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To: James C. Bennett

Well, some people have, perhaps, a god with no empathy. A god made out of antigod matter, I suppose.


43 posted on 09/14/2013 7:00:23 PM PDT by Mrs. Don-o ("Love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God." -- -1 John 4:7)
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To: Mrs. Don-o

Consciously or subconsciously, the things we do are because they have a self-interest value, partly coded in genes (like how dogs vary in temperament with breed), partly enforced by a societal grouping that has provided survival advantage (compared to the lone-wolf alternative). A culture that fosters kindness is more likely to survive during times of hardship than one that doesn’t. Hence the reinforcement.

The bedouins are fanatically hospitable to strangers in the desert, for similar reasons. Reciprocity.

God is just a placemarker concept as far as I see, to give the above a descriptive form that one can pretend to relate to, or seek comfort in.


45 posted on 09/14/2013 7:17:16 PM PDT by James C. Bennett (An Australian.)
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