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Suppose some one asked a very good cabinet maker to make a book case for him. Furthermore, suppose that this cabinet maker is a perfectionist. What do we mean by perfectionist? Someone whose finished product is nigh perfect. So when the bookcase finally arrives, one could not wish for anything further to be done to make it better. (Humanly speaking, that is.)
Lets look at that statement a bit closer. 'One could not wish for anything further to be done to make it better.' That strikes me as an interesting approach to the idea of perfection.
Lets divert our attention to something else. God is usually believed to be a perfect being. God is believed to have created the universe, and all that is in it. Practically no religious devotee claims the world is a perfect place. Much hot air has been generated by this point. Let me add some more.
Lets trundle down the logic again.
That sounds a bit much to swallow. But think about it. Lets take an example out of the 'real world'. People are poor, they starve, die of cold,... Let us wish that this was not so.
[Here is a magic wand, go ahead]. Right, marvelous, lets go. Let the poor have money.
[Sure, where must I take it from?]. The military, there is enough money in the army's of the world to feed the poor many times over.
[Right. How do we get the military to release it?] Tell them to, you've got the magic wand.
[Unfortunately or fortunately they have free-will so the magic wand doesn't affect them.] So we can't just take it?
[No.] Lets make the world so prosperous with natural resources that there is more than enough for everyone.
[Done.] At last!...But wait, there is no change.
[It was done at the start of time, there has been and always will be more than enough for everyone.] Lets make the rich suffer disasters until they give up the money!
[Have you ever heard the saying, 'The rich get richer and the poor get poorer'? Well it applies to any change in the world, the rich by virtue of being rich can always adapt better to disasters better than the poor. So pouring forth disasters will merely make some of the rich poorer, and the poor a lot poorer.] Ok wiseguy, how would you do it then, How would you make the world perfect?
[I have already done it.] WHAT! When? Where?
[It has always been perfect.] Come off it, I have to get up and go to work tomorrow.
[There is nothing that one could wish for that would make the world a better place. Many wishes would destroy free-will, others would make slaves of fear out of thinking, creative, active men.] Ah Ha! Caught you! If the world is perfect, why do you value action, creation, things that change this so-called 'perfect' world?
[This world is perfect not only now, but also in the past, and will be forever more. You wouldn't call a play that had all the actors frozen in one pose, saying nothing, doing nothing a good play. Let alone perfect!] It still stinks!
[I'm glad you disagree. It adds flavour.] But in disbelieving God, am I not a sinner, will I not rot in hell?
[Good heavens NO! What a horrible idea, where did you get it from?] You mean there is no punishment for sinners?
[Of course not.] Then why should I do good?
[Well if you did, the world would be a better place,] Aah! Got you...[ than if you did not do good. What have you got?] The world could be better then!
[No.] But if I do good it will be better, if I do bad it will be worse!
[Yes, precisely, but you will do what you will do. But the universe as I see it, through out space and time is fixed and perfect.] Humph! Lets try another tack, if its perfect, why intervene with these so called 'miracles'.
[Easy, they are perfect interventions, planned and necessary. Never forget, the universe is a perfect creation, now, in the past and till the end of time. To you it is on going, to me, it is spread out complete and glorious and perfect. Visit me when you finished here, and I'll show it to you. I'm sure you'll like it. (The universe, the greatest ALL TIME, EVER SHOW! It will make you laugh! (It has many times already!) It will make you cry! (You've done a lot of that already.) The beauty, the perfection of it will make you feel it was all worth it. (It is beautiful now, it is perfect now, but you are not looking.))] What should I do then?
[Whatever you think best, but pray a little, I'm always willing to give advice. (And its always perfect!)]
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