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Politics : Should God be replaced? -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Greg or e who wrote (3083)	11/2/2000 8:21:40 PM
From: E	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 28931

No, I don't think you're flaky, Greg. I think you have found a way to interpret the world that brings you peace and happiness, and that you have a community that shares and reinforces your beliefs and constructs-- a community that provides its own real satisfactions. And I'm happy for you. And I think you are a very, very nice person. And Greg, I'm sure you won't understand this... but what I have done, precisely, is to choose life, or what I would call "real life," and I'm absolutely satisfied with my choice. When my daughter was diagnosed (she has diffuse atrophy of the brain) she was part of a research study program in which a dozen profoundly brain damaged infants took part. Every mother in the group of mothers who stayed at the hospital for the week of the tests was deeply religious, except for me. There is no question that their belief that there was some meaning, even if they didn't know it, contained in what had befallen us -- befallen our dear babies -- made the experience more bearable to them. They believed it was God's will. They were frightened for me, because of my state, and tried to convince me to believe it, for the comfort of it. They failed, of course, but I did almost envy them. It was the first time I ever comprehended what belief in a Divine Will was about. I know it wasn't the will of anyone. It was, the doctors believe, most likely a bacterial infection similar to encephalitis that she suffered in utero. Bacteria happen.