The Question of God
Source:
http://blog.myspace.com/19991525
Here we may find two actors in this dialectic play, Elpis and Lysander. They are holding a conversation...
Lysander: "It would appear to me that the great dissatifaction amongst the men of our age is the product of loss of contact with the divine. If only we were to once again follow his sacraments, he would end his punishment and our suffering."
Elpis: "Now, Lysander, what bold natured speach! Certainly you cannot believe the words which come from forth from your mouth!"
Lysander: "But, my dear Elpis, it is quite true despite m bombasity, and I can tell you that I grant much faith to my utterance."
Elpis: "Lo, Lysander, I cannot come to accept this! For is it not quite true that human affairs occur in the realm of nature, and are therefore by essence natural?"
Lysander: "Yes, with this I agree."
Elpis: "And is it not also a characteristic of God that he is not bound by natural laws, and is as such a supernatural entity?"
Lysander: "All of this is very certain."
Elpis: "Yet does it not follow from our conception of nature that all which occurs within it must abide by its laws?"
Lysander: "That would be the inference."
Elpis: "And all which does not abide to natural laws is supernatural?"
Lysander: "Quite so."
Elpis: "Then the supernatural may never interfere in nature?"
With this, Lysander paused a moment and considered.
Lysander: "Yes, by the argument."
Elpis: "And hence God, which is supernatural, may not convene in human affairs, which are natural?"
Lysander: "I suppose that you have made a fool of me, Elpis, but I remain unconvinced, for does not God possess the strength to mold nature as he sees fit? For with this action he does not act in accordance with natural laws, but changes their form, and hence indirectly influences mankind."
Elpis: "Oh, but Lysander, you are exceedingly confused; for if this is to occur, we are no longer speaking of nature!"
Lysander: "How do you mean?"
Elpis: "Is it not true that what we deem to be nature follows certain consistencies?"
Lysander: "That is assured."
Elpis: "And it is not also true that our concept of nature consists, in part, on these regularities?"
Lysander: "This I will grant."
Elpis: "Then if these consistencies change, our experience deviates from our concept?"
Lysander: "A most accurate proposition."
Elpis: "And is not nature known to us solely through the concept?"
Lysander: "I give you this licence."
Elpis: "Then the deviation of our experience from its natural harmonies does not permit the continuation of nature as known, but only as a new entity?"
Lysander: "That must follow."
Elpis: "Hence we are no longer speaking of nature?"
Lysander: "It is the implication."
Elpis: "But, as we said earlier, does it not remain true that human affairs are essentially natural, for do we not also know them only by a concept consistent with nature?"
Lysander: "With certainty."
Elpis: "Then it cannot be doubted that God may not, by any means, intervene in human affairs as understood?"
Lysander: "A most profound observation, Elpis."
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