"Theists generally don't answer this question. What they will usually say is that the universe is meaningful and that it only appears senseless at times because we don't see the big picture (eg., "there's a reason for everything"). That might be so, but it still doesn't answer the question on why there is a universe and why that universe is shrouded with an apparent sense of meaningless in so many of its features"

Your assertion about theists is curious. While his body was nailed to a cross, Jesus Christ wondered why God had forsaken him. Excluding, perhaps, people in mental hospitals, there isn't a single theist who does not experience doubt as a ubiquitous companion to faith.

Writing philosophical essays on matters of religion may be entertaining; whether there is any moral or intellectual value to it, only comparison with scripture can tell. Which you seem to recognize after all, since you finished your post with a quote from Matthew. You only failed to explain how your ideas may help nurture the little grain of mustard.

• Grains of mustard - harvey1 - June 26, 2003 - 21:43 UTC
  • Real truths don't change; deceptions come and go by the pound - jbrook - June 27, 2003 - 14:08 UTC
    • Truths are always contextual - harvey1 - June 27, 2003 - 14:45 UTC
      • Truths are always true - jbrook - June 27, 2003 - 16:51 UTC
        • This might be dumb but... - smartguy - June 27, 2003 - 18:03 UTC
          • It's not dumb at all - jbrook - June 27, 2003 - 18:51 UTC
            • Paradox has no place in civil or criminal law - whomi - June 27, 2003 - 23:11 UTC
            • Here is an interesting sidelight - yanniru - June 28, 2003 - 02:46 UTC
              • You often remind me of my Uncle - carefuluniverse - July 6, 2003 - 18:29 UTC
                • For the record - yanniru - July 6, 2003 - 21:58 UTC
                • My serious posts alway get empty responeses from Mike - yanniru - July 6, 2003 - 22:14 UTC
                  • "Always" means "100 % of the time" -- you're wildly inaccurate - carefuluniverse - July 7, 2003 - 00:06 UTC
                    • It is 100% - yanniru - July 7, 2003 - 13:07 UTC
                      • if they have been removed, someone's gonna pay - carefuluniverse - July 7, 2003 - 19:27 UTC
        • Tautological? - harvey1 - June 27, 2003 - 22:17 UTC