Solomon's Private File #317
These stories about Stephen and Solomon take place starting in
1950's. Stephen wrote about his life in letters to a penpal, and then
in a secure blog, in case he lost his memory again, in the master
computer in his school for gifted students, which he started attending
in 2016 in a new incarnation, until his death. Now his son Solomon is
attending the same school, and is writing in his own secure blog for
his future incarnations.
All characters are fictitious, even if some of them might have names
that belong to some actual people, or act like people we know.
Solomon is 30 in this story, in the Spring of 2056.
Solomon's Private File #317 "Atheist Vs A Theist"
START Page
An atheist was in the news, making a lot of public negative comments
about religions and belief in God, and against me, too. I was asked by
a lot of people to comment. I said, "Mr. Dimechuk has been making some
speeches and commentaries that are negative about some issues, and also
about some people who are relevant to those issues, in his opinion.
I've been asked to comment. In my opinion, he has a right to have and
express his opinions. However, I do have some advice to offer to him.
Throughout history, one of the ways religions have thrived, has been
through others attacking them. Christianity might have died out in its
early days, were it not made stronger by perceived persecution. Nothing
firms up a position more, than being opposed. You make stronger, those
you attack. For that reason, I'm not asking you to stop it, and that
you show that the right to free speech still exists as it should. But
you do have some difficulties with your reasoning. You seem to be a
little too emotionally involved in your position for you to see some
flaws in your application of reason and logic. For example, you say
that belief doesn't necessarily make something true. That's correct in
general, but like all such principles, it needs to be applied to all
it's for, to be valid. Much of what you say is founded in what YOU
believe, that has no basis in actual fact, or is in opposition to known
observations. That seriously undermines your positions, and arguments
in favor of them. If you would like my assistance in correcting some of
that, so you can present your case better, I offer my help."
That caused a lot of Guardian grins, and the Monasteries in Tibet
were almost rapturous with delight at the idea of a possible debate
between us. News media loved it. Religious leaders were asked to
comment. Most said they would be interested in seeing that
conversation. That they couldn't suppress their grins, said a lot more.
Dimechuk's supporters urged him to accept my offer. He didn't. Some
accused him of not confronting me because of cowardice. He didn't like
that. He saw that he risked being ignored, so he said in a news
conference that he would take me up on my offer. I said in the air
then, "On CNN, live. That way there's no spin motivated editing. Call
them and schedule it. Bring what references you need. I look forward to
our conversation." He was very conflicted, and that showed, and the
people there noticed it. He said he would do it. And then didn't. He
was derided even by his remaining followers. Then he did schedule it.
I told CNN, "He isn't planning to show up." Producer said, "Advice?"
I said, "Run another program, with a crawl about the change? You were
going to do that, anyway." He grinned, and said, "Still good to have
you make that official." He denied scheduling it. I showed videos of
him doing it, and telling people, that happened in public. He claimed
invasion of privacy. I showed that it wasn't. Many of his supporters
agreed with me. They didn't like the lies. Finally, he did agree to a
show. I said, "Only if you agree NOW in public, to have me port you to
the show when it starts." He said, "I said I would be there." I said,
"You've said that before, and proved your word shouldn't be trusted.
How about we compromise. You don't show up this time, you pay CNN for
revenue lost in promoting a show that doesn't happen. And they sue you
for the last time you did that. You want to defraud people and
businesses, you pay the price. You leave the show before it finishes,
same deal." He said, "Alright, port me." I said, "And you pay if you
leave the show before it finishes. You have to agree to that. Well?" He
said, "I'll stay." I said, "I'm waiting." He said, "Alright, I agree to
pay if I leave early!" I said, "Fine. See you there. By the way, if
you're naked on the toilet, I'll still port you." He looked very
annoyed with me.
Public thought that was very amusing. Producer said, "Was he thinking
that?" I said, "It would be an invasion of his privacy to tell you he
really was thinking that. So I'm not telling you." He laughed. He was
presentable when I ported him to the studio. Greg started the show. I
said to Dimechuk, "Did you bring your references? If you need some, or
a computer, they'll provide it. Yes, this is serious. We should do a
good job of this." He asked for a computer. A laptop was brought in.
Greg said, "It's connected to our network and the internet. We also
have fact checkers standing by to help you if you need it." He said, "I
didn't expect this!" I said, "Why? Don't you remember I said I offered
lying. There's a saying that dishonest people need to believe all
others are more dishonest than they are, most so when they're not. Does
that saying apply here?" He said, "Are you accusing me of being
dishonest?" I said, "I suggest you listen to what people actually say,
and not what you want to think they mean." I repeated what I said.
