesthetics" to the point of death for something you don't actually even believe is true?
If you are, then maybe I can't find fault with your explanation. But if you know that's not how
you are, why would you suppose that Christians are wired any differently?
"Aesthetics" is a pretty wildly implausible explanation, when you look it it realistically, and also when you know what Christianity actually requires.