The following mail was sent to the IDDFOS podcast. You can listen til episode 27 to here Anim5 response to it. You can send your responses directly to the show, but if you like to respond to me directly, here is your chance.
Hello Anim.
It's always fun to listen to you badgering a fictional character, more than less a fictional gorilla. Think damit, think harder!!!.... Yes Anim, I think we all have had that teacher. Well I decided to write you a mail this time since I agree with Mick. Listening to you read the mail is weary entertaining, and you don't have to deal with my broken English. This mail is long, feel free to edit or ignore. :P
I wanted to respond to some of your human origin series and in the same time start a new theme for you. Beware; during this e-mail I might draw the religious card. I might even quote the bible, but I also want to look at other religions like Islam and Buddhism.
I said that I wanted to come back to the theme of good vs. evil. So you can consider this mail as a promise fulfilled. I would also like to explore the religious hatred that has spawned since 911.
But first of all, the fall of man: No, our fall was not standing upright. And it certainly wasn't deciding who lives and who dies, we still don't control that. According to the original story form the bible; our fall was our lust for knowledge.
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=1&chapter=3&version=31
Genesis 3, 2-5
The woman said to the serpent, "We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but G-d did say, 'You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die."
(note: yes he gave an exact description "in the middle of the garden")
"You will not surely die," the serpent said to the woman. "For G-d knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."
Yes I know it's a story, but it is a good interpretation of why Christians, like me, believe in a kind loving g-d, even in this crewel world.
According to my interpretation of the bible, we wanted to know. We wanted to know the difference between good and evil. We wanted to know pain and comfort, hate and compassion, joy and sorrow, envy and pride, lust and contempt, arrogance and respect, indifference and love. And I'm sure if we got the choice again, if the big man himself came down and said "do you want to be ignorant of the forces of this world? Or do you want to know the truth, the difference and the contrasts?" We would have said, "the truth!" in a heartbeat. Or what do you think?
Let me rephrase. You are happy, really happy for a long time. Then after a while you start to get quite ignorant of your situation and start lusting for more. Suddenly one looses everything, and it feels terrible, and you remember what you had. Everyone has experienced this at least ones in there lifetime. Everyone heartbroken has had this feeling. It is called a Catastrophe. It is when something goes from Good to bad really fast. 911 is a good example of this. The word Catastrophe is based on Greek "katastrephein" which literally means "to turn".
Now let's look at the contrast. A family from New Orleans has lost everything. Family members, jobs, house, pets, sentimental items, all are gone. All they have left is the clothes on their back, what they can carry and each other. Suddenly a man comes over to them and says. "I have heard you story, and would like to help. I own a house in Louisiana, and would like to lend it to you till you are back on your feat. We have grate schools for your kids, and lots of work opportunities. I know it will not replace what you have lost, but we are a friendly town and we would like to help you start over."
Tolkien called this a Otastrophe, but we have no real word for this, when something goes, really fast, from bad to good. The closest we get is "a miracle". But that would have had to encompass a divine intervention. Or would it?
It's strange isn't it, that tragedies like the Tsunami, 911 and New Orleans; Always seems to be followed by heartwarming loving stories. Its almost like tragedies bring out a strong need to be and act what we call humane. "Why of course", you say! But when you think of it long enough, isn't it kind of strange?
Ok, I can see someone out there is rolling there eyes and saying "damned Jesus freak, he thinks he's so much better then everyone else, just because he wears a cross around his neck. Hell no, there is no evil or good. Its just people"
Yes, I here you on the other side saying. "Amen! Praise the lord! This man knows his bible. It's time that the world finally se that we Christians are the good people of this world. Muslims and Islam are the true evil. Islam should be banned from every western country I say. Amen!"
(This brings us to our main theme.) No! You can't define if a person is good or bad from his religion. I know this is a trend, I know people who believe this, but truly people, come on! No major religion is by nature directed against evil intentions. In fact we all strive towards a better world. The problem is the people using religion as an excuse to obtain power, start wars, and do evil acts. The people corrupting wise words of profits (Christians and Muslims alike), to serve their own personal goals, that is an evil act no matter what religion you have.
No I am no better then my Muslim brother, my Hindu sister or the man who decided to believe only in science. We all want a better world.
I have so much to say on these themes that I could make my own podcast based on this. So I think I will stop there. I'd like to know what you think.
Best of days
"MrTee"
PS: Have you ever seen a series called Carnivale? Its an HBO production, and I just saw the first season on DVD. I have to say that its style and theme are weary IDDFOS. A fantasy world based on the 1930´s of US history, I recommend it. This series also deals with the theme of good and evil.
