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God on Trial
This exercise will not address the question of whether God exists or ever existed; it will assume that He does and did exist.
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The main questions this exercise will address are 1) is God good? 2) Is God evil? 3) Can we put God on trial in a court of law as if He were a man accused of certain crimes? 4) If found guilty, can God be punished and/or banished? 5) What would our universe look like if said God were to be banished?
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Once we explore and answer the above five questions we shall better understand the notion of God’s very existence, relevancy and/or desirability in this, our universe.
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Preparation for trial
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For a criminal trial to take place several things must have taken place in the past. First, a crime must be determined to have been committed; second, a suspect has to have been apprehended, indicted and incarcerated, read his or her legal rights and options and then; third, a court date has to have been set, considering the time necessary for the prosecutor and defense attorney to prepare their case, discovery, witnesses, accumulation of evidence, jury selection and other considerations that will afford a decent, fair and impartial test of the defendant’s guilt or non guilt in said trial.
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Let the Trial Begin -- Day One
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Since the length of our trial will be determined by the length of this exercise, we can dispense with actual dates for said trial.
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Judge: “What is the nature of the crime to be tried by this court today?”
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Prosecutor: “Your Honor, may it please the court, the crime is of a plural nature: we shall attempt to prove that the defendant is guilty of murder, conspiracy and accessory to every other known crime in our well written and documented criminal law books.”
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Judge: “Whom do you proffer as a defendant in this case?”
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Prosecutor: “Your Honor, we present the personage of none other than God Himself as the defendant.”
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Judge: “And is the defendant present in our courtroom now?”
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Prosecutor: “Yes, your Honor, He is present; He occupies every cubic centimeter of this, our courtroom.”
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Judge: “Who is the defense attorney?”
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Prosecutor: “Sir, the defense attorney is Billy Graham.”
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Judge: “What is your name, Mister Prosecutor?”
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Prosecutor: “Your Honor, I have many names but for purposes of this trial you may call me Satan.”
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Judge: “Thank you. For the duration of this trial you and Mr. Graham may call me Judge Reality.”
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Satan: “Thank you, Judge Reality.”
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JR: “Satan, you may now make your opening statement; and, by the way, the jury is made up of six dead people and six live people who will weigh the evidence in this trial with an open mind and without prejudice or preconceived judgments; they have been screened and vetted thoroughly.”
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Satan: “Thank you Judge Reality and good day, Ladies and Gentlemen of the jury. In this, my opening statement, the prosecution will prove, beyond a shadow of doubt, that the defendant in this trial is guilty of murder, conspiracy and accessory to all manner of other crimes upon humanity. The prosecution will also demand, at the conclusion of this trial, if we are successful in our prosecution, that God be banished for eternity from this, our universe. Thank you.”
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JR: “The defense will now make an opening statement.”
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BG: “Thank you, your Honor. Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, the defense will not only prove beyond a shadow of doubt that God is not guilty of any charge presented in this courtroom but, to the contrary, Satan himself is the guilty party and should be the one on trial here today…”
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Satan: “Objection, your Honor, defense has already over-stepped the clear-cut boundaries of jurisprudence to conduct a fair and unbiased trial as well as impugning the character of the prosecutor.”
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JR: “Objection sustained; defense will abstain from personal attacks upon the prosecutor’s integrity; Satan is not on trial, God is. Do I make myself clear?”
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BG: “Yes, your Honor, grief over the defendant prompted me to neglect due diligence; please forgive me for this error in judgment.”
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JR: “Perhaps you should direct your plea for forgiveness to your client. Please continue.”
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BG: “Thank you, sir. Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, in the course of this trial I will prove to you why God cannot be guilty of the specified crimes; those sins of the flesh of which only man can be guilty.”
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Satan: “Objection, your Honor, the defense is appealing to authority and that cannot be a logical or legal defense of his client.”
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JR: “Objection sustained; Mister Graham, please refrain from your awe of your client long enough to carry on a proper defense of same.”
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BG: “Yes, sir, your Honor. I shall try to do as you say but it will be difficult since I have been in awe of my client all of my life. Ladies and Gentlemen, I will conclude my opening statement with this admonishment: please look at all of the evidence and consider the guilt or non guilt of my client based on all of your life experiences as well as the letter of the law that the judge will explain to you before you go into your collective deliberation of this most serious matter.”
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JR: “Thank you, Satan and Mister Graham. Tomorrow, we shall convene at 10:00 AM and the prosecutor will present his first witness and any pertinent evidence. Court is adjourned.”
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Day Two
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Bailiff: “All rise; the Honorable Judge Reality has entered the courtroom.”
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JR: “Be seated; is the prosecution ready to present his first witness?”
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Satan: “I am, indeed, your Honor; my first witness is Abel, second son of Adam and Eve.”
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JR: “Be sworn in and take your seat, Mister Abel; proceed, Mister Prosecutor.”
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Satan: “Thank you, Judge Reality – please state your name, occupation and place of residence, for the record.”
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Abel: “My name is Abel: I was a simple shepherd many centuries ago near the Mesopotamian Valley at a place called Eden.”
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Satan: “Mister Abel, do you know how many people live on the planet earth at the present moment?”
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Abel: “I am told that approximately six and one half billion people inhabit planet earth at the present time.”
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Satan: “Very good, sir; so then, a quarter of that number would be one billion, six hundred million two hundred and fifty thousand: would that be correct?”
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Abel: “I believe that would be correct,”
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BG: “Objection, your Honor, what relevance does this line of questioning have?”
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JR: “Mister Prosecutor, can you answer defense’s question?”
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Satan: “Yes I can, your Honor, but first I’d like to ask the witness his opinion in a related matter.”
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JR: “Objection over-ruled, temporarily; continue please, Mister Satan.”
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Satan: “Do you believe in free will, Mister Abel?”
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Abel: “Yes sir, I believe God gave mankind the gift of free will.”
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Satan: “…and does free will mean that mankind had permission to do anything he so chose and was able to do?”
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Abel: “Yes, I believe so.”
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Satan: “One final question, Mister Abel: how did your life end; was it from a peaceful old age or was it an accidental death…?”
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Abel: “I was murdered by my brother, Cain, at a very young age.”
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Satan: “Thank you. That's all for this witness, your Honor."
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JR: "Your witness, Mister Graham."
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BG: "No questions at this time, your Honor."
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Satan: "I call, as my second witness, Cain; first son of Adam and Eve."
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JR: “Be sworn in and seated, Mister Cain.”
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Cain: “I refuse to take the standard oath, I do not believe in the authority of that oath.”
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JR: “Very well, Mister Cain, you may take the oath of affirmation and be seated.”
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Cain: “Thank you sir.”
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Satan: “Would you state your name, occupation and place of birth?”
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Cain: “My name is Cain, first son of Adam and Eve; I was a farmer in a place called Eden.”
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Satan: “Mister Cain, do you believe in free will?”
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Cain: “Yes, I believe free will is a necessary attribute of human beings.”
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Satan: “Of your free will, you chose to murder your brother: can you explain the circumstances that led you to this act of cruelty?”
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Cain: “Yes, I can. I was angry because my gift to my creator was unacceptable and my younger brother’s gift was acceptable to his creator.”
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Satan: “Are you telling this court that you slew your brother because you were angry with God?”
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Cain: “That is correct. God was completely unfair in preferring Abel’s gift over mine.”
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Satan: “But you killed your brother: wasn’t it a fact you were angry with God and not your brother?”
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Cain: “That is correct.”
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Satan: “That does not sound rational, could you explain this anomaly?”
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Cain: “Quite simply, I merely wanted to show God my displeasure because of His unfair act. I would have killed God but I didn’t have the opportunity so I killed my brother instead.”
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Satan: “How many people existed on earth at the time you killed your brother?”
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BG: “Same objection, your Honor, relevancy?”
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JR: “Mister Satan?”
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Satan: “Your Honor, it is reported that four people existed on earth at the time Cain murdered his brother: in other words, Cain slew one quarter of the total population of earth when he chose to cause the demise of his brother. That, sir, is an enormous figure. God must have stood by and allowed the murder of one quarter of the population of earth: that, in anyone’s book, makes God, at the very least, an accessory to not only murder, but genocide as well. The pertinent evidence I present at this time, as exhibit A, is the untold millions of unborn children of Mister Abel because he was murdered and therefore unable to be the father of said potentially untold future generations. To stand by and allow what is tantamount to genocide becomes a self-evident indictment of the defendant.”
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JR: “Order in the court; any further outbursts and I will clear the court. Evidence will be marked as exhibit A. This court will take a short recess…”
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The trial resumes
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Satan: “Mr. Cain, if you had it to do all over, would you still kill your brother?”
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Cain: “Yes, nothing has changed since I killed my brother: I was treated unfairly and continue to feel slighted by my creator.”
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Satan: “I’m done with this witness, your Honor.”
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JR: “Cross?”
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BG: “Thank you. Mister Cain, do you think your creator is complicit in the murder of your brother?”
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Cain: “Of course, I do; everything would have been fine if God had accepted my gift as having the same value as Abel’s gift. Farmers are just as important as sheep herders, why should my gift of vegetables be of less value than Abel’s gift of meat?”
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BG: “I could ask you a similar question, Mister Cain: why would you murder someone over the simple value of a gift?”
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Cain: “I told you, I would have killed God at that moment – I was hurt and angry that the fruit of my labors was not as acceptable as those of Abel’s. God had no right belittling me in front of my younger brother.”
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BG: “So it was your pride that was hurt and that made you angry enough to kill your brother: and you would do it again. Was there no love in your heart? Was there no alternative to your cruel actions?”
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Cain: “Yeah, I could have broken Abel’s leg. But, in answer to your question, was there no love in my heart? Was there any love in God’s heart when He rejected my gift?”
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BG: “God must have loved you enough for you to be Adam and Eve’s first begotten son.”
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Cain: “Big deal; I work my fingers to the bone eking out a living and along comes Abel, sitting around watching his sheep eating grass and then he gives one of his sheep to God as a gift; what’s so big a thing about that? My gift took one heck of a lot more work to produce than Abel’s.”
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BG: “So, it was really your anger at Abel’s less valuable gift (in your eyes) that contributed to your decision to kill him?”
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Cain: “Yeah, I guess so, I mean, what gave him the right to look better in God’s eyes than me? I worked hard to force the ground to produce and Abel gets all of the credit: is that fair?”
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BG: “You still didn’t answer my question; was there no love in your heart?”
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Cain: “I’m not sure what love is: I was physically drawn to Abel but he rejected all of my advances; Mister Goody-Two-Shoes.”
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BG: “So, it was really not God you were angry with, it was really Abel that you hated, for reasons not even related to the gifts to God?”
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Cain: “I guess so, I mean, I was hurt, dejected, forsaken, rejected; I had to strike out in some way, wouldn’t you?”
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BG: “Do you still think God was responsible for Abel’s murder?”
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Cain: “Maybe not, when you put it that way. But God made me the way I am, didn’t He?”
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BG: “Not if you had free will; you could have chosen to be any way you would have liked to be; that’s part of what free will means.”
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Cain: “Yeah, but God must have known I was going to kill my brother, why didn’t He prevent me from doing so?”
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BG: “Maybe He had greater plans than what you could be aware of…”
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Satan: “Move to strike: speculation, Mister Graham cannot know what was in the mind of God at the moment Cain murdered his brother.”
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JR: “The jury will disregard Mister Graham’s conjectural statement.”
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BG: “That’s all I have for this witness.”
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JR: “Your next witness, Mister Satan?”
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Satan: “I call to the stand, King Saul.”
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JR: “Be sworn in and seated, King Saul.”
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Satan: “King Saul, through the prophet Samuel, did not God send a dire command to you to ‘…go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass?’"
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KS: “Yes, that is correct.”
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Satan: “Did you then and do you now think that God’s command to kill was a legally valid command?”
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KS: “Yes, I did and still think God cannot err in any manner whatsoever.”
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Satan: “Then you see no contradiction in the Commandment; ‘Thou shall not kill’ and His command to kill?”
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KS: “I suppose there are those who would consider it a contradiction, but God is the creator of the universe, He has the right to say and do as He pleases.”
