Value of the human life.

[Confused]

The question for this thread is quite simple to ask, though may not be so simple to answer.

Is there anything that can be found in scripture, the teachings of Christ or the teachings that preceded Him, that gives value to human life on earth? Is there anything to indicate that God gives value to human life?

[Eph]

The question for this thread is quite simple to ask, though may not be so simple to answer.

Is there anything that can be found in scripture, the teachings of Christ or the teachings that preceded Him, that gives value to human life on earth? Is there anything to indicate that God gives value to human life?

This appears to be the essence of the teachings of Jesus when, according to the New Testament, religious rituals and political posturing, were taking precedence over paying attention to the needy and downtrodden. From the Sermon on the Mount to the Prodigal Son, most of what Jesus said exemplified the care and compassion that we should have for each other. Such is the attraction to Christianity.

One of my favorite scriptures truly exemplifies this:

James 1:27 - Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

Of course, the most quoted scripture in Christianity suggests that God values (loves) his children more than anything else:

John 3:16 - For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.

[JoeyKnothead]

"Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore, you are of more value than many sparrows." (Mathew 10: 29-31)

According to this verse, humans are of high value to God, and all life on this earth great or small does not go unnoticed by God.

I challenge you to show anyone has the hairs on their heads "numbered" by some god.

In all fairness, Joey, Confused asked if there was anything in the Bible, including in the words of Jesus, that showed that God places a value on human life, and jgh7's quote qualifies. It's quite to the point of the OP.

Besides, I doubt that even Jesus intended that that should be taken literally. Hyperbole is common in both the OT and the NT. Isaiah says somewhere that "the trees will clap their hands," and I doubt that anyone is prepared to prove that that's gonna happen either.

With due respect to my friend, I disagree. The claim of hairs being counted on the head is included among the evidence presented for God valuing human life.
If the hair counting claim is specious, then what of the claim that God values human life?

Of course I don't think anyone would disagree there is a concept that God values human life. My point in challenging the claim was to show that Biblical claims can be quite outrageous, and the observer should consider such.

[cnorman18]

"Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore, you are of more value than many sparrows." (Mathew 10: 29-31)

According to this verse, humans are of high value to God, and all life on this earth great or small does not go unnoticed by God.

I challenge you to show anyone has the hairs on their heads "numbered" by some god.

In all fairness, Joey, Confused asked if there was anything in the Bible, including in the words of Jesus, that showed that God places a value on human life, and jgh7's quote qualifies. It's quite to the point of the OP.

Besides, I doubt that even Jesus intended that that should be taken literally. Hyperbole is common in both the OT and the NT. Isaiah says somewhere that "the trees will clap their hands," and I doubt that anyone is prepared to prove that that's gonna happen either.

With due respect to my friend, I disagree. The claim of hairs being counted on the head is included among the evidence presented for God valuing human life.
If the hair counting claim is specious, then what of the claim that God values human life?

Of course I don't think anyone would disagree there is a concept that God values human life. My point in challenging the claim was to show that Biblical claims can be quite outrageous, and the observer should consider such.

Okay, but I didn't read it that way. Seemed to me that the point was just that Jesus taught that human life has a value to God, and the hair-counting business was just a matter of rhetorical "poetic license." But I see your point. If that claim is being made seriously, I'd like to see some more evidence for it too.

Of course, to a literalist the fact that Jesus said it IS evidence. And there we go 'round the mulberry bush again. Personally, I'd give Jesus credit for being human, whether he was God or not, and humans do exaggerate from time to time. I could give a million examples. (See?)

I would agree that obvious exaggerations shouldn't be presented as literal truth - but then I don't know if that was the case here, either.

Enh. Whatever. Jesus was a nice fella, but I don't take what he said as Gospel, anyway. (Pun most assuredly intended.)

[jgh7]

"Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore, you are of more value than many sparrows." (Mathew 10: 29-31)

According to this verse, humans are of high value to God, and all life on this earth great or small does not go unnoticed by God.

I challenge you to show anyone has the hairs on their heads "numbered" by some god.

I can't prove that. I was merely providing Confused with a piece of scripture to answer her question.

[Goat]

"Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore, you are of more value than many sparrows." (Mathew 10: 29-31)

According to this verse, humans are of high value to God, and all life on this earth great or small does not go unnoticed by God.

I challenge you to show anyone has the hairs on their heads "numbered" by some god.

I can't prove that. I was merely providing Confused with a piece of scripture to answer her question.

I would have to say that is legit. The question is 'Does anything found in scripture give value to human life'. Jhq7 found a piece of scripture that does.

[JoeyKnothead]

"Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore, you are of more value than many sparrows." (Mathew 10: 29-31)

According to this verse, humans are of high value to God, and all life on this earth great or small does not go unnoticed by God.

I challenge you to show anyone has the hairs on their heads "numbered" by some god.

I can't prove that. I was merely providing Confused with a piece of scripture to answer her question.

I would have to say that is legit. The question is 'Does anything found in scripture give value to human life'. Jhq7 found a piece of scripture that does.

Again, I must voice my objection. The claimant himself says he can't prove a central part of the claim.

Where this claim seeks to 'verify' itself with such a goofy notion as all the hairs on one's head being numbered, I see someone sheering a sheep right in front of everybody.

The phrase is presented in such a fashion that it alludes to a god "caring" so much that he'd number the hairs on folks' heads. Well, I say, where is the accounting for my hairs? Have these numbers been independently tested? What accounting firm did the audit? Is the firm reputable?

I want to see where my hairs are numbered, so I can check the claim. Is that so unreasonable to ask? So God, how many hairs are on my head?

I realize about the whole metaphor or allegory, or whatever three pound word is used here, but to me it don't cut it.

