January 11, 2016- Dear God
“Dear God” by XTC from XTC, as curated by Nick Reginio
(image from thegreatcourses.com)
From: “Gutland, Aaron” <aguts345@gmail.com>
to: "God" <Yahweh@almighty.net>
date: Mon, Jan 11, 2016 at 6:00 AM
subject: Interview Request
mailed-by: gmail.com
Dear God,
Just seeing if You might have a few moments for an interview? Know You're busy, happy to do it by email if that'll make it easier.
From: "God" <Yahweh@almighty.net>
to: “Gutland, Aaron” <aguts345@gmail.com>
date: Mon, Jan 11, 2016 at 6:03 AM
subject: Interview Request
mailed-by: gmail.com
Dear Aaron,
As you know I always have time for any of My children. That said, yes email would be best. Interviewing Me in person is a recipe for interruption. Plus, blinding. Because, you see, it is impossible to lay eyes on Me as a mortal being. They don't talk about it in the Bible much, but I figure the Greeks and the Romans covered it pretty extensively back when they were calling the religious shots.
Religion's a weird thing, right? It's not just Me?
Anyway, not important. Send Me some questions when you get a chance and we'll get started.
From: “Gutland, Aaron” <aguts345@gmail.com>
to: "God" <Yahweh@almighty.net>
date: Mon, Jan 11, 2016 at 6:08 AM
subject: Interview Request
mailed-by: gmail.com
Thank You so much...sir? Mr. Almighty? Apologies, this is usually a little easier. Last names and such.
Anyway, it's a pretty obvious opener, but would You care to comment on the validity of the theory of evolution?
From: "God" <Yahweh@almighty.net>
to: “Gutland, Aaron” <aguts345@gmail.com>
date: Mon, Jan 11, 2016 at 6:09 AM
subject: Interview Request
mailed-by: gmail.com
Evolution, huh? So this is going to be one of those controversial interviews then?
I'd put a smirking emoticon, but I confess I kind of loathe them. Never let it be said that I love everything My children create. And now, "confess" was not a pun there.
So, without making the mysteries of the natural world too clear, I will say that I think it is pretty clear to anyone who's studied the Bible in general and Genesis in specific that the Creation story, that, in fact, most of the events in the early chapters in Genesis including Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, Noah and so on, are intended as allegorical. So, I'd say, definitively, that "creationism" is ignoring the facts to protect the tale. Which I suppose one could say is beautiful but, by now, has kind of overstayed its welcome, hasn't it?
And to be frank, I've always been a bit insulted that there is a belief that somehow I could create the entire known universe but I couldn't manage to create a process as complex and interesting as evolution? That's just hurtful.
From: “Gutland, Aaron” <aguts345@gmail.com>
to: "God" <Yahweh@almighty.net>
date: Mon, Jan 11, 2016 at 6:18 AM
subject: Interview Request
mailed-by: gmail.com
Wow....that's....an impressive answer. I guess I expected You to play it a little more political.
Ok, I'm going to keep my commentary to a minimum going forward. Just ask the questions, I'm sure You understand.
Heaven and hell have obviously compelled human beings forever. Probably literally. So, I'd ask are they real and do they exist as physical places?
From: "God" <Yahweh@almighty.net>
to: “Gutland, Aaron” <aguts345@gmail.com>
date: Mon, Jan 11, 2016 at 6:20 AM
subject: Interview Request
mailed-by: gmail.com
First, the benefits if being the Alpha and the Omega is you don't really have to play any politics you don't want to.
As for heaven and hell, you are talking to God Almighty. Proof positive of a singular deity. Doesn't that answer your question in and of itself.
As for specifics, I decline to provide many beyond this, Hell is not eternal. There is always an opportunity for forgiveness, even after death.
From: “Gutland, Aaron” <aguts345@gmail.com>
to: "God" <Yahweh@almighty.net>
date: Mon, Jan 11, 2016 at 6:25 AM
subject: Interview Request
mailed-by: gmail.com
If You are as kind and loving as claimed and as You seem to indicate with that previous answer, why do You allow bad things to happen to good people?
From: "God" <Yahweh@almighty.net>
to: “Gutland, Aaron” <aguts345@gmail.com>
date: Mon, Jan 11, 2016 at 6:25 AM
subject: Interview Request
mailed-by: gmail.com
Ha.
