Upon the rock too heavy for God to pick up
Re: The debate on atheism versus religious belief
I have yet to throw my tuppence worth into the interminable debate over the existence, or otherwise, of God.
Like most people, I have my views and to which I stick,
primarily due to matters of
conviction.
In any event, I will no doubt raise more hackles by bruising the egos of some sensitive individuals.
There are some people out there who consider this topic to be about power and control – “politics by other means”, as von Clausewitz reminds us, but not quite in the context of Carl’s original quote.
But, when using the militaristic variant of the word “jihad”, it may well resonate for some readers.
Somsak Pola asks us to “imagine” being in an aircraft for an inappropriate and fanciful “kiss of death” scenario in which the pilots are parachuting to safety and that the doomed passengers are all wailing for God to come save them. That is not so much a matter of preternatural belief, but God-fearing societal conditioning in part, in my view, beginning at the most impressionable stage of our lives.
That neither proves nor disproves the existence of a deity. So Somsak’s point is moot at best.
In other words, Somsak suggests that “everyone” – really, including atheists? – will hope for the Father to save them. He has incontrovertible proof to that end?
We are further expected to absolutely assume that there are NO atheists in foxholes. Again: solid, irrefutable evidence? There will, naturally, be none forthcoming.
Here’s a conundrum for Somsak to contemplate, and to I humbly ask him to remember whose letter provoked this response: Does he believe that this God is so omnipotent, that He (male, of course) can create a rock too heavy for Him to pick up?
This might be a tad impish on my part, but entirely apposite
as a metaphor for this unproductive debate – if that be the word.
In the final analysis, I fully support the right of every human being to believe in what they think to be the truth, as long as they don’t try to shove it down other peoples’ throats, either
by artful proselytising, conquest, outright mischief or whatever.
Thank God for Richard Dawkins.
Dr Frank
Bangkok