I voice my objection so the observer can see that this claim is ostensibly offered as both a proof for a god, as well as a proof that such god values human life.

I challenge anyone to prove that this god exists, and that this god values human life. If folks want to jump to the conclusion the Bible speaks for God, that's on them. As far as the referenced claim goes, it sounds a lot like why the farmer has to scrape his boots before going inside.

[Goat]

"Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore, you are of more value than many sparrows." (Mathew 10: 29-31)

According to this verse, humans are of high value to God, and all life on this earth great or small does not go unnoticed by God.

I challenge you to show anyone has the hairs on their heads "numbered" by some god.

I can't prove that. I was merely providing Confused with a piece of scripture to answer her question.

I would have to say that is legit. The question is 'Does anything found in scripture give value to human life'. Jhq7 found a piece of scripture that does.

Again, I must voice my objection. The claimant himself says he can't prove a central part of the claim.

Where this claim seeks to 'verify' itself with such a goofy notion as all the hairs on one's head being numbered, I see someone sheering a sheep right in front of everybody.

The phrase is presented in such a fashion that it alludes to a god "caring" so much that he'd number the hairs on folks' heads. Well, I say, where is the accounting for my hairs? Have these numbers been independently tested? What accounting firm did the audit? Is the firm reputable?

I want to see where my hairs are numbered, so I can check the claim. Is that so unreasonable to ask? So God, how many hairs are on my head?

I realize about the whole metaphor or allegory, or whatever three pound word is used here, but to me it don't cut it.

I voice my objection so the observer can see that this claim is ostensibly offered as both a proof for a god, as well as a proof that such god values human life.

I challenge anyone to prove that this god exists, and that this god values human life. If folks want to jump to the conclusion the Bible speaks for God, that's on them. As far as the referenced claim goes, it sounds a lot like why the farmer has to scrape his boots before going inside.

I disagree. He can't prove that scripture is correct.. but that was not the question. Focus on the OP..

The ops specifically asks


Is there anything that can be found in scripture, the teachings of Christ or the teachings that preceded Him, that gives value to human life on earth? Is there anything to indicate that God gives value to human life?


He offered scripture. That answers the op. Don't turn the OP into a 'prove god exists' thread.. we have enough of those

[JoeyKnothead]

"Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore, you are of more value than many sparrows." (Mathew 10: 29-31)

According to this verse, humans are of high value to God, and all life on this earth great or small does not go unnoticed by God.

I challenge you to show anyone has the hairs on their heads "numbered" by some god.

I can't prove that. I was merely providing Confused with a piece of scripture to answer her question.

I would have to say that is legit. The question is 'Does anything found in scripture give value to human life'. Jhq7 found a piece of scripture that does.

Again, I must voice my objection. The claimant himself says he can't prove a central part of the claim.

Where this claim seeks to 'verify' itself with such a goofy notion as all the hairs on one's head being numbered, I see someone sheering a sheep right in front of everybody.

The phrase is presented in such a fashion that it alludes to a god "caring" so much that he'd number the hairs on folks' heads. Well, I say, where is the accounting for my hairs? Have these numbers been independently tested? What accounting firm did the audit? Is the firm reputable?

I want to see where my hairs are numbered, so I can check the claim. Is that so unreasonable to ask? So God, how many hairs are on my head?

I realize about the whole metaphor or allegory, or whatever three pound word is used here, but to me it don't cut it.

I voice my objection so the observer can see that this claim is ostensibly offered as both a proof for a god, as well as a proof that such god values human life.

I challenge anyone to prove that this god exists, and that this god values human life. If folks want to jump to the conclusion the Bible speaks for God, that's on them. As far as the referenced claim goes, it sounds a lot like why the farmer has to scrape his boots before going inside.

I disagree. He can't prove that scripture is correct.. but that was not the question. Focus on the OP..

The ops specifically asks


Is there anything that can be found in scripture, the teachings of Christ or the teachings that preceded Him, that gives value to human life on earth? Is there anything to indicate that God gives value to human life?


He offered scripture. That answers the op. Don't turn the OP into a 'prove god exists' thread.. we have enough of those

I am not willing to "play along" with religious notions. As the claim was offered, I challenged it. As the claimant admitted he could not prove the claim, I accept that as a retraction.

Any challenges not previously settled stand.

As long as this OP remains in the C&A subforum I reserve my rights to challenge any and all claims presented. In this subforum the Bible is not considered authoritative, even if the OP may consider it so.

I present my case so the observer can see just how much we must assume in order to even have a debate about the various issues.

We must assume Jesus existed.
We must assume the Bible accurately relates the words of Jesus.
We must assume the god Jesus mentions is the God of the Bible.
We must assume the words attributed to Jesus were accurate in regards to the properties of the god he mentions.

I am not willing to assume anything in order to have a debate about the properties of a god that has yet to be shown exists.

[myth-one.com]

The Bible states:

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. (John 15:13)

Your life is your most valuable possession. Given enough time, every other item you own can be replaced.

Did you need a bible to figure that out?

Some of us reach a similar conclusion without spiritual guidance or religious baggage.

It is interesting to note that some knew the answer thousands of years ago.

[FinalEnigma]

The Bible states:

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. (John 15:13)

Your life is your most valuable possession. Given enough time, every other item you own can be replaced.

Did you need a bible to figure that out?

Some of us reach a similar conclusion without spiritual guidance or religious baggage.

It is interesting to note that some knew the answer thousands of years ago.

just to quibble. I would disagree with the initial statement. both of them actually.
1) if your life was the most valuable thing you have, then why would it be good to lay down your life for anything? that would seem senseless.

2) there are many other thing which cannot be replaced. Your eye, a lung, your heart, your brain(well transplants, but no brain transplants). A leg that you lose can't be replaced, sentimentally valuable objects cannot be replaced.