Posted on 08/28/2005 4:07:56 AM PDT by snarks_when_bored
Both times evolutionary thinking had to buck established revolutionary thinking.
of course should read;
Both times revolutionary thinking had to buck established evolutionary thinking.
what do you expect when it's 2am anyway?
You said (in part): (on any rational scale I'm capable of grasping, the 'crime' of learning the difference between good and evil doesn't merit the punishment of horrible death).
I am prepared to admit I don't know all that God knows, or even all about God. You and I may not be capable of grasping the "rational scale" that God employs.
As I read Genesis, God did not say that anyone would die a "horrible" death, but certainly people do die such deaths. Do we blame God for these deaths? If I am advised not to judge other humans (and I try not to do so), I will certainly avoid judging God. I have said on other posts that there is little or no good in this world that occurs without evil, bad, discomfort or pain. Generosity, cures for illness, courage, comfort, sacrifice, and all other good that I can think of exist only in the face of evil or less than ideal circumstances.
I believe we usually look at God from our human perspective, and that is natural--but it may not give us the true perspective. God, I suppose, could have pre-programmed us for obedience, much as He did the animals, but I believe God wanted more from us. He gave us the freedom to obey Him or not, so that when we DID obey and honor Him, that obedience and honor had value. When I make my children clean their rooms, they do it... because I said so. Occasionally, though, they clean the room on their own, just to please me. On these occasions I feel pride in them. The same task is more rewarding to me, and to them.
Sorry for the extended response, but there you go, for what it is worth.
Best regards...
All of what we know is limited by the "human context." You'd agree that humans don't know everything, wouldn't you? As for the nature of the deity, many would prefer to define it so as to be most comforted. That would be an easy solution, if it would work. However, God is what He is, whether we want anything to do with it or not. Of course, He is what He is whatever our faith, or lack of it is, also, and I confess that I don't have the market cornered on the "correct" faith. It's just my faith. I govern my life in hopes that I won't be too far off when I finally have to answer for it. If it turns out that there was nothing more than the life here, I am no worse off. If it turns out in accordance with my faith.... phew!!! (The old Pascal's wager.)
BTW, I don't hate the Christian God, but I'm not a big fan of Allah (on the principle that you can tell a lot about a deity by observing the behavior of those who believe in it).
All of what we know is limited by the "human context." You'd agree that humans don't know everything, wouldn't you?
Yes. However, I don't recognize any a priori limits on the scope of what humans might come to know as time unfolds (of course, I'm not talking about limits of principle, such as Heisenberg Uncertainty or the like.)
But what you've written shows that you're a reasonable person with whom I'll simply have to disagree. I see no evidence of a deity's hand in the cosmos we inhabit; you do. I'll defend your right to believe that for just as long as you don't try to obligate me to believe it, too.
Best regards...
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