He said, "You were hinting, but you asked if what you said was true
here with me." I said, "You assumed I was lying, without any evidence
to support that. Why did you have to do that? What does that really say
about you? Others can see this. You should know that." He said, "I'm
not dishonest!" I said with a smile, "So you have unfounded beliefs,
just like religious people do. No, it's not an insult. It's part of
human nature. We can't exist without beliefs, and I don't mean just
religion. People can believe in science. They have to. Most don't have
a clue how any of it works. Has anybody ever directly seen a radio
wave? That doesn't stop them from using their cell phones too much.
There is no scientist outside of my group who understands how
teleportation works. YOU don't know. But you believed it would. Trusted
it would. Trusted ME to do it perfectly. That's purely a belief that
can't be proved, except by experiencing it. No amount of talking is
going to make anybody believe it, if they don't want to. And that's
fair. But when they ARE ported, not believing that then, well, what
does that say about them?"
He said, "I see what you mean. Sometimes belief can get in the way of
accepting reality." I said with a smile, "But for OTHER people." He had
to smile with some embarrassment. I said, "That's human nature, too.
The Ego defense. Rules are for other people. WE can't be wrong, so they
must be. The ego isn't rational, and it's stupid. It's like a two year
old on a bad day. Best to disregard it." We went to break. I said, "Not
going as you thought?" He said, "Right!" I said, "Well, that's why
we're doing this." He thought that over, while Greg was trying to hide
his grin.
Back on air, I said, "You don't believe in religion. That's good." He
was very surprised, and said, "Why did you say that? I thought you're
religious!" I said, "But I'm not exactly religious, as most people
think of it." He was even more surprised, and noticed that Greg was
grinning. He said, "I'm missing something. What?" I said, "Religious
people pray. I don't. Religious people go to houses of worship to do
that. I don't. Religious people obey the things their religions tell
them to do and not do, and obey their people in authority. I really
don't do that!" He had to smile. I said, "And it's the same for most
people who think they have a religion. They're lying to themselves.
You're not. That has to be good." He said, "Oh! I really didn't expect
this!" I said, "You know I like that." He chuckled with Greg.
I said, "But you DO have some beliefs, just like we all do. I showed
you that." He said, "Yes, I have to agree. Some belief is necessary for
us to function." I said, "Yes. Well said. And that's why religions
exist. Some people need the kind of belief that religions provide. Some
are in them just for the community aspect of it. Some, just to find
religions can help to provide, is ethical awareness and moral teaching.
Some people are able to get that from their societies and parents. Some
need to get that from a more authoritative situation. Such as not
lying." He said, "I understand more than what you're saying. Religions
can provide some useful services. I know, I showed that. I'm sorry."
I said, "I think I demonstrate that one doesn't have to be religious,
to have high ethical and moral standards. I couldn't not be this way,
growing up as I have." He said, "I believe that! Such parents we all
understand. And know that most people weren't as fortunate as I was,
and still am. I even love my wife's parents!" Grins and chuckles. I
said, "But some people grow up in bad situations, and can't learn good
things by example. Religions can and do help, then." He said, "I've
seen that. But they can also make things worse." I said, "They have,
and very much so in the past. But they're improving. A lot." He said,
"Because of you, and what you do. I see that now." I said, "I'm trying,
but good and lasting improvement must come from within, by choice. I
can only lead by example, and with encouragement." We went to break.
I said, "Comments are coming in that we're being more boring than
they expected and wanted." Big grins. Back on air, I said, "Do you
believe that God exists?" He said, "I don't." I said, "What would cause
you to believe?" He said, "I see what you mean. Nothing would, and
that's a belief in itself." I said, "Well reasoned! People assume that
believing is in something. But the reverse is also a belief, a negative
belief. And just as irrational." He grinned, and said, "Point taken." I
said, "So, you don't believe that God is doing the healing in the
broadcasts?" He said, "I don't. I think the Dalai Lama is doing it." I
said, "So, does that mean she's lying, and so am I, when we say it's
not her doing it, but God?" He said, "Er, not exactly. Ah! Misinformed.
That's it." I grinned, and said, "Eh, you escaped that one." He
chuckled. I said, "And when God ordered me to use time research in
defending against paternity suits, against my desire?" He said, "Ah,
can we skip that one?" I grinned and shook my head. He said, "Maybe it
was somebody else. But not God." I said, "Somebody more powerful than
the two of us, who are the most powerful living beings in existence,
who could bust into a broadcast, and get alway without being fried to a
smoking crisp?" They laughed.