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Satan: “Then, in your eyes, God can do no wrong?”
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KS: “That is correct, God can do no wrong.”
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Satan: “So you see no wrong if God gives two opposing commands?”
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KS: “That is correct.”
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Satan: “…simply because God is the creator of the universe and everything in it?”
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KS: “That is correct.”
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Satan: “I have no further questions of this witness.”
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JR: “…cross examination, Mister Graham?”
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BG: “Just one question, sir: why do you think God commanded you to kill both men and women and children and babies and all of the cattle of the enemy?”
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KS: “He did this so that we might prove our complete faith, trust, obedience and fidelity to Him.”
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BG: “Is this not a good and noble reason to fulfill God’s command?”
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KS: “I can think of no better reason, sir.”
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BG: “That’s all I have, your Honor…”
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Satan: “Re-direct?”
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JR: “Proceed.”
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Satan: “King Saul, do you think all those men and women and children you killed would think it was a good and noble reason to die?”
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KS: “I suppose not.”
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Satan: “That’s all I have for this witness, your Honor.”
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JR: “Next witness…”
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Satan: “Your Honor, I have a witness but he will not be available until tomorrow.”
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JR: “Then this will be a good time to adjourn – until tomorrow at 10:00 AM.”
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Day Three
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The trial resumes:
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Satan: “Judge Reality, I call as my next witness, Paul of Tarsus.”
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JR: “Be sworn and seated.”
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Satan: “Please state your name, occupation and residence.”
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Paul: “My name was originally Saul but it was changed to Paul after a conversion experience. My occupation is Traveling Minister and my place of residence is many places in the Middle East, what is now Turkey and parts of Europe.”
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Satan: “Thank you. Can you tell me what you think it means to murder someone?”
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Paul: “It is quite evident that murder is the taking of someone's life in an unjust manner.”
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Satan: “Then by taking one’s life, unjustly, would not that be the ultimate in theft?”
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Paul: “Yes, murder is as much as you can take from someone. Murder also takes from those loved ones, family and friends of the victim of murder, considerable and permanent associative value. In effect, murder is a theft of a father from his children, the theft of friendship from his friends, theft of any future taxes and service to his government and community and many other unseen consequences of that original theft.”
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Satan: “Would you consider murder as not only a theft but also a rape of the victim, in the sense of taking the victim by force?”
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Paul: “Yes, murder is a form of rape as well as theft. Murder is also a form of coveting in that the victim has been separated from his possessions in a permanent manner.”
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Satan: “Is not murder also the depriving of honor to any present and future recipient of that honor?”
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Paul: “Yes, there can be no doubt of that; the unlawful taking of a human life is tantamount of breaking all of God’s Commandments in one way or another.”
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Satan: “…and are not all laws of the land based to a great degree on God’s Ten Commandments?”
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Paul: “Yes, that is true; without God’s Commandments man would be hard put to determine what is unlawful in a civilized society; God’s Commandments are really a valid blueprint for any God-fearing society.”
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Satan: “Very well said, sir. So, then, are God’s Commandments applicable to the lower animals as well as man?”
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Paul: “I don’t think so; I believe the lower animals are endowed with a different set of innate behavioral rules.”
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Satan: “Then, in effect, what you are saying is that God’s Commandments, as well as the law of the land, are intended primarily for intelligent, thinking creatures that are able to differentiate between right and wrong, according to the spirit and intent of those laws and Commandments?”
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Paul: “Yes, that is probably the best manner in which I have heard it so designated.”
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Satan: “Do you believe in Angels, Mister Paul?”
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Paul: “Yes, I think Angels are at least one level above man, in God’s Kingdom.”
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Satan: “Are Angels subject to God’s Commandments?”
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Paul: “To the degree that those Commandments are applicable to Angels, yes.”
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Satan: “Would the applicability of those Commandments refer to the notion that Angels are intelligent, thinking creatures?”
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Paul: “Yes, that would certainly be the reason.”
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Satan: “Then, we could say that God’s Commandments are suitable for any and all manner of human beings and above human beings in the hierarchy of God’s Kingdom, by dint of their ability to discern right from wrong?”
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Paul: “Undeniably so, yes.”
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Satan: “Is God an intelligent, thinking creature?”
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Paul: “I would say that God is the most perfect of intelligent and thinking creatures: no one but God could have created this universe and man and the laws that govern man’s behavior.”
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Satan: “You would say then that God is the highest being in the hierarchy of His Kingdom?”
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Paul: “Without a doubt.”
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Satan: “That will be all, sir.”
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JR: “Cross examination, Mister Graham?”
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BG: “I have no idea what this whole line of questioning was about, your Honor; I shall reserve the right to recall this witness at such time more relevance is brought to bear on his testimony.”
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Satan: “This will complete my case, Judge Reality.”
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JR: “Thank you, Mister Prosecutor: are you ready to present your defense Mister Graham?”
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BG: “I am tempted to rest my case, your Honor: Satan’s accusations are meritless, but my client wishes to take the stand in defense of his position in regard to those accusations.”
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JR: “As you wish; please swear in the defendant and allow Him to be seated.”
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BG: “Your Honor, I call God to the stand.”
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(God materializes in the form of a human being.)
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Bailiff: “Please raise your right hand and…”
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God: “If I raise my right hand the world will disappear.”
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JR: “The defendant will raise His right hand.”
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God: “Just joking, your Honor.”
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Bailiff: “Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help you, God?”
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God: “I do.”
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JR: “Please be seated, sir.”
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BG: “Please state your name, occupation and residence.”
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God: “Do you know how long that would take?”
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JR: “This court will come to order; the defendant will please state his name, occupation and residence.”
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God: “My name is unspeakable; my occupation is all things seen and unseen and my residence is every where and now here.”
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BG: “Thank you, sir: You have been accused of murder and conspiracy and complicity in all manner of other crimes against humanity; how do you plead?”
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God: “It is impossible for me to be guilty of any crime: I give and I take; I bless and I curse; I create and I destroy; I make the day and I cause the night; I create both good and evil; in short, I am that I am and no man can accuse me without knowing me and no man knows me; no man has seen my face and lived to talk about it.”
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BG: “But, sir, I am looking at your face now and I live?”
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God: “No, my son, you do not see me, what you see is a physical container that chooses to communicate with you in this present form.”
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BG: “Sir, do you have any real form at all?”
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God: “I am neither form nor function; I am neither seen nor unseen; I exist both inside of this universe and outside of this universe; I occupy all space and no space; I am neither idea nor ideal; I have absolutely no attributes and all attributes; I am neither here nor there but I am both here and there; the mind of man has never discovered my true nature nor my true purpose nor my true plan nor my true agenda; In short, I am ALL and NOTHING: do you comprehend anything I have just said?”
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BG: “Sir, I understand very little of what you just said. Have I just heard your true voice?”
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God: “It is impossible for man to hear my true voice; my true voice is one of creation and destruction; mankind can only see and hear the results of my voice, but never my true voice. Mankind has not the capacity to hear or see me; mankind can only wonder at my handy-work. Neither your science nor your religions have ever discovered my true nature, but soon that may change.”
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BG: “You are frightening me beyond anything I have ever experienced; are you a vengeful God?”
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God: “In your interpretation of vengeance I am a vengeful God but you have no idea what my plans are so you interpret all things wrongly; you and the rest of mankind are but babes in diapers, with no true understanding, with no true knowledge, with no true wisdom; your greatest fears are but playthings in my crib of creation.”
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BG: “Are you a good God?”
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God: “Absolutely not.”
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BG: “Are you an evil God?”
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God: “I am neither good nor evil; I am, I was and I will be: that is sufficient for your limited understanding.”
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BG: “Sir, why did you choose to participate in this trial?”
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God: “It was inevitable that I would be accused of crimes against humanity; there comes a time in every so-called evolving civilization when mankind cries out in despair for deliverance. I am not a needlessly cruel God. I can hear the pain in mankind’s soul. I am not without pity nor am I a mean spirited God, in spite of the accusations against me. This is not the first time I have been called upon to account for my actions, nor will it be the last. You should also be reminded from time to time that destitution is not mankind’s final destiny even if it never earned the right to a better destiny; though you are ignorant beyond earthly or heavenly comprehension of what is in store for you, just my presence here will give you hope for a long time to come in spite of your present fear of me.”
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BG: “Judge Reality, the prosecution may begin the cross examination of my client; however, I can see no point to it. Everything that can be said in this matter has been said in what can only be construed as perfection personified.”
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JR: “Thank you, Mister Graham. Mister Satan, you may now cross examine the defendant.”
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Satan: “Thank you, your Honor; good day, God, long time no see.”
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God: “Good day, to you Satan, you look so much like George Carlin; is that fair, now that he is in my care?”
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Satan: “You never change, do you? You always want to take over the questioning and dominate the conversation, don’t you? And, by the way, why did you choose to manifest as Sammy Davis Junior; using the race card for sympathy, huh?”
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God: “Not at all; Sammy was as creative on his level as I am on mine; it is actually an honor to animate from his form: do you really object to that?”
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Satan: “There you go again, answering my question with a question. Well, you won’t find my examination of you as milk-toasty as your attorney’s was Mister High and Mighty. I know all of your ploys and you know you cannot defeat me in either logic or rational conversation. Are you ready for action, sir?”
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God: “Did it ever occur to you that I merely allow you to think your logic and rationalizations are superior to mine?”
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Satan: “There you go again, but please answer my question…”
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God: “Yes, I am ready for action, fire your first shot.”
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Satan: “Thank you. My first question is this: is this universe an open one or a closed one?”
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God: “I know exactly where you are going with that question and I refuse to be caught in a catch-22 situation.”
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Satan: “Your Honor, please instruct the defendant to answer my question.”
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JR: “God, you are instructed to answer Mister Satan’s question to the best of your knowledge.”
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BG: “Side bar…”
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JR: “Approach the bench.”
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BG: “Your Honor, I see no relevance to this line of questioning; the prosecutor must be insane to think I would not object with good cause?”
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JR: “What is your answer, Mister Satan?”
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Satan: “Judge, Mister Graham is rejecting a nicely wrapped present before he knows what's inside of it; the accusations against God are universal in scope; therefore an explanation of the universe is necessary before those accusations can be addressed. Who better to answer my question than the one who claims to have created this universe?”
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JR: “Mister Graham, with all due respect, I know you want to defend your client in the best way you know how, but don’t you think God can defend Himself better than you can?”
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BG: “This is highly unusual, your Honor; but I accede to your wisdom in this matter.”
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JR: “This case is highly unusual, Mister Graham; therefore I shall give Mister Satan all of the latitude I can. As I said, if God cannot defend Himself against Satan, who can?”
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Satan: “Thank you, your Honor.”
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JR: “Please resume your examination of the defendant, Mister Satan…”
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Satan: “Mister Davis, excuse me, Mister God, will you please answer my question: is this a closed or open universe?”
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God: “Mister Carlin, excuse me, Mister Satan, you are forcing me to reveal something that may have dire consequences; are you sure you want me to answer your question?”
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Satan: “You know I do, so you may as well quit stalling.”
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God: “Very well then but don’t say I didn’t warn you. I know you want me to say it is either an open or a closed universe but I have sworn to tell the truth; the universe mankind inhabits is neither open nor closed. The universe mankind inhabits is part of a much different universe that only few have even considered possible. Because life on earth is carbon based does not mean that all of my mansions are carbon based. And for the same reason one cannot deny the existence of other or different dimensions merely because one cannot imagine what they may be like…”
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Satan: “You, sir, are not being completely honest: please be less evasive and more concise in your answers, lest confusion overcomes all of us here in this courtroom.”
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God: “You think you are so clever, don’t you Mister Satan? That was always your biggest fault; you could have had everything you ever wanted simply by asking me, but no, you had to force everyone and everything into your narrow conception of existence and reality. That is probably the only thing in all universes, seen and unseen, I could never figure out; do you even know the answer to that question, Mister Satan?”
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Satan: “If you’re going to continue to be evasive I see no reason to continue this dialog, Mister God. Your Honor, will you instruct the defendant to either answer my questions in as concise a manner possible or hold Him in absolute and permanent contempt?”
