Procrastination

I've been feeling under the weather since New Year's Day. A bummer -- especially since I never really get sick. Definitely never sick enough to warrent antibiotics and other medicines that induce sleepiness.

So I've fallen behind on some assignments. Deadlines have come and gone, been postponed once, twice, three times. And now I find myself in the uncomfortable position of pulling all-nighters and playing catch-up.

I thought college graduation meant the end of staying up and working through the night til the weak rays of morning light fought through the venetian blinds. The NYQUIL, the pots of coffee, the aching fingers from typing for hours and hours and hours (back then on a word processer, today on my handy dandy and newly fixed Dell 700m)... it's all very "collegiate."

The topic du jour is evolution.

I honestly don't understand the big stink. I grew up Catholic. I believe in God or, the Discovery Institute's preferred phrase, an "intelligent designer."

What I don't believe in is Intelligent Design.

How do people believe the Earth is 10,000 years old? It boggles the mind. I'll argue that the geologic record shows that our rocky planet is at least 3.5 million years old. The response I sometimes get is that the Bible says the Earth is less than 10,000 years old so it is and the reason why some people find older rocks is because God is a trickster and put them there to test their faith.

Uh huh.

Right.

Why do they find natural selection so offensive? I take great comfort in knowing that mankind has evolved to our present form and will continue to evolve through millenia.

If humans are created in the image of God, what kind of intelligent designer are we dealing with? One that slept through one class too many I think.

I mean, if I were a God, I'd create a race of strong beings -- not frail, fragile humans that are so easily injured, maimed, and vulnerable to disease.

And what's with a lifespan of 78 years? That's barely enough time to learn and grow and improve oneself. As a benevolent God, I'd create beings that would live about 500 years.

And just look at how stupid humans are... instead of learning from trial and error (do not touch the flame because it's HOT) my beings would have a genetic memory... so that they'd be born with innate knowledge of most of the basics. That way they won't waste time conquering fire and inventing the wheel and memorizing multiplication tables.

Though I have not personally experienced childbirth, I'm told it's quite painful. My ideal beings would birth without pain... reproduction would be a snap... shared by both sexes. Men and women could take turns sharing in the miracle of life.

To prevent overpopulation, my beings would be born with a handful of fertilizable eggs, instead of thousands.

And there would be no slavery, ever, because my humans are made in the image of a wise and noble God (me). And they'd never even consider inventing and then stockpiling nuclear weapons with the rationale that in doing so they are ultimately preventing the annhiliation of all that I've created (and one another). 

Okay... I've reached the pinnacle of procrastination... becoming a God and creating a world of more perfect humans. I've outdone myself and need to get back to work.

Maybe tomorrow I'll tackle life on other planets......

Comments

[Sherri]

I've never gotten the conflict myself. For me, there's that whole "finite beings trying to comprehend the infinite". I mean, the whole infinite God thing seems to tell me that our definitions of things are just that -- ours -- and may not really encompass what a God would do.

And I think there are far more significant tests of faith than rocks. Ya know?

Oh yes, let's do get to the other planets, as soon as you've caught up your deadlines.

[marshmallow]

well i'll say, if this is how you'd tackle earth, i wouldn't mind hearing what you think of life on other planets!!