From: pharvey@quack.sac.ca.us (Paul Harvey)
Subject: Re: Stop thinking? (Was: Why I am an atheist)
Organization: The Duck Pond public unix: +1 408 249 9630, log in as 'guest'.
	<ksand-250992171043@wintermute.apple.com>
Date: Sat, 26 Sep 1992 20:04:09 GMT

In article <ksand-250992171043@wintermute.apple.com> 
ksand@apple.com (Kent Sandvik) writes:
>In article <Bv1sBz.1qw@nntp-sc.Intel.COM>, pharvey@mipos3.intel.com (Paul
>Harvey) wrote:
>> In article <ksand-220992183249@wintermute.apple.com> 
>> ksand@apple.com (Kent Sandvik) writes:
>> >I was referring to the God concept, where a nice God created this
>> >place, but also created nasty little critters. It's not exactly
>> >my definition of a graceful God. I wonder if anyone would believe
>> >in such a cruel god anyway.

>> YOU created this straw-dawg God. Why do you expect others to believe it?

>Well, everyone is free to create whatever God-concepts they want. If they
>want to filter out all the pain and suffering in this world, and eliminate
>the responsibilities of an omnipotent God to stop suffering, fine for me.
>My definition of a God is someone that helps people. If we have suffering
>and the creator just sits and watches, it reminds me a gladiator tournament
>with Nero sitting and watching.

No, no filtering out of the pain and suffering in this world. Joyful
participation in the SORROWS of the world, that is the way of no crutch
needed. And God responsible and there to help YOU out? You are a free
man, you have free will, the Lord has delivered your kind FROM slavery,
any clinging to the broken shackles is of your own design. It is YOU who
is responsible for YOU! That is what freedom means, now walk that
freedom walk and talk that freedom talk. Walk true the valley of
opposites and FEAR no EVIL, that is Jah Guide! Jah! Ras TafarI!

>> Ah, then what you just said about a hardwired biological system and survival
>> of the genes is not a mystical mumbo-jumbo explanation? Would it be the
>> ONE TRUE WAY, by any chance? That's the way it is? It is that it is? I am
>> that I am?

>The mumbo-jumbo coefficient is introduced with such open statements
>such as "I am that I am". That actually means that I am a professional
>football player with no left foot, or what :-).

Metaphor. What is the meaning? Trancendence.

>> >Well, the lord has delivered our kind from Slavery, and introduced AIDS
>> >to help us enjoy our freedom :-).
 
>> Non sequitur. Any clinging to the broken shackles is of your own design.

>You still haven't explained why God introduced/created AIDS, my original
>question. Remember that one?

I gave an explanation but perhaps it was the sound of a tree falling
with no one to hear. I repeat: All Life has the right to Life. Why did
God create sharks? Because He couldn't surf anyway and he enjoyed
barbequed shark steak? Com'on man, use your mind. This isn't Disney
World, this IS the Lord's Kingdom. You can see it as Heaven or Hell,
that is your option, but I ask you: Do you KNOW what life is really
worth? You see, all that glitters in NOT gold and half the story have
never been told. When you see the light, I think you will stand up for
your right. And start listening to more Jah's music, it can't hurt. Jah's
music hit you hard, but you feel no pain. The measure of love is the
penality of heartache, to be in love with someone, who doesn't really
know you.