Leave the City (TOP) -Song Whittington

     Rodrigez's denial strikes me in an oddly personal manner. Tortured physically and mentally, it takes threatening the safety of others for Rodrigez to denounce his faith. He does it for the sake of others with full knowledge he will be condemned for this. He is willing to take on Hell for the Earthly safety of those around him. 

    When I was a child and much more passionate about traditional Christianity I had frequent thoughts of willingly giving up my Christianity and entering Hell if it meant the salvation and safety of those I love. Of course, as a human, I do not have this power. Yet the thoughts persisted. If asked today if I would do the same still, I think I would say yes. 

    Rodrigez gives up something that has defined him for so long, his faith. He gives it away to save others. As a child, I had thoughts of doing the same. Today, if I knew it would actually work, I would most likely do it. It is a form of selfishness, but it can also be a form of self-sabotage. Sacrificing yourself for others knowing it will save them is considered noble, but if you value your life little then is it an equal exchange? I viewed it as a sacrifice for the greater good, but it is not much of a sacrifice for me to give myself away for the sake of others. I wonder if this was the same for Rodrigez or if it was a true sacrifice for him to give up his faith and condemn himself to Hell. 


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