Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : Actual left/right wing discussion -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Lane3 who wrote (882)	9/14/2006 7:10:19 PM
From: Ilaine	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 10087

I tend to believe in a more distant God, myself. Maybe He intervenes here on earth, maybe not. I tend to think not. I call it "the Minnesota Fats" theory of the Universe. God set the balls of the Universe in play with a swipe of the Cosmic Pool Cue into the Cosmic Cue Ball, and eventually, after they bounce around for a very long time, they'll all land in their intended pockets. Why intervene? He did it right the first time.

To: Lane3 who wrote (882)	9/14/2006 10:16:54 PM
From: Ilaine	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 10087

Well, I imagine there are lots of practical differences between non-believers and those who believe but in a "distant" God, by which I think they mean one who doesn't actively intervene. For example, if you believe in the soul and an afterlife then you've got an incentive to behave that's more than just idealism. People who don't believe in an afterlife might live very upright lives but they might not, either. The only incentive to behave well is fear of what might happen to you on earth, such as criminal prosecution, or shame, or self-loathing. Believing in a God that doesn't intervene -- not sure where that comes from, nor what it's called theologically. I don't know if you're a Doors fan, but Jim Morrison said, in one of his songs, "you cannot petition the Lord with prayer." (From The Soft Parade.) We can't all have our prayers answered all the time. For example, people who pray to get a job, or win the love of someone, or win the lottery -- well, only one person is going to have that prayer answered, if any. I don't think that's what prayer is about, anyway. For me, prayer is more like dialogue, communication, heart to heart talks. I don't expect anything to be given to me, I just want to be a better person. So, believing in God affects my behavior. You already pointed out the benefit this can be to society.