[Vision2020] No, Ted, I'm perfectly serious: Ditto!

[Tbertruss at aol.com]

Auntie:

I like the word "prestidigitation," but I must laugh when I say it.

I also like what you referred to as "l'hakshot," or fearless questioning.

I won't attempt a "serious" answer to the Christian justification for making 
gender distinctions here on earth. But I do wonder, is there a difference 
between making gender distinctions on earth, compared to, for example, in orbit 
above earth, where male and female work in peace and harmony as equals (thank 
you NASA)?  And I suppose on other worlds in our universe where the odds are 
there are intelligent life forms who propagate without sex or "gender" as we 
understand it, that God provided them with a different "good book" that does not 
leave them puzzling over what "gender" is?  And then we must also consider the 
other alternative universes that some think string theory predicts might exist 
... maybe these universes get their own dedicated God who is different from 
our God, perhaps a female God who also thundered commandments down upon a 
mountain, one of which could be equal pay for equal work for all, a simple idea of 
fairness (ERA) that the US Congress has refused to put into law, proof that 
our male dominated government is still a bunch of sexists.  

Really, seriously, these are fundamental questions, right up there with the 
most fundamental question of all: Why is there something and not nothing?

I am "quite right" to bring up Teilhard de Chardin?  Then why did my post 
generate a big "zero" regarding interest in his ideas?

I faced the truth long ago that almost no one is interested in "l'hakshot."  
Most have their views of life and the world that they hold dear and near and 
there is a stubborn resistance to jeopardizing cherished beliefs and faiths 
with fearless questioning.  So much for the grand project of individuality and 
free will that our culture purportedly holds in high regard, for what is "free 
will" without embracing "fearless questioning?"  How can someone's "will" be 
"free" if they will not with an open mind fairly consider the alternative views 
possible on religion or politics, just to pick two salient examples?

Ted Moffett

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