Neanderpundit

It occurs to me, is the faith practiced by Anti Theists. Your garden variety Christian can’t muster the faith in the Creator that an anti-theist can, because they have so much invested in G-d not being there.

It is an ongoing struggle for me. All I can do is pray for those who are so determined to destroy G-d, because I know they cannot. They can destroy belief, but belief is a tent without poles, it requires you to hold it up. They can destroy the physical institutions that the faithful call home, and they are certainly doing that. They will defend- are anxious to defend- anything that opposes any organized religion, no matter how ludicrous it is, no matter how it would ordinarily set off their reason alarms, because they have too much invested in damaging the thing they have the most faith in.

I don’t know why this is. I know in some circumstances it’s because the individual in question has had some particularly nasty experiences- been molested, been orphaned, been abused in some other way- and aren’t capable of making the connection with G-ds mercy and the things that humans do to one another- and of course, no connection is possible. Humans have free will, and that free will often leads them to do things that are harmful to one another. G-d cannot control that because it would put the lie to the whole free will thing.

The very best people are the people who come from that abuse and make the connection. When you have risen above that and decide that instead of becoming an instrument of G-ds destruction you become an instrument of His mercy, the power it gives you is amazing. I see, in my minds eye, the people who have done this, friends, mentors, family members, and I am staggered by the effect they have on the world. When, instead, I look at the people who have let their experiences poison them against G-d, they are small and usually pathetic. All you can do is pray. And hope that their actions in the face of their really overwhelming faith do not get called into account when they meet the Creator.

Andy Granatelli just died. And Michael Schumacher is in critical condition and worsening following a skiing accident.

All of those laps and he busts his head open on a rock.

H/T my dear old friend and confidant Mlle Jenny.

And lord knows, it won’t be over till the fat lady sings, I will be at the shot show upcoming for the duration. The best laid plans, et al, but so far it looks like it’s gonna fall into place. Anyone else gonna be there?