Msg#: 1555                                         Date: 04-06-95  21:24
  From: Preston Simpson                              Read: Yes    Replied: No
    To: Martin Goldberg                              Mark:
  Subj: Intro To Staal

Whilst noshing on a Twinkie, Martin Goldberg mumbled "Intro To Staal"

 MG>> Unpopular, and not perfect.  Hence, an imperfect god.

 DO> Not perfect form a human perspective, you mean.  As I told
 DO> Preston, demanding that God demonstrate His motives smacks of
 DO> being presumptuous.  Cest la vie.

 MG> And a god that does not show his motives, refuses aids, allows
 MG> suffering or causes it, isn't worth the Manna.

Is it just me, or is it simply reasonable to want to know why someone
does something? If God's going to send me to hell for not groveling at
his feet, I'd like to know exactly why he needs the attention before
I roast. If he's going to let people suffer senselessly, I feel that
he should at least let us know *why*.

It is a common characteristic of authoritarian parents to refuse to give
reasons for their behavior. Often, they feel that "Because I told you so"
or "Because those are the rules" are adequate reasons. Children of
authoritarian parents usually grow up as being either hopelessly cowed
and broken of spirit or violently rebellious against even the slightest
hint of authority. Someone should explain this to Christians and then
ask them if they see this happening in their religion. Authoritarianism
is one of the worst possible ways to raise a kid and it is certainly
the worst way to run a religion.