GOD? SAYS WHO? Occasionally, I engage in a bit of debate with the cowardly Christians at an online forum. It's all in vain. I can't seem to get them to understand the significance of self referencing, especially as it relates to any discussions of God. They just can't accept that whatever we say about God is just that, what we say about Him. It is nothing but our own words echoing in the void. They reply that the Bible speaks of God, completely oblivious to the fact that that recognized pillar of Western literature is itself nothing but more words from the mouths of mere human beings. People claim that the Bible is God's word. The shallow believers just can't seem to grasp that it means nothing for them to make such a claim. It would only mean something if God Himself were to offer it. But that is the crux of the problem. How would you know if God said it was His word? I mean, how would you know that it was God Who was doing the speaking, as opposed to, let's say, an alien? How would you come up with the idea that it was God speaking? Where would such a notion come from? No matter how you sort and sift it, you eventually arrive at the conclusion (if you are truly honest with yourself) that "God" is an idea that developed inside the human mind.So far as we know, it is no more than a fabricaton built upon words. And you cannot say that the idea came from the Bible. That would be nothing but a form of circular reasoning. It would be saying that the Bible is God's word because it (the Bible) says that it is. "But the Bible was inspired by God," they insist. "How do you know that?" I reply. "Did God say it was, or your preacher, or perhaps your great Aunt Millie?" I have written again and again on this subject, trying each time to present the argument from a slightly different angle, but to no avail. The cowardly Christians nervously counter with inane diversions and weak excuses, with assertions that the Bible's claims have somehow been validated. They cannot see how this represents nothing more than an offering (a rather pitiful offering at that) of more claims from the lips of human beings. Apprehensive human beings are simply talking about their own ideas. That is all they are doing. Nothing more. In my essays, I am doing the same. I'm talking about my ideas. I admit it. I make no claims to esoteric knowledge. The Christians, on the other hand, don't seem capable of assuming this position. They are firm in their belief that the Bible is God's word. It is very rare to hear a Christian state that it is merely their opinion that it is. At this juncture, I feel I must mention that I am in no way suggesting that there is anything wrong with Christian ideology. As an ethical nihilist, I do not believe that there is anything wrong with ... well, anything (unless you're working on a math problem or doing a crossword puzzle). My issue, if you will, is focused on the way their strong belief insinuates itself into the lives of other people, people who do not share their beliefs. Many members of state legislatures all over the country believe that the Bible is the authoritative word of God. As a result, their decisions on certain legislative proceedings are unavoidably influenced by their personal beliefs. This means that laws may be written and passed - and enforced - that are heavily influenced by Christian philosophy. This should not be happening. Christianity is an aggressive (and downright paranoid) force that needs to be reckoned with. And it needs to be dealt with in a manner that is every bit as firm and aggressive as the spirit of its own political/moral agenda. It is one thing to believe something, but quite another to impose that belief on others. Christians are not content with a live-and-let-live attitude. They seem determined instead to convert others to their way of thinking, to literally take over their minds, much like the sinister pods in the classic sci-fi movie Invasion of the Body Snatchers. How Did We Find Out About God? The Bible: Why God Had Nothing To Do With It
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