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From: chrisand@fluke.UUCP (J. Chris Anderson)
Newsgroups: net.origins,net.religion,net.religion.christian
Subject: Re: The truth about God
Message-ID: <904@vax2.fluke.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 20-Aug-85 19:34:12 EDT
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Posted: Tue Aug 20 19:34:12 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 24-Aug-85 02:16:19 EDT
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> -- 
> Paul Zimmerman - AT&T Bell Laboratories
> pyuxn!pez

	In response to Mr. Zimmerman's article, I can very much identify
with those people who thought his article was satirical, simply because
I had never encountered anyone as extreme in his viewpoint as he. Since 
it would be absolutely ridiculous to try and argue with Mr. Zimmerman, I 
would like to keep this short and point out a few things.

	Assuming that Mr. Zimmerman is correct, and that there exists a
Damager-God who is out to destroy the world, that leaves me with a few choices:

1. I can choose to believe as Mr. Z. does and will live my days battling it
   out against this god in constant anxiety and fear that this god will strike
   at anytime. I would see clearly that all the tragedies ocurring in my life
   and around me as the Damger-God out to get me. Then, when I died, I suppose
   I would either cease to exist or live in a "hell" with this Damager-God.

2. I can choose to believe in a lie, that the God of the universe is really
   a benevolent and loving god, who is blessing me and leading me in this
   life to a life beyond in heaven with him. I would then interpret all the
   tragedies ocurring in my life and around me as natural occurences or else
   that my (false) god was calling me to growth and a deepening in my reliance 
   on Him. After I died I would then be in the same condition as in #1.

3. (I can live indifferently.)

	Looking objectively at these two viewpoints on life, I can see that
no matter what I believed on earth, I would end up the same after death; 
therefore my beliefs would only affect my life on earth. Weighing the two 
viewpoints, I would the one with which I could be happier. I would then choose
#2, because this viewpoint would lead me to a life of joy, hope, and love
instead of fear and anxiety. I can not see a way of continuing on and being
happy knowing that there was a Damager-God bringing destruction to my life.

	One last thing I have noticed in Mr. Zimmerman's articles. If there
is any truth to projection (extending one's own inner personality to another),
I would say that Mr. Z. is not a very happy person. Mr Z, my prayers are for
you; I'll ask the Damager-God not to zap you today.