Let them have faith (Part 2): How far will we go?

Based on many of the comments of the last blog entry, I was inspired to ask more questions (and certainly ones I dare not claim to have the answers to) on the subject of faith, specifically martyrdom.

Is it no longer reasonable to die for ones faith? Is martyrdom a thing of the past, having lost its relevance? Does dying for ones beliefs not make sense anymore? Is it an issue of time (this century), or place (North America)? I don't think it is an issue of time, for there are still Christians today who die for their faith...perhaps in more subtle ways. But is it happening less, perhaps?

Based on the examples from the Bible (the NT particularly) and other accounts of Martyrdom (eg. Martyrs' Mirror, records of Ugandan martyrs, etc.), martyrdom was important for many Christians of the past to prove their faith, and we look to martyrs admiringly, in awe, incredulous. And not just Christians, but Hindus (all the various groups thereof), Muslims, Sikhs, and followers of the tribal branches of native spirituality (to name a few) will also die for what they believe. For example, many aboriginal children died in residential schools for refusing to renounce their faith for Christian ways, Sikhs died battling Muslims to fight conversion, and so on. It was clearly important once...Is it not important anymore?

I guess what I am asking is, can our faith still be just as strong when we are not challenged to keep our faith, when we are not faced with death? As a middle-class university student in North America, I am spared from many of the struggles and wants of most of the world's population, struggles which draw people closer to God, in sobering recognition of their needs. Due to my easy lifestyle, where I can practice my faith safely and have all my needs met, am I missing something?

I feel the need to explore this question: How far would I take my faith? Would I really die for it?

I encourage readers to ask themselves the same question.

   [ posted by Anabee @ 12:01 PM ]