Looking Heavenward

The temporary Sunday School teacher was struggling to open a combination lock on the supply cabinet. She had been told the combination, but couldn't quite remember it.

She went to the pastor's study and asked for help. The pastor came into the room and began to turn the dial.

After the first two numbers he paused and stared blankly for a moment.Finally he looked serenely heavenward and his lips moved silently.

Then he looked back at the lock, and quickly turned to the final number, and opened the lock.

The teacher was amazed. "I'm in awe at your faith, pastor," she said.

"It's really nothing," he answered. "The number is on a piece of tape on the ceiling." 1

This is the 21st century and I think that most of us know deep in our hearts what the pastor in the above quip knows: there is no one up there to help.

Or as the religious would say: God helps those who help themselves.

Ergo, what need have we of God?

We found ourselves in God's country and we put in air conditioning. He provides diseases. We cure them, eventually. His country is not the most comfy place for the humans he loves. We have done better. Kind of improved on his design. We do that a lot.

It is easier to realize that he is not there than to try and make excuses to save him from irrelevance.

We act like he is not there. That is why science is effective and prayer is not.

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1 - Beliefnet Daily Joke of the day

Fish Cancer Gene

On August 18th 2008 there was an announcement from Ohio University to the effect that female swordtails are attracted to male swordtails that have cancerous melanoma spots. These spots are dark and while the melanoma is deadly to males the females are attracted to them. (http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-08/ou-fcg081808.php)

Is God behind this state of affairs? Why would he want to preserve reproduction from fish with the melanoma gene turned on? What kind of a design is that?

It makes perfect sense in a uncaring, undirected universe but is puzzling in a universe ordered by a benevolent deity.

On the same day it was announced in the Chicago Tribune that many Americans believe that God could save a family member even if doctors say it is hopeless. Apparently, 20 per cent of medical personnel also believe this. (http://www.chicagotribune.com/features/lifestyle/health/sns-ap-med-god-vs-doctors,0,1888394.story)

Why would the deity play random favorites? When the relative doesn't survive is that a result of god's failure to act?

Evidently, many Americans are capable of avoiding cognitive dissonance by maintaining blurry boundaries between reality and fantasy. There are none so blind as those who will not see.

While God intervenes in hopeless cases and restores full health to some it is to be noted that he always ignores amputees. Not worthy of a full recovery I guess. Prayers don't seem to work for them either.

Perfectly logical if he is not there.
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Early American Religious Opinion

Pretty strong and astute stuff from some of the founders.

Religions are all alike, founded upon fables and mythologies. Thomas Jefferson

Religious leaders will always avail themselves of public ignorance for their own purpose. Thomas Jefferson

This would be the best of all possible worlds if their were no religion in it. John Adams

Religious bondage shackles and debilitates the mind and unfits it for every noble enterprise. James Madison

Faith is believing something you know ain't true. Mark Twain

A man is accepted into a church for what he believes and he is turned out for what he knows. Mark Twain

As people become more intelligent they care less for preachers and more for teachers. Robert Ingersoll

Of all the tyrannies that afflict mankind, tyranny in religion is the worst. Thomas Paine

The greatest miseries that have afflicted the human race have had their origin in this thing called religion. Thomas Paine

All natural institutions of churches, appear to me human inventions, setup to terrify and enslave mankind. Thomas Paine

Lighthouses are more helpful than churches. Benjamin Franklin

The way to see by faith is to shut the eye of reason. Benjamin Franklin

Not a founder but I throw him in anyway.

I have never seen the slightest scientific proof of the religious ideas of heaven or hell, or of a god. Thomas Edison

Why Isn't It This Simple?

A kindergarten teacher was observing her classroom of children while they drew. She would occasionally walk around to see each child's artwork. As she got to one little girl who was working diligently, she asked what the drawing was.

The girl replied, "I'm drawing God."The teacher paused and said, "but no one knows what God looks like."

Without missing a beat, or looking up from her drawing the girl replied, "They will in a minute."

Why isn't it this simple?

Either God is made of something or he is made of nothing.

Two branches. Are there others?

If he is made of something then from whence that something?

If he is made of nothing then what are we talking about?

One branch leads to an infinite regress as we must explain the constitution of god with another god-like being who is also made of something but where did that something come from? Ad infinitum.

The other branch leads to nothing.

Either branch negates god.

Therefore can we not conclude that god is a creation of the human mind just like Santa, Superman and the Tooth Fairy?