One thing I noticed Hitchens did frequently is criticize God's wisdom in the grand scheme of our existence. I found it interesting that on the one hand he would grant God omniscience, and omnipotence for the sake of argument, but then call that omniscience, etc. into question. So that got me thinking: If we are willing to grant God omniscience, omnipotence and omnipresence how do we even begin to question His methods? If we give Him all the aforementioned traits and we logically assert ourselves (the created) to be less than the Creator, I again ask: where do we begin to question His plan? It seems much easier and even rational that if we grant him all those qualities that we should relax and trust His plan, seeing as it is so far beyond us to do His job.
Now if we don't grant God all those qualities, well what kind of God does that give us? Now that will lead you down to some crazy-ass philosophies. We end up with gods, or multiple personality god, or some wildly impersonal force of nature, some mysterious cosmic cloud -which seems to be what The Secret basically is. None of those possibilities reflect something that gives cause to everything we have learned in the short history of humanity- reason, logic, love etc.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
God is not great
Hitchens is an arrogant moron. Ok, moron is a little harsh, but he isn't even close to presenting his book in a way which even comes close to the superior writings of those he criticizes.
What I found most amusing was how the arguments he used against C.S. Lewis couldn't even hold up to the argument presented by Lewis, and Hitchens continues on as if without further discussion he is correct! The assumptions were glaring and many, much like his contempt for so many "non-sequiter" conclusions by Christians, which he himself so freely lept to. At least Hitchens admitted to not sharing the same caliber of writing as those he criticizes, which is the best thing he could do for any of his readers.
This is no better a book than I could have written. He did a horrible job presenting conclusive arguments for his viewpoint, God is not great is pretty much a presentation of all his personal thoughts backed up by "evidence" of his own discoveries and perceptions. That would be like me telling you I'm right and here's a pie chart I made to prove it, without any outside measurement of accuracy.
What I found most amusing was how the arguments he used against C.S. Lewis couldn't even hold up to the argument presented by Lewis, and Hitchens continues on as if without further discussion he is correct! The assumptions were glaring and many, much like his contempt for so many "non-sequiter" conclusions by Christians, which he himself so freely lept to. At least Hitchens admitted to not sharing the same caliber of writing as those he criticizes, which is the best thing he could do for any of his readers.
This is no better a book than I could have written. He did a horrible job presenting conclusive arguments for his viewpoint, God is not great is pretty much a presentation of all his personal thoughts backed up by "evidence" of his own discoveries and perceptions. That would be like me telling you I'm right and here's a pie chart I made to prove it, without any outside measurement of accuracy.
Sunday, May 4, 2008
giving up
Part of me wishes I could summarize what I've been going through for the past several years, but part of me thinks it's pointless because we all have similar stories. We all have trials, successes, failures, gains and losses. My heart is always exploding and crumbling, but I haven't always been this way. I used to be much more even, not so high and low. But that was before I started experiencing many things that affect so many other people. A few years ago I lost an aunt that I was very close to, then a year and half ago I lost my mom. Those two events were the things that shook me the most. But during that time frame my Dad's church had gone through many tribulations as well. And everyday things piled and piled up, and my own weaknesses seemed to be swallowing me. Everyday I was closer and closer to drowning. I couldn't remember what it was like to walk on water, I was cursing the hand I had reached for so many times before.
I've been a very angry man for several years now. Of course I had days where I felt compassion but my overall attitude has been angry, unhappy and unsatisfied and bitter most of all I think. I knew and know that my situation isn't unique. People have lost parents, children and spouses for millenia. But knowing someone has had it worse than you doesn't mean you don't feel the difficulty of your own situation. We all have to walk through the shadows by ourselves. There is only One who goes through with us and it often doesn't feel like He's there, but as the old writing goes "the one set of footprints was when I carried you".
Well, since I'm not saying anything new or anything that hasn't been better said by someone else, I'll cut to the chase.
I think I finally hit my turn-around spot. I've had enough of myself. I've finally exhausted my frustration, anger and selfishness, and I can go no further. So this is where I set it all down and give it to someone that can carry it. Someone that tells me to cast all my care on Him because He cares for me. The same One that tells me to worry for nothing but in all things give thanks and prayer because He knows what I need.
I came to a fork and I saw meaninglessness, violence and emptiness. And then I saw Love, and a plan gone awry with redemption plugged into a space in time leading to the reconcilliation of all things....and I rejoiced with tears.
I've been a very angry man for several years now. Of course I had days where I felt compassion but my overall attitude has been angry, unhappy and unsatisfied and bitter most of all I think. I knew and know that my situation isn't unique. People have lost parents, children and spouses for millenia. But knowing someone has had it worse than you doesn't mean you don't feel the difficulty of your own situation. We all have to walk through the shadows by ourselves. There is only One who goes through with us and it often doesn't feel like He's there, but as the old writing goes "the one set of footprints was when I carried you".
Well, since I'm not saying anything new or anything that hasn't been better said by someone else, I'll cut to the chase.
I think I finally hit my turn-around spot. I've had enough of myself. I've finally exhausted my frustration, anger and selfishness, and I can go no further. So this is where I set it all down and give it to someone that can carry it. Someone that tells me to cast all my care on Him because He cares for me. The same One that tells me to worry for nothing but in all things give thanks and prayer because He knows what I need.
I came to a fork and I saw meaninglessness, violence and emptiness. And then I saw Love, and a plan gone awry with redemption plugged into a space in time leading to the reconcilliation of all things....and I rejoiced with tears.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)