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From: 7171@spaceworks.com (Gary Kallback)
Subject: Re: Thought Question
Message-ID: <D2ozH8.D0@spaceworks.com>
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Date: Fri, 20 Jan 1995 07:00:43 GMT
References: <3f4iso$8m@lyra.csx.cam.ac.uk> <1995Jan13.042008.10093@Princeton.EDU> <3f7eo1$2l5@lyra.csx.cam.ac.uk>
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I read your comments on thinking.

I believe we need first to look around us to achieve a perspective to understand the full range of thought in this world as a whole.

For instance, in my home there is a cute little dog.  When we eat at the table and the meal continues without noticing him, he begins to whine--realizing (or thinking) that if he doesn't get a scrap soon, he won't (and he is right).  His tail wags and he even begins to dance as the meal is done.  He may be fed a few minor scraps from the kitchen after the table is cleared.  But again, you can see he is thinking and evaluating his situation.

I view this kind of thinking as "in the order of things."  The dog is doing what a dog does!!  He is not thinking, however, "I am going to get even with this family because they didn't feed me and later bite the children that the master loves so I can have revenge."  Only Gary Larson could (he's retired) bring a dog to life as a human thinks.  

But we as humans are different then this simple and innocent dog.  We have been given the gift of free will (some may also call it a curse).  We can calculate in our thinking VISUAL thoughts of revenge, hate, and even scheme to hurt another or cause someone to go into another direction through the simple dropping of a lie (watch your soaps on daytime TV or what caused the downfall of O.J.).

You see, the animals are just doing what they do, obeying the order of things--not like Hitchock's movie, The Birds.  But humans are different, for we are not part of an order but part of a higher being, that of what we have assigned to being called good and evil.  And so our thinking is planned--purposely directly with an END in mind--be it for the good of society or the destruction of mankind.

I have never even for a second considered a red robin to do this to its own kind--yet in the case of humans, it is a given and I think nothing about it.

Therefore, since we are not in the order of things then we must be created differently--to walk this earth with free will to virtually ignor an orderly world.

So if we do have free will and have the power over the world, then the old testament is correct as to who we are and why we are allowed to drift on our own--for what would a deity do with a robot?

Free will must then be truely a gift presented to our table--and why humans can change so dramatically from a per-formed behavior.  We do what no other thing can do--cry with tears for help or cry with tears of remorse or even in bitter anger, the ultimate act in free will; where one will give all for others or on the opposite end of the spectrum, commit their live to a jump from a bridge into certain death.

Near my home, a man stood on route 23 last week and then suddenly with great commitment, jumped to the pavement so the back wheels of an 18 wheeler could pass over his body.  Another man that same day simply walked upon a track and watched an 18 ton engine run over him. This is not like a migrating animal going to its death.  These are acts of great consciousness and commitment these people made to change the world around.

You see, our free choice is beyond just "thinking."  And we can view it as a gift--or live it as a curse.  And ironically, we have the free will to do either.  That is why there will be always a Cain and Abel--always law and grace.

Best Regards and may your choice find blessings.
