or, to put it more succinctly. jesus, save me from your followers.
On 5/20/05, Edmund Storms <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > > >>From: Edmund Storms > > > > > > Hi Ed, > > > > ... > > > > > >>If you were God, would you have made such a > >>self-destructive creature? If you had, would > >>you give support to individuals who had these > >>obvious imperfections even if they attempted > >>to worship you? > > > > > > If I were God, I'd give my creations freedom of choice to make good and bad > > decisions - and more importantly: To learn from the consequences of my own > > actions. > > > > Personally, I wouldn't want to play in a sandbox where I wasn't allowed to > > occasionally make really stupid decisions. Yeah, I sympathize, we may end > > up blowing up a planet or two in the midst of learning our lessons, but > > eventually... > > > > May I suggest that that's precisely what the parable about eating forbidden > > fruit is all about. I suspect there are many who wish they didn't have this > > terrifying burden called "freedom of choice". Some wish a Higher Devine > > Intelligence was constantly calling the shots so that they didn't have to > > be saddled with the responsibility of having to personally experience the > > terrible consequences of occasionally making really stupid decisions. Some > > try to set up various forms of religious doctrine to mimic their desire to > > run away from making their own decisions. Make up rules and belief > > structures where God in the absolute sense makes all the decisions - not > > me! Follow them unquestioningly. Do I feel better now? > > > > Don't blame God for our inheritance. > > I agree with you. If I were God I would create a large collection of > intelligent lifeforms on this and on various other planets and let > evolution sort out which ones will survive. Some will make mistakes that > lead to their extinction and others will find the wisdom to prosper and > approach my image. Our situation is not yet resolved. While I agree > that the various religions describe our condition fairly well, my > complaint is with the solution they apply to the problems they find. > > > > Wait a minute! I AM god. > > Now that is a very enlightened observation, Steven. The fact is that we > were made in our own image, not in God's image. We then make God in our > image. As a result, we each are the image of God we each attribute to > God. In that sense, we each are god. > > > > Oh dear! Fasten your seatbelts! I fear we're in for another bumpy ride! > > Very true, but not just in this discussion. My anger is about the ride > that is being imposed upon us by people who are sure they know God's > will. On the other hand, I make no claim to know God's will, but I do > know the end of the path being proposed. The real problem is that many > of these people look forward to having civilization destroyed because > they believe this is what God wants and they, because they use the > correct method of worship, will survive. This is the worst form of self > justification that is usually attributed to insanity when it is observed > in an isolated individual. Unfortunately, the attitude becomes an > accepted religion when it is believed by enough people. > > Regards, > Ed > > > > Regards, > > Steven Vincent Johnson > > www.OrionWorks.com > > > > > > -- "Monsieur l'abb�, I detest what you write, but I would give my life to make it possible for you to continue to write" Voltaire
