Theos-Talk Archives (December 1998 Message tl00034)

Dec 15th 1998

Dear Kym:

You wrote:

>  Dallas wrote:  "God" is given three "attributes:"
omniscience, omnipresence and
>omnipotence.

Yes, but "God" is also given the attributes of Love and
Forgiveness -
enabling "God" to 'forget' and change a person or event
immediately
regardless of past circumstances (I'm not saying I agree with
this view,
but it is a very common belief among most people).

Yet, karma does not - karma appears to keep some kind of list,
like Santa,
of who is good and who is bad.  Karma does not "forgive" and in
order to be
"just" and "fair" (as karma is purported to be) it must be able
to
"forgive" and "forget."  Can a judge be fair without compassion?
Must all
lawbreakers go to jail?

Dallas suggests:

Supposing that Karma was one of the agents of "God ?"  Should not
everyone assume that "God" is fair and just to everyone ?

Forgiveness and Mercy in my way of thinking ought to be
distributed fairly, or "God" plays favorites.  On what basis
would "God" do that ?  And by the way, do we have one "God" or
many "Gods" each described and visualized in the way any devotee
of any faith thinks God is ?

If we invoke the aspect of mercy and/or forgiveness, then what
happens to the victims if something has been done to hurt them ?
How does that get adjusted ?  Who will do the
adjusting ?  I suppose that the evil-doer ought to be active in
making restitution ?

Supposing again, that everyone has a sense of right and wrong
which is innate to them, so that they know without doubt what is
a good act or a bad one, why would they "fear" retribution ?  Why
"confession ?"  Why "repentance ?"  Why "contrition ?"  If there
is going to be fear because of uncertainty, then would the wiser
decision be to avoid doing harm to others ?

If "God" has granted all his children knowledge and wisdom, then
how does he set about getting them to regulate themselves ( not
regulating one-another ? ).

These questions have always puzzled me, and hence I have always
felt that Law which I assume  is fair and equal to all, might be
also self-adjusting on a universal scale.  I think if this were
really so, then we would voluntarily adjust our own acts so as to
live harmoniously with others.  And that's why Karma, as an
impersonal, universal and impartial Law has always appealed to
me.

I know that I am ultimately responsible for what I do and choose.
So I have to take responsibility and not live in hope that
somehow what evil I might do will be forgiven - that does not
sound too sure to me.

There is also the problem of doing good to others.  When we are
helpful then should we not be benefited by "God" in response to
our efforts in that direction ?  If so, then how would that be
done ?  Curiously enough, Plato, in one of his Dialogs ( The
Laws ) takes up this point for discussion.

What would you say ?

Best wishes,

Dallas

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