The space between

Recently someone commented on my being a theist. This individual has known me  a very very long time and knows well my fluctuations  from casual Christian to Atheist and all points in between. Hung out in the deist camp quite  a bit. Lolly gagged around the Eastern and even broke a sweat with North Americans a few times.

I had to go back and re-read the note as the phrase, a theist, is so remarkably close to atheist I had to be sure what I was being accused of! Labels are fine, when appropriately affixed.

It occurred to me then that there is such a tiny space between us – those that believe and those that do not. The lazy “i just don’t know” Agnostics can go to Starbucks and shut the hell up for a while. I am talking about people who believe in something. Or, in this case, nothing too.

You see, it is no longer about what to me but about why. Why do you have the position you do? Can you explain it? There are so many sheep on both sides. Empty heads that store a few lines of someone else’s reasoning to regurgitate like a speaking toy with a pull string.  A Pavlovian response to a few key words and the vomit like spewing begins and continues until the speaker is out of breath.

Please notice I do not apply this specifically to either side. Both camps have the same thing to over come. Members of the  club you really wish had not learned the secret hand shake. They make it really hard for the members that actually know what they are talking about.

In the end we believe what we choose to because we choose to believe it. There is no proof. There most likely will not be any time soon. Science, the physical world stuff, is not made to work in the non-physical world, if there is one of course. (Sorry that last line was attempt to remain neutral! Fail. Lack the word skills.)

What there is however is a lot information on both sides of the aisle. Go get some. Read it. Read some of both sides. If you take any stack of data and have a predetermined conclusion you want to reach, you will find a way to manipulate that data. Starting at the end is not the best way to learn something.

If you want to believe in the Judeo-Christian God, you will see him/her everywhere and see proof everywhere. If you want to believe only in the physical Newtonian world you will see a lack of proof in anything but science.

The trick, in my mind, is to know and be able to articulate your reasoning. Name calling, belittling, slurring and slinging are not necessary. (Unless you are lazy agnostic – read a book damn it!)

This of course is  nothing new, not saying anything a million much smarter people have said before me. It is just that, that little space between, the difference ‘tween a t and at brought it back to the forefront of my thoughts this morning.

That tiny space between has been the cause of so much misery, treachery, senseless cruel death,  villainous bigotry. Amazing that the difference is so small, I almost missed it. Even more amazing is how big the human creature/creation can make something out of the smallest thing.

I know that what someone believes is a big thing to them. As it ought to be,  a big deal! But why is what someone else believes also so important to them too?

Any way, I gots stuff to do today. Just felt like typing.

Peace,

A V