Is God an artichoke?
My intention when posting on Sunday (last post) was to point out the propensity of most religions to make fools out of some of their adherents. Don't believe me? Then try this believer's account of life's miracles.
Alternatively, you may reject the 'war' between creationists and physicists and like me accept that Mother Nature rules.
Three centuries after Newton, symmetry is restored: the laws explain the universe even as the universe explains the laws. If there is an ultimate meaning to existence, the answer is to be found within nature, not beyond it. The universe might indeed be a fix, but if so, it has fixed itself.
All of which, you may think, has little to do with the debate raging in the comments following my Sunday post. This was sparked by a late night thought from a welcome visitor, Mr. Snag, who asked:
Do long term residents here in Indonesia, such as yourself, ever consider what right (or otherwise) they have to be living here?
My simple answer is yes, but very rarely. When asked why I've been here as long as I have - now nigh on twenty years - I usually reply that it's a hot country and it's easy to take one's clothes off.
And if I'm more serious, I state that when I left Blighty after a failed marriage I told Son no.1 that I would be somewhere where he could find me, at least until he reached the age of 18. He is now over 30 and still finds me with some regularity.
My right to live here is the right of an individual to be treated with respect without regard for colour, class or creed. My right is the same as anyone else's because we are all part of Mother Nature's Great Plan.
What's your excuse for living?
Labels: belief systems
