I'd also be afraid of a prisoner's dilemma style problem
Indeed. As would many people.
One of Jesus' key messages was that the "I'll do it if (and only if) you'll do it" mentality doesn't build bridges to anything like the same extent as doing the right thing without first waiting to see if anybody else will join you. "I'll do it if you make it compulsory so that person I envy can't not do it" is even more problematic, because that other person is going to be looking for loopholes.
That's really challenging, though. Living up to it individually is difficult, let alone persuading an entire nation to.
But difficult isn't the same thing as impossible. Nor the same thing as "not to be attempted'.
no subject
Date: 2015-12-08 05:49 pm (UTC)Indeed. As would many people.
One of Jesus' key messages was that the "I'll do it if (and only if) you'll do it" mentality doesn't build bridges to anything like the same extent as doing the right thing without first waiting to see if anybody else will join you. "I'll do it if you make it compulsory so that person I envy can't not do it" is even more problematic, because that other person is going to be looking for loopholes.
That's really challenging, though. Living up to it individually is difficult, let alone persuading an entire nation to.
But difficult isn't the same thing as impossible. Nor the same thing as "not to be attempted'.