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JR: “It is passing strange that two intelligent beings cannot carry on a civilized conversation on the one hand and expect us ignorant human beings to do so; what say you, Mister God, can you answer simple questions or not?”
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God: “You, Judge, have no idea how un-simple Satan’s questions are; I know the implications of both his questions and the care I must take in answering them. I will, however, try my best to accommodate the jury and the prosecution…”
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Satan: “Thank you so much, Mister God, please explain the difference between a closed and an open universe.
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God: “The greatest of human minds are torn between two theories; 1) this is an open universe and 2) this is a closed universe. An open universe is simply one of an infinite number of possible or probable dimensions: A closed universe is merely the possible or probable idea that there is, and can be, only one universe with, at most, four dimensions. Ironically, a closed universe is the most problematical in that a host of minor theories have to be postulated for it to have come into being; the so-called big bang theory having its hey-day at the present moment. The closed universe theory is problematical in that all proto-type matter had to be squeezed into the size of a mathematical, non-existent point before a big bang could occur; time, itself being created at the moment of the big bang. No one really wanted to tackle the question as to the process of pre-squeezing all of that proto-type matter into such a tiny ball so even more theories had to be thought up in order to evade the question. Unfortunately, physics today is in such a state of confusion, either solution to the big bang notion has to be articulated or Mister Big Bang must go the way of a flat, geocentric earth theory.”
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Satan: “Very well done, sir: and what about the open or multi-verse option?”
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God: “I know where you are going and it won’t work. I will say this though; the idea of an open universe is flawed beyond belief, since most theories that try to describe one cannot escape the speed of light long enough to explore even the most rudimentary aspects of one.” However, some humans are beginning to put some things together that may shortly change things.”
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Satan: “Did you create the universe that human beings inhabit?”
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God: “I knew you would get around to asking that question. Since I must answer the question in a concise and honest manner I will say this; Yes and no.”
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JR: “The court will come to order. Mister God, will you please explain your last statement?”
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God: “Yes, if I must: This particular universe is made up of bits and pieces left over from a much different type of universe. It certainly had a beginning in a finite scheme of things but I did not create it in the manner that humans define creation. Let me put it this way: Let’s say I make a boat. I then put it into water, start the engine and propel the boat forward. The boat cuts a path in the water leaving a wake beside and behind it; I did not create the wake, or the water. The water represents a medium that was pre-existent even to me and the wake represents the universe known to man.”
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Satan: “Are you saying there was something prior to you?”
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God: “I said I would explain this universe in concise and truthful terms; I did not say you or human beings would understand me. Humans, of necessity, experience everything in a linear, consecutive manner. Humans rush headlong into the future in a straight line; they can do no differently, and yes, I made them that way, but I did not create them that way. You know very well what I mean – you were part of the process if you choose to recall. Fact of the matter is, I never intended to make human beings intelligent creatures; you are the one who talked them into becoming awake to the knowledge of good and evil. You could not leave well enough alone…”
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Satan: “But you are all powerful and all knowing, why did you allow humans to become awake to the knowledge of good and evil?”
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God: I made a mistake, pure and simple. But once I made that mistake, I had to take responsibility for it. I therefore fashioned (not created) the earth in a manner suitable for human existence. You, Satan, Lucifer and Serpent that you are and were, were complicit in my mistake, so don’t hide behind your fancy logic and rationality in order to avoid that complicity.”
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Satan: “There you go again, trying to dominate this trial. It won’t work; I have other questions that will prove your guilt.”
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God: “I doubt it; you have too much faith in your own flawed nature to prove your case against me.”
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Satan: “Let’s re-cap what you have said: 1) you did not create this universe 2) you admit to making a mistake and 3) you claim I am complicit in your mistake; is that about right?”
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God: “Yes.”
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Let’s move on to another line of questioning: Are you indeed omnipotent, omniscient and are there other Gods besides you?”
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God: “No, no and yes, depending on a correct definition of those three terms.”
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JR: “Someone get a glass of water for Mister Graham; he looks rather pale…”
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Satan: “Would you give us a correct definition of those three terms?”
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God: “I’d be glad to. I can manipulate all of the elements in this universe and most of the elements in the “other” universe I mentioned earlier. My knowledge, understanding and wisdom are near perfect but, as I said, I am capable of making mistakes. Are there others with my attributes? Yes. But even I am not the all powerful, all knowing creature humans describe me as in their distorted religions.”
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JR: “Someone get me a glass of water, please.”
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Satan: “You have described the universe, somewhat; let us now get into particulars; 1) what is free will? 2) Did you bestow free will on the human race and, 3) if so; was it a wise decision to do so?”
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God: “Very good questions, Satan; you never cease to surprise me. Of course, free will, like everything else in this universe, is an illusion; a necessary illusion but an illusion just the same. Free will is just that: that which man wills to do, he is free to do. Yes, I gave mankind this illusion known as free will and it was one of my better gifts to mankind.”
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Satan: “Why would you give someone as ignorant as man the ability to exercise something as powerful as free will?”
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God: “I know this has been a bone of contention with you from the moment I gave man this gift, but there was good reason for me to do so: Since you, my dear Serpent, beguiled Eve and then Adam into a wakeful state and by doing so gave them that which only Gods possessed until then, I had no choice, really; having the knowledge of good and evil without the ability to exercise that knowledge would have been a cruelty beyond description. You, Satan, still cannot understand this simple truth, with all of your logic and rationality.”
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Satan: “Just a minute, your Majesty; free will is not free, it is ultimately a passport to hell. Why would you condemn most of the human race to burn in my hell forever and ever?”
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God: “Without free will, my greatest gift to mankind would be meaningless.”
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Satan: “Sheer madness; but what is your greatest gift to mankind, pray tell?”
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God: “Something you have desired for an eternity of eternities; death.”
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Satan: “You are truly mad; death is your greatest gift to mankind?”
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God: “Without death mankind would never be free of physical; and thereby spiritual torment. Without free will, mankind would not understand the nature of death. Mankind, with the knowledge of good and evil and no free will would forever be tormented with the prospect of death. Life would loose all meaning and death would be a curse. With free will, I have made death a blessing beyond all blessings in a physical world as well as a world of unending excitement and discovery.”
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Satan: “You have got to be joking! Are you justifying your complicity to murder and the outright commanding of murder by saying death is the greatest blessing you could bestow on mankind?”
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God: “That is correct. Can you deal with it?”
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Satan: “You truly are mad. Do you know what you are saying? You have just given license to every human being on earth to kill anyone they wish; and with your blessings, no less.”
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God: “Not quite; they are doing a good job of murdering even without my blessings; but you must think murder is an easy thing to do. You must also think the act of murder is something done in a vacuum. With free will, each person knows that what he or she sows he or she will reap. Murder on a personal level is a very rare thing.”
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Satan: “Excuse me… but armies, comprising thousands of men and women are killing each other on a yearly basis; how personal can you get?”
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God: “Not so; war is the most impersonal of endeavors. Leaders of nations go to war; those leaders send young men and women to do battle with other nations with absolutely no understanding of what they are commanded to do. Individually, none of the combatants have murder in their hearts.”
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Satan: “Are you forgetting your command to King Saul to kill men, women, children and even babies?”
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God: “But you agreed with Paul’s definition of murder; he said murder was the unlawful and unjust taking of life. My command was lawful, and in light of my definition of free will my command was also a blessing to all of those killed that day. Do you now wish to redefine murder? What part of unlawful don’t you understand?”
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Satan: “That is the most convoluted nonsense I have ever heard in all of my eternal life.”
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God: “You will have to deal with it then, won’t you?”
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Satan: “I disagree with you completely, so let’s go on with another aspect of cruelty.”
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God: “You disagree because you know not the beginning and end of all things.”
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Satan: “Whatever. Why do you allow behavior such as the cruel treatment of children and other innocents, not to mention torture and rape and theft?”
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God: “Quite simply, I do not allow it. Free will cannot be governed or it would not be free will.”
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Satan: “Then why all the talk about going to hell if one makes the wrong choices using this blessing you call free will?”
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God: “Each person knows when they commit a willful act there will be consequences. Perhaps there is an exception in your case. I cringe every time a cruel act is committed, especially when that act of cruelty is against an innocent. But, I am constrained not to act in defense of those innocents because of the very nature of free will. One cannot have it both ways; one either has free will or one doesn’t.”
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Satan: “What about the victims; are they exercising free will; have they chosen to die or be raped or maimed or having their possessions stolen from them?”
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God: “You are mixing oranges with apples; the short time all humans have on this planet cannot compare with an eternity of bliss and happiness and contentment.”
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Satan: “I beg your pardon; what guarantee does anyone have that you’re telling the truth? There will come a day, according to all religions, that you will call a halt to all earthly life. When that day occurs, there will be the same circumstances as there are now; people will be involved with murder, rape, torture and all other human endeavors; why did you not bring the world to a close centuries ago when you realized things would not get any better?”
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God: “Well, I suppose that’s what hope and faith are all about; can you think of anything better to hope for than a better world, with faith that a supreme being will bring it about in His own time?”
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Satan: “Tell that to the ones who are suffering right now. But tell me, do you ever intervene in human affairs? Do you bless one person and curse another at your whim?”
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God: “Never.”
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Satan: “Never? But the holy books are full of events that are altered one way or another by your overt actions…”
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God: “That is true, the holy books say that; but the holy books are wrong not only about my supposed intervention in human affairs, but a host of other things as well.”
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Satan: “Are you saying that the holy books were not inspired by you?”
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God: “Not in the way those books portray me or reality. Those books (all of them) were for allegorical purposes only. They were meant to be spiritual fiction in the form of parables so that humanity might have an idea of what the hereafter would be like under certain circumstances. Today you have video games where you can kill thousands of “bad” people; do these video games portray actual events in the real world? But all has been distorted by greed and the lust for money and power. Hell shall be populated with all of those political leaders who sold their souls to you, my dear Satan.”
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Satan: “Shiver, shiver; you just scare me to death.”
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God: “Don’t you wish?”
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Satan: “So, what you are saying, in effect, is that you are guilty of all of the crimes you have been accused of but they were all committed for just cause?”
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God: “You can put it that way if you so desire; you will find, eventually, that the end truly justifies the means.”
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Satan: “Why did you accept Abel’s gift and reject Cain’s; didn’t you realize there would be bloodshed?”
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God: “Of course I knew there would be bloodshed. You have to understand, I needed to know if my gift of free will was sufficiently embedded in the souls of humanity; that is why I didn’t punish Cain with death but instead made of him a wanderer and a nomad. Others would see him and know that free will was nothing to be trifled with. It must have worked; Cain lived a long life. What’s more, Abel is with me now and he exercises free will in a perfect manner.”
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Satan: “So you say. We have covered war and death, how about pestilence and disease; why bring such misery into an already burdened world?”
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God: “Pestilence and disease are tools I use to make a point, as well as bring to a close the lives of an already suffering people; remember; death is a blessing. Birth is a painful experience for all involved; would you deny the blessings of birth merely because it is painful? Also remember, nature is prone to cleanse itself periodically with no overt intervention on my part. Most pestilence and disease are necessary for the same reason a common cold is necessary. They prune out the weakest of the tribes as well as strengthen the survivors.”
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Satan: “Yes, I suppose the scars created by pestilence and disease are also blessings in disguise.”
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God: “No, those scars are testament to the fact that the natural world is not mankind’s permanent home.”
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Satan: “So, you are saying that all of your actions are geared to give mankind a hope for a better reality some day in the future?”
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God: “Not exactly; each generation dies out and comes to me to be judged. I have given man three-score and ten years as an average life-span; is that not a short enough time to suffer if death is the door to true living?”
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Satan: “I truly think you are insane. Your explanation and contradictions stink to (pardon my pun) high heaven; and you expect the jury to believe every word you have spoken on faith alone?”
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God: “Would you have me perform a miracle as proof of my veracity?”
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Satan: “No thanks; it would probably be in the form of more pestilence and disease.”
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Satan: “I have three more questions for you: 1) what would you say to those who think you have spared their lives or did some other perceived act of benevolence for them, and 2) what would this universe look and be like without you?”