Waited for your third question. I admire your restraint.
Well, Iet Me ask you: why do you allow bad things to happen to good people?
From: “Gutland, Aaron” <aguts345@gmail.com>
to: "God" <Yahweh@almighty.net>
date: Mon, Jan 11, 2016 at 6:26 AM
subject: Interview Request
mailed-by: gmail.com
My apologies but that seems...disingenuous. I'm a man, I'm not a being of infinite power and wisdom.
From: "God" <Yahweh@almighty.net>
to: “Gutland, Aaron” <aguts345@gmail.com>
date: Mon, Jan 11, 2016 at 6:27 AM
subject: Interview Request
mailed-by: gmail.com
That's fair, but allow me to suggest that even within your own sphere, even with the abilities and resources you have, you do not do all you can to ensure the ceasing of injustice. Probably, now and then, you even commit injustices. And you know the difference between wrong and right, generally, and you still choose to do wrong. So again I ask, why do you allow bad things to happen to good people? Because as long as you and all My children do, how do you propose, exactly, that I stop you?
From: “Gutland, Aaron” <aguts345@gmail.com>
to: "God" <Yahweh@almighty.net>
date: Mon, Jan 11, 2016 at 6:27 AM
subject: Interview Request
mailed-by: gmail.com
Certainly Your voice would hold more weight than my own, Your resources more powerful? Could You not descend and, I don't know, force us into line? Stop our petty selfishness and cruelties and violence?
From: "God" <Yahweh@almighty.net>
to: “Gutland, Aaron” <aguts345@gmail.com>
date: Mon, Jan 11, 2016 at 6:27 AM
subject: Interview Request
mailed-by: gmail.com
Oh, have I not done that? What about the 10 Commandments? The numerous prophets? Miracles? Visions? Saints? Could I just literally force you all to behave? Maybe. But then....that's not really to be encouraged is it? For Me to grind you all down, to slap you around and demand, "you all behave damn it!"
The fact is, belief in Me, belief in any version of Me is not predictive of morality or being law abiding. Back before those scientists proved My existence and established two-way communications with Me, atheists still committed less crimes, on a purely numeric basis, than those who claimed to have some faith. Christians have murdered, Muslims stolen, Jews murdered, Hindis raped, and on and on. Short of just erasing everything that makes humans human, what exactly would you have Me do?
From: “Gutland, Aaron” <aguts345@gmail.com>
to: "God" <Yahweh@almighty.net>
date: Mon, Jan 11, 2016 at 6:27 AM
subject: Interview Request
mailed-by: gmail.com
Fine. Forgetting the bad we do to one another. What about disease? Famine? Earthquakes?
From: "God" <Yahweh@almighty.net>
to: “Gutland, Aaron” <aguts345@gmail.com>
date: Mon, Jan 11, 2016 at 6:50 AM
subject: Interview Request
mailed-by: gmail.com
What about them? Would you have Me let you live forever? Would you have Me eliminate chance from the universe? What's so difficult about the reality that bad things happen. Period. They do. I don't do them to you. They happen. Could I eliminate tragedy from the universe, the unexpected inconvenience, loneliness, depression, anxiety, the bad break? Yes. Probably. No, not probably, certainly. But that what would be the point of all this. I set out to create beauty and wonder, to create incredible things, amazing animals, and best of all, all of you. Humanity. I could've made more of Mes living in infinite heavens. But then you wouldn't have made poetry, film, music, sports, pornography, television, plays, musicals, alcohol, fried food, and those duck boats that take you around Boston. I mean...damn. I hate pain and I hate the pain you all must live through, but I cannot imagine a world worth creating without all of you. And the reality is, without pain and hate and objectification and violence and cruelty...that's the price I paid to realize the wonder that is you. If I could've done it any other way, I would've. If I could focus it all on Me instead of My children, I would. But I can't. So I settle for the terrifying wonder that is humanity. I'm sorry that I can't give you more than that.
It was nice talking to you Aaron. Take care.
And don't worry. You love her. And she'll let you get there. It'll beautiful. And you'll break each others' hearts. And that'll be beautiful too.
Love you,
G_d