Theodicy.
I remember my secondary school principal explaining his anger about a student who asked for a swimming pool to be built within the school. The student was asking about what else the school can provide for him, and the principal got really mad because that was an indication of "selfishness", because "do not ask what the school can provide for you, ask instead what you can provide for the school". While this adage does bring forth the ideas of selflessness in this context, it wouldn't make sense in another. Say, a prospective student wishes to enroll in the school, but he gets this response instead. Would he still want to enroll in this school if he knew that he was supposed to do most of the "providing" instead of the school?
In scenario 1, the student wants more from the school, and hasn't taken into consideration that the school has already provided for him (a holistic education, good teachers, good studying environment, et cetera). But he still wants more, without giving, because he's a greedy piece of shit.
In scenario 2, the student is considering his options, and wonders if he should enter a school with a swimming pool or without a swimming pool. He hasn't benefited from this particular school yet, so he doesn't feel compelled to "give back" to the school.
What I'm trying to say is, it doesn't make sense to put money/effort into something that hasn't provided for you, or proven its worth to you.
That's probably why I'm not religious, because I don't see whatever fortune or blessed life I enjoy as a gift from god(s). Whatever I have is from my ancestors and my parents, and that's where I'm going to continue giving back to.
Besides, isn't it scary to believe in diving beings that have the power to give and take everything away from you? I don't want to feel so helpless, nor do I want to feel empowered by something that, in my world, doesn't exist. I'd rather not have to believe that some day, some divine being up there can suddenly strike my family dead, and take away all my material wealth, just to prove a point.
The Book of Job tried to explain the question "If God exists, why do the righteous still suffer?" While some argue that the book itself explains this question, it just opens an entire can of worms for me. Why would God even allow Satan to torture his loyal subject to prove a point? I always do this to my characters in game "I'm going to throw you into this shit hole, if you survive you're good and I'd reward you, but if you don't then too bad, it just means you weren't good enough".
It seems perverse to me that any sentient being can condone evil to prove a point.
That's why I prefer to stick to the ancient Chinese traditions, because what I've been provided with, I should provide back. What I haven't been provided with, I will not reciprocate.
I can't talk to my family about this though. We all need to believe in something more powerful than us, and although I don't think of myself as the centre of the universe, I don't see the need to pander to another hypothetical being's might.
Because if they do exist....suffering won't be rampant.
-- 9/25/2014 11:37:00 PM