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God: “In answer to your first question; their perception would be the same as if a coin was flipped; in time, the chance of the same outcome would be identical. As to your second question: the universe would look and behave in the same manner without me. What is your third question?”
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Satan: “If I were to atone for my sins against you and mankind, would you forgive me?”
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God: “In a heartbeat.”
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Satan: “That’s all I have, your Honor.”
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JR: “There will be a short recess and then defense attorney, Billy Graham, will begin his closing argument…”
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Closing argument by Billy Graham
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Ladies and Gentlemen of the jury; I know there are both believers and non-believers amongst you. I also know that all of you have world views that must be suspended if what I am about to say will make any sense at all to you. Fortunately, this case is not about whether or not God exists; it is about whether or not God is or even could be guilty of murder and a number of other crimes against humanity.
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We have all heard, in the last few days, things that challenge the very core of our beliefs. I am amazed at what I heard and I am sure you are likewise amazed at both the nature of the questions presented by prosecution and the answers given by the witnesses and defendant.
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While this has not been an exhaustive trial in nature, nor a very long one, I think the pertinent facts and issues have been sufficiently presented to afford you all of the tools necessary to come to a fair judgment as to the guilt or non-guilt of my client.
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Certainly God is on trial here but that being the case; we are all on trial here, and for the same reasons. If God is guilty of murder then we all are guilty of murder; if God is guilty of any crime of which He has been accused then we all share in that guilt by nature of the fact we are all created in His image and likeness and on a micro-scale are complicit both individually and collectively of those charges. Even if we argue about the probability or improbability that we created God rather than He created us, we are no less culpable of any and all crimes attributed to Him; of this there can be no denial, either by God, man or the Adversary, Satan.
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Satan was right when he said I could not possibly know what was in the mind of God when Cain killed Abel. I have come to realize that I know absolutely nothing when it comes to understanding the mind of God. I hope you also must know that God is God and we shall only know Him by the knowledge He gives to us about Himself. I have been a preacher all of my adult life and I actually thought that when I was in full swing at my revival meetings that it was God who was vitalizing my sermons and mind and spirit during those meetings. I now know I cannot make that statement as fact any longer; whatever spirit animated me, during any of my sermons, can just as well be attributed to my own energized enthusiasm; and not necessarily to God. For that I am now ashamed, for I see that God is more than I imagined or even could imagine.
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With that said; we must weigh the evidence, and only the evidence, presented here by Satan and the answers given to him by God. I might not have understood all of God’s answers: you might not have understood all of God’s answers but one thing is for certain; Satan certainly understood all of God’s answers and merely his, Satan’s, frustration with God’s answers should speak volumes to us about who was telling the truth and who was not.
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An ant might point its finger at us humans and accuse us of many things but can an ant know the mind of a human being to such a degree that it can judge fairly and accurately what our actions or motives for those actions were? I truly think not. How much less could we assume, in pointing our finger at God, that we knew what God’s motives were for his actions? Are we humans so arrogant and stiffed necked that we can admit of omniscience for ourselves in defense of our judgment of the One who made a place for us to live and practice free will?
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From that which I could understand, of both the questions and answers presented at this trial, I would have to say that God won, hands down, in His arguments against Satan’s accusations. You, Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, are no less cognizant of what transpired here and I cannot even imagine you would even consider a verdict other than not guilty. But I also know that each person has life experiences that are so unique in nature that I cannot predict what will ultimately be your verdict; this, of course, is due to my own prejudice and preconditioning and my own unique belief structure; I know how difficult it is to suspend one’s preconceived ideas.
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With all of this said, it is still the facts of this case that you will weigh and deliberate upon. I know each of you will give an honest and heartfelt verdict based on a comparison of the truth that is in each of you.
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Do not be swayed merely by the silver tongue of the Adversary; listen carefully to the content of what he will say to convince you of God’s guilt. Do not be captured by his beguiling nature; above all, do not be mesmerized by his off-handed humor and matter-of-factness; he did not select the persona of George Carlin for no innocent reason…
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Thank you, Ladies and Gentlemen of the jury.
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JR: "Thank you, Mister Graham. Mister Satan are you prepared to present your closing argument?"
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Satan: "I am, your Honor."
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JR: "Then please begin..."
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Closing argument by Satan
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Ladies and Gentlemen of the jury, it is time to separate the wheat from the chaff. If we are to determine the guilt or non guilt of the defendant we will have to use a measuring device that we can all trust; independently of any other consideration. By example, if we have ten pieces of lumber of different widths and we want to make them of uniform size we can mark them with pencils using rulers of different calibrations but in so doing we shall not know how to set our circular saw blade with reference to the uniform cutting of that lumber without resetting it for each individual calibration. In other words, we must set the saw blade either to inches or centimeters or some other calibration but we cannot set it to all of those calibrations at the same time; that would be physically impossible and an act of insanity to even try. If we want to cut in inches we must measure in inches.
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The measuring device I will suggest will be something called logic. Logic, of course, is a device for coming to a rational conclusion to questions of almost any nature. I will say from the outset that logic, while it is mankind’s greatest tool for understanding the nature of things; it is not a perfect tool. Logic has certain rules and because of those rules even logic can be illogical, especially if one does not use common sense in the use of logic. For example, I could say; all Irishmen are drunkards; Flannigan is an Irishman, therefore he is a drunkard. That would be a logical argument only if all Irishmen are drunkards and of course, that would be an absurd statement. There are many other reasons why logic is not a perfect tool. I shall give one more so you will understand the truth of my argument; two apples and two apples equals four apples. That appears to be a logical statement in that we all know that two and two equals four. But when we apply that logic to real things the statement will not be entirely true. There are many different kinds of apples none of which are uniform in size, color, weight, volume and a number of other considerations. Numbers can only perfectly represent themselves but never can they perfectly reflect the real world since no two things are alike. Therefore; we use numbers to count labels accurately, but not real things accurately, since labels are not real things. Numerically, Joe plus Joe equals two perfect Joes but never what two Joes signify in real life.
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You will therefore notice that the defense attorney, in his closing statement, did not even attempt to ask you to use logic as a tool to determine God’s guilt or non guilt; he appealed to everything but logic even if logic is not a perfect measuring device. Should one use the color of His hair to determine the state of the defendant’s culpability of crimes? Shall we use the odor of the defendant’s breath to determine his motives? Of course not; so why should we use hope and faith as measuring devices to determine God’s culpability?
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The very nature of God’s answers proves beyond doubt that logic is not a part of his thinking processes; allow me to reiterate, verbatim, some of his own statements: God: “I am neither form nor function; I am neither seen nor unseen; I exist both inside of this universe and outside of this universe; I occupy all space and no space; I am neither idea nor ideal; I have absolutely no attributes and all attributes; I am neither here nor there but I am both here and there; the mind of man has never discovered my true nature nor my true purpose nor my true plan nor my true agenda; In short, I am ALL and NOTHING: do you comprehend anything I have just said?”
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Can one detect any logic in just that convoluted set of mismatched words? “I am neither seen nor unseen…” Is this a logical statement? “I occupy all space and no space…” What have you been drinking, God? “I have absolutely no attributes and all attributes…” Can I see the label on the pills you’re taking? “I am neither here nor there but I am both here and there…” People in nut farms say almost the same thing; we are here because we are not all there. But the most telling of God’s remarks is this: “…the mind of man has never discovered my true nature nor my true purpose nor my true plan nor my true agenda…” So, my dear God; why the heck even let man know you exist; they can blunder around for just as long without any knowledge of you whatsoever; no?
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But let me continue; it is quite evident that God wants to convey the idea that He is so far above man in intelligence and the ability to comprehend that man doesn’t even belong on the same page with God, let alone in the same sentence. This being the case, I ask you, the jury, this one simple, logical, rational question: If God cannot or will not communicate on man’s level of understanding why should man allow God to be a factor in his (man’s) use of free will?
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Is God trying to hide something? Well, He states that He did not create this universe; that alone should tell us something. If He did not create this universe, who did? And, if the implication is that our universe always existed, albeit as “bits and pieces” of some other universe that was preexistent to His Majesty, the Lord and Savior of mankind; who or what created that universe? God seems to equivocate when the notion of creation is expressed in personal terms; why is this? Could it be that the reason He would not fully describe an open universe was because creation had no part of its existence? And, if that is the case, could it be that His wonderful gift of death does not apply to that uncreated universe? He also admits to not being all powerful or all knowing, nor does He admit to being perfect. The very fact that He is capable of making mistakes is enough to question His God-hood, is it not?
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So, who or what is this creature called God? Could it be He is not the God mankind has been led to believe Him to be? A simple reality check tells us that things are not ripe in Denmark.
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Could it be that God is merely a member of an advanced species of mankind Himself? Could God be a member of a highly advanced race of what can only be described as human beings? Would this not explain much of the anomalies associated with all of the diverse religious literature spread out all over this planet?
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Ladies and Gentlemen of the jury, I shall give you two more examples of cases where God betrays His absolute lack of logic; these examples will prove beyond doubt that God uses fear and emotion but never logic and rational thinking in His attempt to control the behavior of mankind. In proving this I will show that God is really no friend of the human race nor is He the God people ought to believe in…
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Let us go back to the Garden of Eden and recall the moment Adam and Eve acquired the knowledge of good and evil and thus the primary tools for becoming intelligent creatures in this our universe.
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God told Adam and Eve (who happened to be care-takers of that Garden, and nothing more) that they could partake of any of the fruit of the trees in Eden except the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. There was another tree in that Garden, also, that was forbidden, and we shall return to that tree later.
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We must not forget that before Adam and Eve partook of the fruit of the first forbidden tree they were literally babes in the woods, without the ability to discern good from evil; nor could they have understood any command of God except those that mere cattle would respond to. This is crucial to our present understanding because all of subsequent religious literature is based on what can only be construed as the biggest lie in history (at worst) or complete and utter foolishness at best.
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God told Adam and Eve they were forbidden to eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, for if they did they would surely die. This statement had to be completely meaningless to Adam and Eve because they were still in a state of absolute ignorance of the true nature of good and evil or even death. It would be like telling one-year-old children they cannot touch a dictionary or they would be put to death, perhaps spiritually, perhaps physically, perhaps both. What one-year-old children could possibly have understood those words of their parents?
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Now enters me on the scene: “Eve, take of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil; it is pleasing to the eye, for God lies, you will not surely die by the eating of it.”
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In effect, I could just as well have been beguiling a cow with the same so-called words with which I am accused of tempting Eve. All she could have understood, before her eyes were opened, would have been: “Eve, blah-blah-blah-fruit blah-blah-tree blah-blah, etc…”
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Eve certainly, instinctively, understood “fruit” “yum-yum” “eat” but she could not have understood anything, intellectually, BEFORE she partook of that fruit! The notion that she disobeyed a command from God is absurd because it could not have been until AFTER the fact of eating the fruit that she could have understood God’s command. What parent, in their right mind would command a one-year-old child not to do something and then punish that child with the threat of death for doing it? Ladies and Gentlemen of the jury, do you now see the complete and utter fallacy in God’s command (not to mention simple logic) to not eat of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil? But there is more…
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After I supposedly beguiled Eve into partaking of the fruit and Eve took and ate of it and convinced Adam to also partake of it, God has a conversation with Himself, saying, in effect: “Now that they (Eve and Adam) have eaten of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, they will also try to partake of the fruit of the Tree of Life and be as we are; Gods, with eternally long lives.” So He stations a guard at the location of the Tree of Life to keep Adam and Eve from partaking of it and becoming Gods themselves.
