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This is another book I recently read, sent to me by a new friend after we had a few discussions on religious topics. It\u2019s not the first time, and probably won\u2019t be the last, that someone kindly recommends a book like this to me. I truly appreciate their good intentions. However, it\u2019s not easy\u2014or rather, it\u2019s nearly impossible\u2014to change my mindset just by reading books of this kind.<\/p>\n
I respect and agree with the fundamental values, principles, and most of the moral teachings in the Bible. The key difference between my view and that of others is that I don\u2019t believe the stories in the Bible need to be factually true. There\u2019s absolutely no need for that. Whether they are based on real events or not doesn\u2019t matter as much to me. What matters most is the value system and the natural order it reflects about the world and humanity. A fake gun can still give you a sense of protection and confidence\u2014so long as you don\u2019t realize it\u2019s fake and never have to use it.<\/p>\n
This is, of course, a sensitive topic today. But in short, after many years of reading and reflection, I\u2019ve become increasingly confident in my own philosophical understanding of the world and human life.<\/p>\n
In the beginning, there was nothing\u2014zero (0). Then, for some reason, that zero broke into +1 and -1. Perhaps the +1 represents goodness and the -1 represents suffering. My hypothesis is that the total of all good and all bad in the universe is perfectly balanced. I hope to one day be able to prove it.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"