He said, "I see what you mean. A practically all powerful being, but
not God." I said, "A being so much like God would be, that the two
would be indistinguishable, but not God?" He said, "Er, right." I said,
"You know what a lot of people are thinking." He grinned, and said,
"That's my belief, and I'm sticking to it." I said, "Should your belief
be respected?" He said, "Yes. I know where you're going with this.
Their belief should be respected, too. I admit I've been bad about
that. I sincerely apologize to all I've offended, and to you, most of
all." I said, "I accept. I request that you try a little harder with
the honesty. It might help them to accept your belief a little better."
He said, "I understand. I'll work on that."
He said, "I have to ask a question. You said you would port me even
if I were naked and on the toilet. I'm admitting now that I was
considering that very ploy, to avoid coming here. How did you know?" I
said, "There are two different ways I knew. One you might not want to
believe, and the other you could be angry about." He said, "So warned,
I still want to know." I said, "Well, you asked. I know all that
happens on Earth. My soul is so big, it covers all of Earth, so it's an
active part of my mind. I see it as God does. That's the reason you
might not want to believe. But you know of my Corps?" He nodded. I
said, "How else would they know what to do, if I didn't tell them?
Ready for the other one?" He nodded. I said, "I set a tiny fraction of
my mind to be what I knew of you and your personality, and your past
actions, and extrapolated what you would likely do. That was in it."
He said, "You were right about my feelings for those two reasons. Was
that in the second one, too?" I said, "It was." He said, "You can do
that for everybody?" I said, "Yes. But it's not as bad as you think. We
ALL do it, to ALL around us, ALL the time, mostly unconsciously. I just
do it better." He said, "Unconsciously?" I said, "I do nothing
unconsciously. While my bodies can sleep, my mind, which is independent
of bodies, never sleeps." He said, "So you don't dream." I said, "But a
lot of other people do, and that's part of the first reason." He said,
"Oh. Actually, I'm glad I'm not you. What you know of all this must be
horrible. All the pain and suffering! I don't know how you can stand
it!" I said, "I have to, so I do. All my group are like this, but to a
lesser extent. There are compensations. We feel a LOT of love, and I
have a constant connection to He who you don't believe exists, now." He
said, "Respect for belief!" I stood, and so did he, and we hugged with
love. The show ended. I helped him to sit.
I said, "REALLY not what you expected." He said, "All of it, but your
reason why I wanted this show." He thought, and said, "I can think of a
lot of reasons, but none that stand out." Greg said, "Same here." I
said to Dimechuk, "Those in religions were attacking you for YOUR
belief. That had to be corrected." He said, "Wow! I was being selfish
again. I didn't see the big picture. You were going after MUTUAL
respect!" I said, "When haven't I?" He said, "Oh! I did it again. Thank
you for all you do for the world!" I said, "You're welcome. Really."
Grins. I ported him home. Greg said, "Would you really have done that?"
I said, "I said I would, so, yes. But after I said it, I knew he
wouldn't do it."
He said, "We're getting communications from people who are confused
by your not being religious comment." I said, "One can believe in God,
and not be religious. I have to believe in Him. I work for Him! And I
talk with him. I'm clergy in some religions. That's an accomplishment
of study. University degrees. They also enable me to act for God in
some ways, legally, which was why I chose to qualify for them, which I
said to those authorities who awarded me that status. I'm spiritual. I
talk to dead people. I know what happens after death, and can see
people's past lives, and not just my own. I follow many of the
principles in all religions, not because they ARE in religions, but
because the are good, and good for all. They are best expressed in the
Ten Commandments, and the Golden Rule. So, by my definition, I'm not
what I consider to be truly religious, but if others think all that
makes me so, they're entitled to that opinion, and I won't oppose them
on it. I am who I am. I'm not a label. Or a lot of labels. Would have
to be very small print. End comment. I allowed it to be recorded. Good
for broadcast?" He nodded, and said, "Going out now." I said, "I wonder
what he says to people who sneeze?" He grinned, and said, "I'll save
that question for a good opportunity."
He said, "Good comments from that. Thank you!" We hugged. Ivanna and
Percy were at home. They gave me some extra affection and love. Percy
said, "People forget you don't do those shows only for the stated
purpose. You do them for the broad universal messages you can put into
them." Ivanna said, "An interactive sermon." I said, "Right! Both of
you! Great descriptions! I knew there was a reason to love you." Pokes,
and kisses and hugs, with a lot of love.
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Grant
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