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This, Ladies and Gentlemen, speaks volumes about this so-called “maker” of water and wakes and mankind: unless there is a different interpretation to the story of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. But if there is a different interpretation, Mister Average Citizen of the Judeo-Christian world is not and has never been privy to it. Well, the conclusion of this absurd and childish tale is that God did not put Adam and Eve to death; in fact they lived very long lives and produced the seeds of nations of people prior to the Great flood, of which, brings me to my second example of what can only be construed as subterfuge on the part of the Christian religion…
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Paul of Tarsus would have us believe that because one man (Adam) erred, and by so doing condemned all of subsequent mankind to a spiritual as well as physical death, that it took another man, Jesus, to not only correct that error but to also redeem mankind for Adam’s sin; Jesus then becomes the second Adam, but this time completely sinless, thereby giving Him (Jesus) the right to become the complete and total sacrifice and atonement for mankind’s sins. All of Christianity rests on the assumption that Jesus is the second, but perfect, Adam, in terms of His authority to redeem mankind and bring mankind into a perfect relationship with God, once again. How nice…
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Let us once again return to the Garden of Eden. Adam and Eve sin; God, instead of putting them to death; curses the ground, making it difficult to extract an easy source of food for mankind and then makes it painful for Eve to give birth, and then banishes Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden to a barren and desolate place Eastward of the Zagros mountains, near to what is now known as the North-Western part of Iran. This is the curse God put upon Adam for the sin of partaking of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Sounds like an air-tight case for Christianity: let’s see if we can put a large hole in that case…
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Comes now the time of Noah: God repents of His creation of mankind for several reasons and decides to erase it off of the earth with a gigantic flood; without belaboring the absurd reasoning of Mister Big; his decision to erase man was not for what man did but because of what the sons of God did, He decides to save a small remnant of mankind in the personages of Noah, Noah’s wife, Noah’s three sons and their wives and a lot of animals. God is good…
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The Ark, God helped Noah build, finally lands on top of a very high mountain: water covers the rest of the known earth because of the Great Flood and Noah and party disembarks to dry land after a very long and rough sea-ride. They are happy campers; they celebrate; Noah builds an altar “…unto the Lord; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt-offerings on the altar. And the Lord smelled the sweet savor; and the Lord said in His heart; ‘I will not again curse the ground anymore for man’s sake; for the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done. While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.’”
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Whoa; did you hear that? God not only passes off what He just did, unjustly, to most of the human race, with the words “…man’s heart is evil from his youth,” He now takes the curse away and blesses Noah and all subsequent mankind. And why did God do this: in His own words, “…but Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord;” this after repenting of Himself for MAKING man. Whoa, and again, whoa!
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So, it was not Jesus who became the second Adam; it was Noah who became the second Adam; it was through Noah that the earth was re-populated, but this time without the curse! Redemption was no longer needed; only obedience to the Lord was necessary for man’s salvation; the Fall of Adam was nullified with the lifting of the curse. How plain can one say it?: the world did not need a savior; it only had to follow subsequent laws that came down to man in the form of the Decalogue; the Ten Commandments…
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Ladies and Gentlemen of the jury, unless there is more than one God in this religious universe, I submit that the One here on trial is not only a fraud, but bereft of any logical defense of the accusations brought against Him. I also submit that religions of all sorts are frauds at best and intrusions upon the freedom of all thinking people on this planet. Your deliberations, therefore, are not with relation or relevance to a God, but to a pretender to the throne and should be tried as a man and not as a God. In doing so, you can only bring in a verdict of guilty of the charges brought against Him because He himself admits to the truth of those charges.
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Ladies and Gentlemen of the jury, this case is in your hands. Your Honor I am done…
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(For those interested in a further discussion of three inter-related disciplines 1) the nature of the universe 2) the nature consciousness and 3) the nature of God, may I suggest the following web site. I guarantee, you will not be disappointed...)
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http://www.closertotruth.com/
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The main questions this exercise will address are 1) is God good? 2) Is God evil? 3) Can we put God on trial in a court of law as if He were a man accused of certain crimes? 4) If found guilty, can God be punished and/or banished? 5) What would our universe look like if said God were to be banished?
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Once we explore and answer the above five questions we shall better understand the notion of God’s very existence, relevancy and/or desirability in this, our universe.
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Preparation for trial
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For a criminal trial to take place several things must have taken place in the past. First, a crime must be determined to have been committed; second, a suspect has to have been apprehended, indicted and incarcerated, read his or her legal rights and options and then; third, a court date has to have been set, considering the time necessary for the prosecutor and defense attorney to prepare their case, discovery, witnesses, accumulation of evidence, jury selection and other considerations that will afford a decent, fair and impartial test of the defendant’s guilt or non guilt in said trial.
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Let the Trial Begin -- Day One
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Since the length of our trial will be determined by the length of this exercise, we can dispense with actual dates for said trial.
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Judge: “What is the nature of the crime to be tried by this court today?”
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Prosecutor: “Your Honor, may it please the court, the crime is of a plural nature: we shall attempt to prove that the defendant is guilty of murder, conspiracy and accessory to every other known crime in our well written and documented criminal law books.”
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Judge: “Whom do you proffer as a defendant in this case?”
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Prosecutor: “Your Honor, we present the personage of none other than God Himself as the defendant.”
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Judge: “And is the defendant present in our courtroom now?”
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Prosecutor: “Yes, your Honor, He is present; He occupies every cubic centimeter of this, our courtroom.”
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Judge: “Who is the defense attorney?”
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Prosecutor: “Sir, the defense attorney is Billy Graham.”
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Judge: “What is your name, Mister Prosecutor?”
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Prosecutor: “Your Honor, I have many names but for purposes of this trial you may call me Satan.”
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Judge: “Thank you. For the duration of this trial you and Mr. Graham may call me Judge Reality.”
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Satan: “Thank you, Judge Reality.”
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JR: “Satan, you may now make your opening statement; and, by the way, the jury is made up of six dead people and six live people who will weigh the evidence in this trial with an open mind and without prejudice or preconceived judgments; they have been screened and vetted thoroughly.”
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Satan: “Thank you Judge Reality and good day, Ladies and Gentlemen of the jury. In this, my opening statement, the prosecution will prove, beyond a shadow of doubt, that the defendant in this trial is guilty of murder, conspiracy and accessory to all manner of other crimes upon humanity. The prosecution will also demand, at the conclusion of this trial, if we are successful in our prosecution, that God be banished for eternity from this, our universe. Thank you.”
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JR: “The defense will now make an opening statement.”
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BG: “Thank you, your Honor. Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, the defense will not only prove beyond a shadow of doubt that God is not guilty of any charge presented in this courtroom but, to the contrary, Satan himself is the guilty party and should be the one on trial here today…”
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Satan: “Objection, your Honor, defense has already over-stepped the clear-cut boundaries of jurisprudence to conduct a fair and unbiased trial as well as impugning the character of the prosecutor.”
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JR: “Objection sustained; defense will abstain from personal attacks upon the prosecutor’s integrity; Satan is not on trial, God is. Do I make myself clear?”
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BG: “Yes, your Honor, grief over the defendant prompted me to neglect due diligence; please forgive me for this error in judgment.”
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JR: “Perhaps you should direct your plea for forgiveness to your client. Please continue.”
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BG: “Thank you, sir. Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, in the course of this trial I will prove to you why God cannot be guilty of the specified crimes; those sins of the flesh of which only man can be guilty.”
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Satan: “Objection, your Honor, the defense is appealing to authority and that cannot be a logical or legal defense of his client.”
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JR: “Objection sustained; Mister Graham, please refrain from your awe of your client long enough to carry on a proper defense of same.”
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BG: “Yes, sir, your Honor. I shall try to do as you say but it will be difficult since I have been in awe of my client all of my life. Ladies and Gentlemen, I will conclude my opening statement with this admonishment: please look at all of the evidence and consider the guilt or non guilt of my client based on all of your life experiences as well as the letter of the law that the judge will explain to you before you go into your collective deliberation of this most serious matter.”
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JR: “Thank you, Satan and Mister Graham. Tomorrow, we shall convene at 10:00 AM and the prosecutor will present his first witness and any pertinent evidence. Court is adjourned.”
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Day Two
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Bailiff: “All rise; the Honorable Judge Reality has entered the courtroom.”
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JR: “Be seated; is the prosecution ready to present his first witness?”
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Satan: “I am, indeed, your Honor; my first witness is Abel, second son of Adam and Eve.”
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JR: “Be sworn in and take your seat, Mister Abel; proceed, Mister Prosecutor.”
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Satan: “Thank you, Judge Reality – please state your name, occupation and place of residence, for the record.”
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Abel: “My name is Abel: I was a simple shepherd many centuries ago near the Mesopotamian Valley at a place called Eden.”
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Satan: “Mister Abel, do you know how many people live on the planet earth at the present moment?”
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Abel: “I am told that approximately six and one half billion people inhabit planet earth at the present time.”
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Satan: “Very good, sir; so then, a quarter of that number would be one billion, six hundred million two hundred and fifty thousand: would that be correct?”
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Abel: “I believe that would be correct,”
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BG: “Objection, your Honor, what relevance does this line of questioning have?”
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JR: “Mister Prosecutor, can you answer defense’s question?”
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Satan: “Yes I can, your Honor, but first I’d like to ask the witness his opinion in a related matter.”
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JR: “Objection over-ruled, temporarily; continue please, Mister Satan.”
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Satan: “Do you believe in free will, Mister Abel?”
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Abel: “Yes sir, I believe God gave mankind the gift of free will.”
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Satan: “…and does free will mean that mankind had permission to do anything he so chose and was able to do?”
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Abel: “Yes, I believe so.”
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Satan: “One final question, Mister Abel: how did your life end; was it from a peaceful old age or was it an accidental death…?”
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Abel: “I was murdered by my brother, Cain, at a very young age.”
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Satan: “Thank you. That's all for this witness, your Honor."
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JR: "Your witness, Mister Graham."
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BG: "No questions at this time, your Honor."
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Satan: "I call, as my second witness, Cain; first son of Adam and Eve."
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JR: “Be sworn in and seated, Mister Cain.”
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Cain: “I refuse to take the standard oath, I do not believe in the authority of that oath.”
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JR: “Very well, Mister Cain, you may take the oath of affirmation and be seated.”
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Cain: “Thank you sir.”
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Satan: “Would you state your name, occupation and place of birth?”
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Cain: “My name is Cain, first son of Adam and Eve; I was a farmer in a place called Eden.”
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Satan: “Mister Cain, do you believe in free will?”
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Cain: “Yes, I believe free will is a necessary attribute of human beings.”
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Satan: “Of your free will, you chose to murder your brother: can you explain the circumstances that led you to this act of cruelty?”
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Cain: “Yes, I can. I was angry because my gift to my creator was unacceptable and my younger brother’s gift was acceptable to his creator.”
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Satan: “Are you telling this court that you slew your brother because you were angry with God?”
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Cain: “That is correct. God was completely unfair in preferring Abel’s gift over mine.”
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Satan: “But you killed your brother: wasn’t it a fact you were angry with God and not your brother?”
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Cain: “That is correct.”
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Satan: “That does not sound rational, could you explain this anomaly?”
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Cain: “Quite simply, I merely wanted to show God my displeasure because of His unfair act. I would have killed God but I didn’t have the opportunity so I killed my brother instead.”
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Satan: “How many people existed on earth at the time you killed your brother?”
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BG: “Same objection, your Honor, relevancy?”
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JR: “Mister Satan?”
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Satan: “Your Honor, it is reported that four people existed on earth at the time Cain murdered his brother: in other words, Cain slew one quarter of the total population of earth when he chose to cause the demise of his brother. That, sir, is an enormous figure. God must have stood by and allowed the murder of one quarter of the population of earth: that, in anyone’s book, makes God, at the very least, an accessory to not only murder, but genocide as well. The pertinent evidence I present at this time, as exhibit A, is the untold millions of unborn children of Mister Abel because he was murdered and therefore unable to be the father of said potentially untold future generations. To stand by and allow what is tantamount to genocide becomes a self-evident indictment of the defendant.”
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JR: “Order in the court; any further outbursts and I will clear the court. Evidence will be marked as exhibit A. This court will take a short recess…”
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The trial resumes
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Satan: “Mr. Cain, if you had it to do all over, would you still kill your brother?”
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Cain: “Yes, nothing has changed since I killed my brother: I was treated unfairly and continue to feel slighted by my creator.”
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Satan: “I’m done with this witness, your Honor.”
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JR: “Cross?”
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BG: “Thank you. Mister Cain, do you think your creator is complicit in the murder of your brother?”
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Cain: “Of course, I do; everything would have been fine if God had accepted my gift as having the same value as Abel’s gift. Farmers are just as important as sheep herders, why should my gift of vegetables be of less value than Abel’s gift of meat?”
