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"I would rather choose not to believe, than think there is a good creator, like my parents told me, who has singled me out and hates me for no reason." Lexx's anger cooled as he spoke. Chel was listening to him. "My parents did their temple, recited their prayers and you know where they are?" He paused for effect. "They are dead." Lexx grated.
"I'm sorry, Lexx." Chel said apologetically. "I really don't know what to say other than stuff like that happens for a reason. Maybe we don't understand why-" Chel trailed off. She didn't think that's what Lexx wanted to hear and he might take it the wrong way. She could point out that if it had not happened, he would not be here. They would never have met. But that was a somewhat selfish thing to point out. How could she put herself more important than Lexx's parents or justify herself as a reason for all of the suffering Lexx had endured. She was feeling awful for bringing it up, but she had not known. "It's definitely not your fault." Chel ended up saying.
"I'm sure I deserve what is happening to me for something I will do in the future." Lexx turned back toward Chel, anger now being replaced by a seeping depression and outrage. It had been awhile since he'd been so emotionally torn and it dredged up some past ponderings when someone had given him that line. Everything happens for a reason. Oh yes, that was his wonderful 'brother', Riley. He had often said that to Lexx before he realized just what effect those words had on him. "Perhaps something truly horrible that all this drives me toward. Perhaps I am just going to be a tool to do some great evil and this is preparing me for it. I don't want to, but life isn't giving me much of a choice."
"There's always a choice, Lexx." Chel responded hopefully.
"You're not giving me one." Grumbled Lexx.
"Lexx," Chel snapped. She looked at him crossly and Lexx blinked at her, repeating the words over in his head and working through why Chel had snapped. "You're expecting too much from me." It worked. Lexx noted that he had gone too far. He should not have said those things.
Lexx clenched and unclenched his fists repeatedly, wishing he could take back the sarcastic response. Chel did not deserve to be spoken to like that. He wanted to take it back.
4 thoughts on “March 31, 2005”
Refugnic
And after God was done tormenting Hiob, who was standing on the charred remains of his existence, Hiob praised the Lord…and this very praise pleased the Lord far more than all the praise of his angels combined, for if we were in their place, wouldn’t we praise the Lord as well?
By being put through all this, Lexx has learned something…something important. He has learned, how valuable life really is. He has learned to cherish the things he has. If his life had been easy, he would be nothing like the person he is today.
And if I may be so bold…most certainly Lexx’ life isn’t easier…but I believe his brother is worse off than he is.
Certainly, he is not in danger of being killed. Though I do wonder…how many friends does he really have? Lexx has a few. Riley, Chel…and even if they’d never admit it, his dice like him too. Especially Stealth.
EricSteel
I don’t know anything about Hiob besides what you wrote but to me that text describe God as a bully who enjoys submitting those who stand up against him more than submitting those who follow him from the start.
I find it hard to believe that excessive hardships are a good way to teach a person to value life, especially considering that it also made this particular person try suicide several times. To me that sort of thinking seems like a way to justify that “evil” exist when you have an omnipotent, “good” God. While I do think it would be impossible to value life without realising that you can lose it I find it to be a bit cheap argument.
I would say it’s hard to determine who’s worse off between Lexx and Zaile. While Zaile is much more free than Lexx, he has about zero friends or people he trusts which mostly seems to come from his obsession of being given away as a child. On the other hand Lexx has some friends he trusts but is basically a slave, unable to live as he want. I would say Lexx suffers more but that could be because he has had more than Zaile and lost it.
I’m not sure if this is a good place to discuss belief and I hope no offense was taken (I might’ve been a bit aggressive) but I find it to be an interesting topic.
StrykerFeanix
Well said. 🙂
Job is an excellent example, though i never heard him referenced as Hiob before.
Spikeball
Such a common misconception! “A creator who plans everything.”(last comic) Having plans does not mean controlling everything! the question of “How can a Good God allow bad things to happen?” has the weird assumption that God is controlling all events. But He is not because Free Will and He is Good.
Lets lay out some scenarios.
1) God controls everything, every choice and event and does not grant Free Will. Is God Good? the answer is indeterminate. There are no People involved just Dolls. In this scenario God is just telling Himself a story.
2) God controls everything, every choice and event and does grant Free Will. Is God Good? No! People have Will but have no control over their bodies or actions. This is needless torment.
3) God controls everything but people actively to force everything to go as They desire and grants Free Will. Is God Good? No. People can make choices but if they choose wrong they are met with insurmountable opposition until they “choose” correctly. This is not real choice and is cruel and Tyrannical.
4) God occasionally controls things and grant Free Will. Is God Good? He is granting true agency to real People. This is not Tyrannical but for the most part allows Bad things to happen because People are Free to Choose to do Bad. Sometimes He interferes with things negating some choice but providing some guidance and management. Some would call this Good, some would say thee is not enough interference but others could say there is too much interference.
5) God grants Free Will and lets thing run their course without interference. Is God Good? He is granting true agency to real People. This is not Tyrannical but allows Bad things to happen because People are Free to Choose to do Bad. Some would call this Good some would call it irresponsible others would call it proper execution of Free Will.
6) There is no God. Is God Good? No, you have to exist to be Good!
How can a Good God allow bad things? By granting Free Will and letting people actually use it; perhaps providing some guidance along the way. To make a universe that has Free Will allowing bad things is necessary to be a Good creator. Good is not the direct opposition of all things Bad. The misunderstanding of what Good is is the reason so many reject God.
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