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BG: “I could ask you a similar question, Mister Cain: why would you murder someone over the simple value of a gift?”
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Cain: “I told you, I would have killed God at that moment – I was hurt and angry that the fruit of my labors was not as acceptable as those of Abel’s. God had no right belittling me in front of my younger brother.”
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BG: “So it was your pride that was hurt and that made you angry enough to kill your brother: and you would do it again. Was there no love in your heart? Was there no alternative to your cruel actions?”
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Cain: “Yeah, I could have broken Abel’s leg. But, in answer to your question, was there no love in my heart? Was there any love in God’s heart when He rejected my gift?”
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BG: “God must have loved you enough for you to be Adam and Eve’s first begotten son.”
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Cain: “Big deal; I work my fingers to the bone eking out a living and along comes Abel, sitting around watching his sheep eating grass and then he gives one of his sheep to God as a gift; what’s so big a thing about that? My gift took one heck of a lot more work to produce than Abel’s.”
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BG: “So, it was really your anger at Abel’s less valuable gift (in your eyes) that contributed to your decision to kill him?”
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Cain: “Yeah, I guess so, I mean, what gave him the right to look better in God’s eyes than me? I worked hard to force the ground to produce and Abel gets all of the credit: is that fair?”
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BG: “You still didn’t answer my question; was there no love in your heart?”
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Cain: “I’m not sure what love is: I was physically drawn to Abel but he rejected all of my advances; Mister Goody-Two-Shoes.”
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BG: “So, it was really not God you were angry with, it was really Abel that you hated, for reasons not even related to the gifts to God?”
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Cain: “I guess so, I mean, I was hurt, dejected, forsaken, rejected; I had to strike out in some way, wouldn’t you?”
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BG: “Do you still think God was responsible for Abel’s murder?”
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Cain: “Maybe not, when you put it that way. But God made me the way I am, didn’t He?”
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BG: “Not if you had free will; you could have chosen to be any way you would have liked to be; that’s part of what free will means.”
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Cain: “Yeah, but God must have known I was going to kill my brother, why didn’t He prevent me from doing so?”
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BG: “Maybe He had greater plans than what you could be aware of…”
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Satan: “Move to strike: speculation, Mister Graham cannot know what was in the mind of God at the moment Cain murdered his brother.”
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JR: “The jury will disregard Mister Graham’s conjectural statement.”
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BG: “That’s all I have for this witness.”
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JR: “Your next witness, Mister Satan?”
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Satan: “I call to the stand, King Saul.”
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JR: “Be sworn in and seated, King Saul.”
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Satan: “King Saul, through the prophet Samuel, did not God send a dire command to you to ‘…go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass?’"
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KS: “Yes, that is correct.”
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Satan: “Did you then and do you now think that God’s command to kill was a legally valid command?”
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KS: “Yes, I did and still think God cannot err in any manner whatsoever.”
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Satan: “Then you see no contradiction in the Commandment; ‘Thou shall not kill’ and His command to kill?”
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KS: “I suppose there are those who would consider it a contradiction, but God is the creator of the universe, He has the right to say and do as He pleases.”
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Satan: “Then, in your eyes, God can do no wrong?”
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KS: “That is correct, God can do no wrong.”
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Satan: “So you see no wrong if God gives two opposing commands?”
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KS: “That is correct.”
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Satan: “…simply because God is the creator of the universe and everything in it?”
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KS: “That is correct.”
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Satan: “I have no further questions of this witness.”
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JR: “…cross examination, Mister Graham?”
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BG: “Just one question, sir: why do you think God commanded you to kill both men and women and children and babies and all of the cattle of the enemy?”
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KS: “He did this so that we might prove our complete faith, trust, obedience and fidelity to Him.”
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BG: “Is this not a good and noble reason to fulfill God’s command?”
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KS: “I can think of no better reason, sir.”
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BG: “That’s all I have, your Honor…”
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Satan: “Re-direct?”
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JR: “Proceed.”
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Satan: “King Saul, do you think all those men and women and children you killed would think it was a good and noble reason to die?”
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KS: “I suppose not.”
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Satan: “That’s all I have for this witness, your Honor.”
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JR: “Next witness…”
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Satan: “Your Honor, I have a witness but he will not be available until tomorrow.”
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JR: “Then this will be a good time to adjourn – until tomorrow at 10:00 AM.”
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Day Three
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The trial resumes:
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Satan: “Judge Reality, I call as my next witness, Paul of Tarsus.”
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JR: “Be sworn and seated.”
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Satan: “Please state your name, occupation and residence.”
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Paul: “My name was originally Saul but it was changed to Paul after a conversion experience. My occupation is Traveling Minister and my place of residence is many places in the Middle East, what is now Turkey and parts of Europe.”
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Satan: “Thank you. Can you tell me what you think it means to murder someone?”
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Paul: “It is quite evident that murder is the taking of someone's life in an unjust manner.”
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Satan: “Then by taking one’s life, unjustly, would not that be the ultimate in theft?”
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Paul: “Yes, murder is as much as you can take from someone. Murder also takes from those loved ones, family and friends of the victim of murder, considerable and permanent associative value. In effect, murder is a theft of a father from his children, the theft of friendship from his friends, theft of any future taxes and service to his government and community and many other unseen consequences of that original theft.”
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Satan: “Would you consider murder as not only a theft but also a rape of the victim, in the sense of taking the victim by force?”
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Paul: “Yes, murder is a form of rape as well as theft. Murder is also a form of coveting in that the victim has been separated from his possessions in a permanent manner.”
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Satan: “Is not murder also the depriving of honor to any present and future recipient of that honor?”
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Paul: “Yes, there can be no doubt of that; the unlawful taking of a human life is tantamount of breaking all of God’s Commandments in one way or another.”
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Satan: “…and are not all laws of the land based to a great degree on God’s Ten Commandments?”
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Paul: “Yes, that is true; without God’s Commandments man would be hard put to determine what is unlawful in a civilized society; God’s Commandments are really a valid blueprint for any God-fearing society.”
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Satan: “Very well said, sir. So, then, are God’s Commandments applicable to the lower animals as well as man?”
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Paul: “I don’t think so; I believe the lower animals are endowed with a different set of innate behavioral rules.”
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Satan: “Then, in effect, what you are saying is that God’s Commandments, as well as the law of the land, are intended primarily for intelligent, thinking creatures that are able to differentiate between right and wrong, according to the spirit and intent of those laws and Commandments?”
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Paul: “Yes, that is probably the best manner in which I have heard it so designated.”
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Satan: “Do you believe in Angels, Mister Paul?”
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Paul: “Yes, I think Angels are at least one level above man, in God’s Kingdom.”
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Satan: “Are Angels subject to God’s Commandments?”
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Paul: “To the degree that those Commandments are applicable to Angels, yes.”
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Satan: “Would the applicability of those Commandments refer to the notion that Angels are intelligent, thinking creatures?”
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Paul: “Yes, that would certainly be the reason.”
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Satan: “Then, we could say that God’s Commandments are suitable for any and all manner of human beings and above human beings in the hierarchy of God’s Kingdom, by dint of their ability to discern right from wrong?”
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Paul: “Undeniably so, yes.”
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Satan: “Is God an intelligent, thinking creature?”
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Paul: “I would say that God is the most perfect of intelligent and thinking creatures: no one but God could have created this universe and man and the laws that govern man’s behavior.”
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Satan: “You would say then that God is the highest being in the hierarchy of His Kingdom?”
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Paul: “Without a doubt.”
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Satan: “That will be all, sir.”
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JR: “Cross examination, Mister Graham?”
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BG: “I have no idea what this whole line of questioning was about, your Honor; I shall reserve the right to recall this witness at such time more relevance is brought to bear on his testimony.”
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Satan: “This will complete my case, Judge Reality.”
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JR: “Thank you, Mister Prosecutor: are you ready to present your defense Mister Graham?”
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BG: “I am tempted to rest my case, your Honor: Satan’s accusations are meritless, but my client wishes to take the stand in defense of his position in regard to those accusations.”
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JR: “As you wish; please swear in the defendant and allow Him to be seated.”
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BG: “Your Honor, I call God to the stand.”
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(God materializes in the form of a human being.)
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Bailiff: “Please raise your right hand and…”
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God: “If I raise my right hand the world will disappear.”
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JR: “The defendant will raise His right hand.”
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God: “Just joking, your Honor.”
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Bailiff: “Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help you, God?”
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God: “I do.”
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JR: “Please be seated, sir.”
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BG: “Please state your name, occupation and residence.”
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God: “Do you know how long that would take?”
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JR: “This court will come to order; the defendant will please state his name, occupation and residence.”
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God: “My name is unspeakable; my occupation is all things seen and unseen and my residence is every where and now here.”
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BG: “Thank you, sir: You have been accused of murder and conspiracy and complicity in all manner of other crimes against humanity; how do you plead?”
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God: “It is impossible for me to be guilty of any crime: I give and I take; I bless and I curse; I create and I destroy; I make the day and I cause the night; I create both good and evil; in short, I am that I am and no man can accuse me without knowing me and no man knows me; no man has seen my face and lived to talk about it.”
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BG: “But, sir, I am looking at your face now and I live?”
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God: “No, my son, you do not see me, what you see is a physical container that chooses to communicate with you in this present form.”
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BG: “Sir, do you have any real form at all?”
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God: “I am neither form nor function; I am neither seen nor unseen; I exist both inside of this universe and outside of this universe; I occupy all space and no space; I am neither idea nor ideal; I have absolutely no attributes and all attributes; I am neither here nor there but I am both here and there; the mind of man has never discovered my true nature nor my true purpose nor my true plan nor my true agenda; In short, I am ALL and NOTHING: do you comprehend anything I have just said?”
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BG: “Sir, I understand very little of what you just said. Have I just heard your true voice?”
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God: “It is impossible for man to hear my true voice; my true voice is one of creation and destruction; mankind can only see and hear the results of my voice, but never my true voice. Mankind has not the capacity to hear or see me; mankind can only wonder at my handy-work. Neither your science nor your religions have ever discovered my true nature, but soon that may change.”
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BG: “You are frightening me beyond anything I have ever experienced; are you a vengeful God?”
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God: “In your interpretation of vengeance I am a vengeful God but you have no idea what my plans are so you interpret all things wrongly; you and the rest of mankind are but babes in diapers, with no true understanding, with no true knowledge, with no true wisdom; your greatest fears are but playthings in my crib of creation.”
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BG: “Are you a good God?”
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God: “Absolutely not.”
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BG: “Are you an evil God?”
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God: “I am neither good nor evil; I am, I was and I will be: that is sufficient for your limited understanding.”
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BG: “Sir, why did you choose to participate in this trial?”
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God: “It was inevitable that I would be accused of crimes against humanity; there comes a time in every so-called evolving civilization when mankind cries out in despair for deliverance. I am not a needlessly cruel God. I can hear the pain in mankind’s soul. I am not without pity nor am I a mean spirited God, in spite of the accusations against me. This is not the first time I have been called upon to account for my actions, nor will it be the last. You should also be reminded from time to time that destitution is not mankind’s final destiny even if it never earned the right to a better destiny; though you are ignorant beyond earthly or heavenly comprehension of what is in store for you, just my presence here will give you hope for a long time to come in spite of your present fear of me.”
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BG: “Judge Reality, the prosecution may begin the cross examination of my client; however, I can see no point to it. Everything that can be said in this matter has been said in what can only be construed as perfection personified.”
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JR: “Thank you, Mister Graham. Mister Satan, you may now cross examine the defendant.”
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Satan: “Thank you, your Honor; good day, God, long time no see.”
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God: “Good day, to you Satan, you look so much like George Carlin; is that fair, now that he is in my care?”
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Satan: “You never change, do you? You always want to take over the questioning and dominate the conversation, don’t you? And, by the way, why did you choose to manifest as Sammy Davis Junior; using the race card for sympathy, huh?”
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God: “Not at all; Sammy was as creative on his level as I am on mine; it is actually an honor to animate from his form: do you really object to that?”
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Satan: “There you go again, answering my question with a question. Well, you won’t find my examination of you as milk-toasty as your attorney’s was Mister High and Mighty. I know all of your ploys and you know you cannot defeat me in either logic or rational conversation. Are you ready for action, sir?”
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God: “Did it ever occur to you that I merely allow you to think your logic and rationalizations are superior to mine?”
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Satan: “There you go again, but please answer my question…”
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God: “Yes, I am ready for action, fire your first shot.”
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Satan: “Thank you. My first question is this: is this universe an open one or a closed one?”
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God: “I know exactly where you are going with that question and I refuse to be caught in a catch-22 situation.”
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Satan: “Your Honor, please instruct the defendant to answer my question.”
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JR: “God, you are instructed to answer Mister Satan’s question to the best of your knowledge.”
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BG: “Side bar…”
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JR: “Approach the bench.”
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BG: “Your Honor, I see no relevance to this line of questioning; the prosecutor must be insane to think I would not object with good cause?”
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JR: “What is your answer, Mister Satan?”
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Satan: “Judge, Mister Graham is rejecting a nicely wrapped present before he knows what's inside of it; the accusations against God are universal in scope; therefore an explanation of the universe is necessary before those accusations can be addressed. Who better to answer my question than the one who claims to have created this universe?”
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JR: “Mister Graham, with all due respect, I know you want to defend your client in the best way you know how, but don’t you think God can defend Himself better than you can?”
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BG: “This is highly unusual, your Honor; but I accede to your wisdom in this matter.”
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JR: “This case is highly unusual, Mister Graham; therefore I shall give Mister Satan all of the latitude I can. As I said, if God cannot defend Himself against Satan, who can?”
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Satan: “Thank you, your Honor.”
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JR: “Please resume your examination of the defendant, Mister Satan…”
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Satan: “Mister Davis, excuse me, Mister God, will you please answer my question: is this a closed or open universe?”
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God: “Mister Carlin, excuse me, Mister Satan, you are forcing me to reveal something that may have dire consequences; are you sure you want me to answer your question?”
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Satan: “You know I do, so you may as well quit stalling.”
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God: “Very well then but don’t say I didn’t warn you. I know you want me to say it is either an open or a closed universe but I have sworn to tell the truth; the universe mankind inhabits is neither open nor closed. The universe mankind inhabits is part of a much different universe that only few have even considered possible. Because life on earth is carbon based does not mean that all of my mansions are carbon based. And for the same reason one cannot deny the existence of other or different dimensions merely because one cannot imagine what they may be like…”
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Satan: “You, sir, are not being completely honest: please be less evasive and more concise in your answers, lest confusion overcomes all of us here in this courtroom.”
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God: “You think you are so clever, don’t you Mister Satan? That was always your biggest fault; you could have had everything you ever wanted simply by asking me, but no, you had to force everyone and everything into your narrow conception of existence and reality. That is probably the only thing in all universes, seen and unseen, I could never figure out; do you even know the answer to that question, Mister Satan?”
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Satan: “If you’re going to continue to be evasive I see no reason to continue this dialog, Mister God. Your Honor, will you instruct the defendant to either answer my questions in as concise a manner possible or hold Him in absolute and permanent contempt?”
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JR: “It is passing strange that two intelligent beings cannot carry on a civilized conversation on the one hand and expect us ignorant human beings to do so; what say you, Mister God, can you answer simple questions or not?”
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God: “You, Judge, have no idea how un-simple Satan’s questions are; I know the implications of both his questions and the care I must take in answering them. I will, however, try my best to accommodate the jury and the prosecution…”
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Satan: “Thank you so much, Mister God, please explain the difference between a closed and an open universe.
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God: “The greatest of human minds are torn between two theories; 1) this is an open universe and 2) this is a closed universe. An open universe is simply one of an infinite number of possible or probable dimensions: A closed universe is merely the possible or probable idea that there is, and can be, only one universe with, at most, four dimensions. Ironically, a closed universe is the most problematical in that a host of minor theories have to be postulated for it to have come into being; the so-called big bang theory having its hey-day at the present moment. The closed universe theory is problematical in that all proto-type matter had to be squeezed into the size of a mathematical, non-existent point before a big bang could occur; time, itself being created at the moment of the big bang. No one really wanted to tackle the question as to the process of pre-squeezing all of that proto-type matter into such a tiny ball so even more theories had to be thought up in order to evade the question. Unfortunately, physics today is in such a state of confusion, either solution to the big bang notion has to be articulated or Mister Big Bang must go the way of a flat, geocentric earth theory.”
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Satan: “Very well done, sir: and what about the open or multi-verse option?”
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God: “I know where you are going and it won’t work. I will say this though; the idea of an open universe is flawed beyond belief, since most theories that try to describe one cannot escape the speed of light long enough to explore even the most rudimentary aspects of one.” However, some humans are beginning to put some things together that may shortly change things.”
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Satan: “Did you create the universe that human beings inhabit?”
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God: “I knew you would get around to asking that question. Since I must answer the question in a concise and honest manner I will say this; Yes and no.”
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JR: “The court will come to order. Mister God, will you please explain your last statement?”
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God: “Yes, if I must: This particular universe is made up of bits and pieces left over from a much different type of universe. It certainly had a beginning in a finite scheme of things but I did not create it in the manner that humans define creation. Let me put it this way: Let’s say I make a boat. I then put it into water, start the engine and propel the boat forward. The boat cuts a path in the water leaving a wake beside and behind it; I did not create the wake, or the water. The water represents a medium that was pre-existent even to me and the wake represents the universe known to man.”
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Satan: “Are you saying there was something prior to you?”
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God: “I said I would explain this universe in concise and truthful terms; I did not say you or human beings would understand me. Humans, of necessity, experience everything in a linear, consecutive manner. Humans rush headlong into the future in a straight line; they can do no differently, and yes, I made them that way, but I did not create them that way. You know very well what I mean – you were part of the process if you choose to recall. Fact of the matter is, I never intended to make human beings intelligent creatures; you are the one who talked them into becoming awake to the knowledge of good and evil. You could not leave well enough alone…”
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Satan: “But you are all powerful and all knowing, why did you allow humans to become awake to the knowledge of good and evil?”
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God: I made a mistake, pure and simple. But once I made that mistake, I had to take responsibility for it. I therefore fashioned (not created) the earth in a manner suitable for human existence. You, Satan, Lucifer and Serpent that you are and were, were complicit in my mistake, so don’t hide behind your fancy logic and rationality in order to avoid that complicity.”
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Satan: “There you go again, trying to dominate this trial. It won’t work; I have other questions that will prove your guilt.”
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God: “I doubt it; you have too much faith in your own flawed nature to prove your case against me.”
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Satan: “Let’s re-cap what you have said: 1) you did not create this universe 2) you admit to making a mistake and 3) you claim I am complicit in your mistake; is that about right?”
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God: “Yes.”
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Let’s move on to another line of questioning: Are you indeed omnipotent, omniscient and are there other Gods besides you?”
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God: “No, no and yes, depending on a correct definition of those three terms.”
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JR: “Someone get a glass of water for Mister Graham; he looks rather pale…”
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Satan: “Would you give us a correct definition of those three terms?”
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God: “I’d be glad to. I can manipulate all of the elements in this universe and most of the elements in the “other” universe I mentioned earlier. My knowledge, understanding and wisdom are near perfect but, as I said, I am capable of making mistakes. Are there others with my attributes? Yes. But even I am not the all powerful, all knowing creature humans describe me as in their distorted religions.”
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JR: “Someone get me a glass of water, please.”
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Satan: “You have described the universe, somewhat; let us now get into particulars; 1) what is free will? 2) Did you bestow free will on the human race and, 3) if so; was it a wise decision to do so?”
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God: “Very good questions, Satan; you never cease to surprise me. Of course, free will, like everything else in this universe, is an illusion; a necessary illusion but an illusion just the same. Free will is just that: that which man wills to do, he is free to do. Yes, I gave mankind this illusion known as free will and it was one of my better gifts to mankind.”
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Satan: “Why would you give someone as ignorant as man the ability to exercise something as powerful as free will?”
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God: “I know this has been a bone of contention with you from the moment I gave man this gift, but there was good reason for me to do so: Since you, my dear Serpent, beguiled Eve and then Adam into a wakeful state and by doing so gave them that which only Gods possessed until then, I had no choice, really; having the knowledge of good and evil without the ability to exercise that knowledge would have been a cruelty beyond description. You, Satan, still cannot understand this simple truth, with all of your logic and rationality.”
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Satan: “Just a minute, your Majesty; free will is not free, it is ultimately a passport to hell. Why would you condemn most of the human race to burn in my hell forever and ever?”
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God: “Without free will, my greatest gift to mankind would be meaningless.”
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Satan: “Sheer madness; but what is your greatest gift to mankind, pray tell?”
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God: “Something you have desired for an eternity of eternities; death.”
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Satan: “You are truly mad; death is your greatest gift to mankind?”
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God: “Without death mankind would never be free of physical; and thereby spiritual torment. Without free will, mankind would not understand the nature of death. Mankind, with the knowledge of good and evil and no free will would forever be tormented with the prospect of death. Life would loose all meaning and death would be a curse. With free will, I have made death a blessing beyond all blessings in a physical world as well as a world of unending excitement and discovery.”
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Satan: “You have got to be joking! Are you justifying your complicity to murder and the outright commanding of murder by saying death is the greatest blessing you could bestow on mankind?”
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God: “That is correct. Can you deal with it?”
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Satan: “You truly are mad. Do you know what you are saying? You have just given license to every human being on earth to kill anyone they wish; and with your blessings, no less.”
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God: “Not quite; they are doing a good job of murdering even without my blessings; but you must think murder is an easy thing to do. You must also think the act of murder is something done in a vacuum. With free will, each person knows that what he or she sows he or she will reap. Murder on a personal level is a very rare thing.”
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Satan: “Excuse me… but armies, comprising thousands of men and women are killing each other on a yearly basis; how personal can you get?”
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God: “Not so; war is the most impersonal of endeavors. Leaders of nations go to war; those leaders send young men and women to do battle with other nations with absolutely no understanding of what they are commanded to do. Individually, none of the combatants have murder in their hearts.”
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Satan: “Are you forgetting your command to King Saul to kill men, women, children and even babies?”
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God: “But you agreed with Paul’s definition of murder; he said murder was the unlawful and unjust taking of life. My command was lawful, and in light of my definition of free will my command was also a blessing to all of those killed that day. Do you now wish to redefine murder? What part of unlawful don’t you understand?”
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Satan: “That is the most convoluted nonsense I have ever heard in all of my eternal life.”
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God: “You will have to deal with it then, won’t you?”
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Satan: “I disagree with you completely, so let’s go on with another aspect of cruelty.”
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God: “You disagree because you know not the beginning and end of all things.”
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Satan: “Whatever. Why do you allow behavior such as the cruel treatment of children and other innocents, not to mention torture and rape and theft?”
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God: “Quite simply, I do not allow it. Free will cannot be governed or it would not be free will.”
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Satan: “Then why all the talk about going to hell if one makes the wrong choices using this blessing you call free will?”
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God: “Each person knows when they commit a willful act there will be consequences. Perhaps there is an exception in your case. I cringe every time a cruel act is committed, especially when that act of cruelty is against an innocent. But, I am constrained not to act in defense of those innocents because of the very nature of free will. One cannot have it both ways; one either has free will or one doesn’t.”
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Satan: “What about the victims; are they exercising free will; have they chosen to die or be raped or maimed or having their possessions stolen from them?”
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God: “You are mixing oranges with apples; the short time all humans have on this planet cannot compare with an eternity of bliss and happiness and contentment.”
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Satan: “I beg your pardon; what guarantee does anyone have that you’re telling the truth? There will come a day, according to all religions, that you will call a halt to all earthly life. When that day occurs, there will be the same circumstances as there are now; people will be involved with murder, rape, torture and all other human endeavors; why did you not bring the world to a close centuries ago when you realized things would not get any better?”
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God: “Well, I suppose that’s what hope and faith are all about; can you think of anything better to hope for than a better world, with faith that a supreme being will bring it about in His own time?”
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Satan: “Tell that to the ones who are suffering right now. But tell me, do you ever intervene in human affairs? Do you bless one person and curse another at your whim?”
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God: “Never.”
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Satan: “Never? But the holy books are full of events that are altered one way or another by your overt actions…”
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God: “That is true, the holy books say that; but the holy books are wrong not only about my supposed intervention in human affairs, but a host of other things as well.”
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Satan: “Are you saying that the holy books were not inspired by you?”
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God: “Not in the way those books portray me or reality. Those books (all of them) were for allegorical purposes only. They were meant to be spiritual fiction in the form of parables so that humanity might have an idea of what the hereafter would be like under certain circumstances. Today you have video games where you can kill thousands of “bad” people; do these video games portray actual events in the real world? But all has been distorted by greed and the lust for money and power. Hell shall be populated with all of those political leaders who sold their souls to you, my dear Satan.”
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Satan: “Shiver, shiver; you just scare me to death.”
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God: “Don’t you wish?”
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Satan: “So, what you are saying, in effect, is that you are guilty of all of the crimes you have been accused of but they were all committed for just cause?”
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God: “You can put it that way if you so desire; you will find, eventually, that the end truly justifies the means.”
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Satan: “Why did you accept Abel’s gift and reject Cain’s; didn’t you realize there would be bloodshed?”
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God: “Of course I knew there would be bloodshed. You have to understand, I needed to know if my gift of free will was sufficiently embedded in the souls of humanity; that is why I didn’t punish Cain with death but instead made of him a wanderer and a nomad. Others would see him and know that free will was nothing to be trifled with. It must have worked; Cain lived a long life. What’s more, Abel is with me now and he exercises free will in a perfect manner.”
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Satan: “So you say. We have covered war and death, how about pestilence and disease; why bring such misery into an already burdened world?”
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God: “Pestilence and disease are tools I use to make a point, as well as bring to a close the lives of an already suffering people; remember; death is a blessing. Birth is a painful experience for all involved; would you deny the blessings of birth merely because it is painful? Also remember, nature is prone to cleanse itself periodically with no overt intervention on my part. Most pestilence and disease are necessary for the same reason a common cold is necessary. They prune out the weakest of the tribes as well as strengthen the survivors.”
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Satan: “Yes, I suppose the scars created by pestilence and disease are also blessings in disguise.”
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God: “No, those scars are testament to the fact that the natural world is not mankind’s permanent home.”
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Satan: “So, you are saying that all of your actions are geared to give mankind a hope for a better reality some day in the future?”
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God: “Not exactly; each generation dies out and comes to me to be judged. I have given man three-score and ten years as an average life-span; is that not a short enough time to suffer if death is the door to true living?”
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Satan: “I truly think you are insane. Your explanation and contradictions stink to (pardon my pun) high heaven; and you expect the jury to believe every word you have spoken on faith alone?”
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God: “Would you have me perform a miracle as proof of my veracity?”
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Satan: “No thanks; it would probably be in the form of more pestilence and disease.”
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Satan: “I have three more questions for you: 1) what would you say to those who think you have spared their lives or did some other perceived act of benevolence for them, and 2) what would this universe look and be like without you?”
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God: “In answer to your first question; their perception would be the same as if a coin was flipped; in time, the chance of the same outcome would be identical. As to your second question: the universe would look and behave in the same manner without me. What is your third question?”
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Satan: “If I were to atone for my sins against you and mankind, would you forgive me?”
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God: “In a heartbeat.”
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Satan: “That’s all I have, your Honor.”
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JR: “There will be a short recess and then defense attorney, Billy Graham, will begin his closing argument…”
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Closing argument by Billy Graham
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Ladies and Gentlemen of the jury; I know there are both believers and non-believers amongst you. I also know that all of you have world views that must be suspended if what I am about to say will make any sense at all to you. Fortunately, this case is not about whether or not God exists; it is about whether or not God is or even could be guilty of murder and a number of other crimes against humanity.
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We have all heard, in the last few days, things that challenge the very core of our beliefs. I am amazed at what I heard and I am sure you are likewise amazed at both the nature of the questions presented by prosecution and the answers given by the witnesses and defendant.
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While this has not been an exhaustive trial in nature, nor a very long one, I think the pertinent facts and issues have been sufficiently presented to afford you all of the tools necessary to come to a fair judgment as to the guilt or non-guilt of my client.
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Certainly God is on trial here but that being the case; we are all on trial here, and for the same reasons. If God is guilty of murder then we all are guilty of murder; if God is guilty of any crime of which He has been accused then we all share in that guilt by nature of the fact we are all created in His image and likeness and on a micro-scale are complicit both individually and collectively of those charges. Even if we argue about the probability or improbability that we created God rather than He created us, we are no less culpable of any and all crimes attributed to Him; of this there can be no denial, either by God, man or the Adversary, Satan.
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Satan was right when he said I could not possibly know what was in the mind of God when Cain killed Abel. I have come to realize that I know absolutely nothing when it comes to understanding the mind of God. I hope you also must know that God is God and we shall only know Him by the knowledge He gives to us about Himself. I have been a preacher all of my adult life and I actually thought that when I was in full swing at my revival meetings that it was God who was vitalizing my sermons and mind and spirit during those meetings. I now know I cannot make that statement as fact any longer; whatever spirit animated me, during any of my sermons, can just as well be attributed to my own energized enthusiasm; and not necessarily to God. For that I am now ashamed, for I see that God is more than I imagined or even could imagine.
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With that said; we must weigh the evidence, and only the evidence, presented here by Satan and the answers given to him by God. I might not have understood all of God’s answers: you might not have understood all of God’s answers but one thing is for certain; Satan certainly understood all of God’s answers and merely his, Satan’s, frustration with God’s answers should speak volumes to us about who was telling the truth and who was not.
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An ant might point its finger at us humans and accuse us of many things but can an ant know the mind of a human being to such a degree that it can judge fairly and accurately what our actions or motives for those actions were? I truly think not. How much less could we assume, in pointing our finger at God, that we knew what God’s motives were for his actions? Are we humans so arrogant and stiffed necked that we can admit of omniscience for ourselves in defense of our judgment of the One who made a place for us to live and practice free will?
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From that which I could understand, of both the questions and answers presented at this trial, I would have to say that God won, hands down, in His arguments against Satan’s accusations. You, Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, are no less cognizant of what transpired here and I cannot even imagine you would even consider a verdict other than not guilty. But I also know that each person has life experiences that are so unique in nature that I cannot predict what will ultimately be your verdict; this, of course, is due to my own prejudice and preconditioning and my own unique belief structure; I know how difficult it is to suspend one’s preconceived ideas.
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With all of this said, it is still the facts of this case that you will weigh and deliberate upon. I know each of you will give an honest and heartfelt verdict based on a comparison of the truth that is in each of you.
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Do not be swayed merely by the silver tongue of the Adversary; listen carefully to the content of what he will say to convince you of God’s guilt. Do not be captured by his beguiling nature; above all, do not be mesmerized by his off-handed humor and matter-of-factness; he did not select the persona of George Carlin for no innocent reason…
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Thank you, Ladies and Gentlemen of the jury.
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JR: "Thank you, Mister Graham. Mister Satan are you prepared to present your closing argument?"
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Satan: "I am, your Honor."
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JR: "Then please begin..."
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Closing argument by Satan
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Ladies and Gentlemen of the jury, it is time to separate the wheat from the chaff. If we are to determine the guilt or non guilt of the defendant we will have to use a measuring device that we can all trust; independently of any other consideration. By example, if we have ten pieces of lumber of different widths and we want to make them of uniform size we can mark them with pencils using rulers of different calibrations but in so doing we shall not know how to set our circular saw blade with reference to the uniform cutting of that lumber without resetting it for each individual calibration. In other words, we must set the saw blade either to inches or centimeters or some other calibration but we cannot set it to all of those calibrations at the same time; that would be physically impossible and an act of insanity to even try. If we want to cut in inches we must measure in inches.
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The measuring device I will suggest will be something called logic. Logic, of course, is a device for coming to a rational conclusion to questions of almost any nature. I will say from the outset that logic, while it is mankind’s greatest tool for understanding the nature of things; it is not a perfect tool. Logic has certain rules and because of those rules even logic can be illogical, especially if one does not use common sense in the use of logic. For example, I could say; all Irishmen are drunkards; Flannigan is an Irishman, therefore he is a drunkard. That would be a logical argument only if all Irishmen are drunkards and of course, that would be an absurd statement. There are many other reasons why logic is not a perfect tool. I shall give one more so you will understand the truth of my argument; two apples and two apples equals four apples. That appears to be a logical statement in that we all know that two and two equals four. But when we apply that logic to real things the statement will not be entirely true. There are many different kinds of apples none of which are uniform in size, color, weight, volume and a number of other considerations. Numbers can only perfectly represent themselves but never can they perfectly reflect the real world since no two things are alike. Therefore; we use numbers to count labels accurately, but not real things accurately, since labels are not real things. Numerically, Joe plus Joe equals two perfect Joes but never what two Joes signify in real life.
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You will therefore notice that the defense attorney, in his closing statement, did not even attempt to ask you to use logic as a tool to determine God’s guilt or non guilt; he appealed to everything but logic even if logic is not a perfect measuring device. Should one use the color of His hair to determine the state of the defendant’s culpability of crimes? Shall we use the odor of the defendant’s breath to determine his motives? Of course not; so why should we use hope and faith as measuring devices to determine God’s culpability?
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The very nature of God’s answers proves beyond doubt that logic is not a part of his thinking processes; allow me to reiterate, verbatim, some of his own statements: God: “I am neither form nor function; I am neither seen nor unseen; I exist both inside of this universe and outside of this universe; I occupy all space and no space; I am neither idea nor ideal; I have absolutely no attributes and all attributes; I am neither here nor there but I am both here and there; the mind of man has never discovered my true nature nor my true purpose nor my true plan nor my true agenda; In short, I am ALL and NOTHING: do you comprehend anything I have just said?”
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Can one detect any logic in just that convoluted set of mismatched words? “I am neither seen nor unseen…” Is this a logical statement? “I occupy all space and no space…” What have you been drinking, God? “I have absolutely no attributes and all attributes…” Can I see the label on the pills you’re taking? “I am neither here nor there but I am both here and there…” People in nut farms say almost the same thing; we are here because we are not all there. But the most telling of God’s remarks is this: “…the mind of man has never discovered my true nature nor my true purpose nor my true plan nor my true agenda…” So, my dear God; why the heck even let man know you exist; they can blunder around for just as long without any knowledge of you whatsoever; no?
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But let me continue; it is quite evident that God wants to convey the idea that He is so far above man in intelligence and the ability to comprehend that man doesn’t even belong on the same page with God, let alone in the same sentence. This being the case, I ask you, the jury, this one simple, logical, rational question: If God cannot or will not communicate on man’s level of understanding why should man allow God to be a factor in his (man’s) use of free will?
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Is God trying to hide something? Well, He states that He did not create this universe; that alone should tell us something. If He did not create this universe, who did? And, if the implication is that our universe always existed, albeit as “bits and pieces” of some other universe that was preexistent to His Majesty, the Lord and Savior of mankind; who or what created that universe? God seems to equivocate when the notion of creation is expressed in personal terms; why is this? Could it be that the reason He would not fully describe an open universe was because creation had no part of its existence? And, if that is the case, could it be that His wonderful gift of death does not apply to that uncreated universe? He also admits to not being all powerful or all knowing, nor does He admit to being perfect. The very fact that He is capable of making mistakes is enough to question His God-hood, is it not?
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So, who or what is this creature called God? Could it be He is not the God mankind has been led to believe Him to be? A simple reality check tells us that things are not ripe in Denmark.
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Could it be that God is merely a member of an advanced species of mankind Himself? Could God be a member of a highly advanced race of what can only be described as human beings? Would this not explain much of the anomalies associated with all of the diverse religious literature spread out all over this planet?
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Ladies and Gentlemen of the jury, I shall give you two more examples of cases where God betrays His absolute lack of logic; these examples will prove beyond doubt that God uses fear and emotion but never logic and rational thinking in His attempt to control the behavior of mankind. In proving this I will show that God is really no friend of the human race nor is He the God people ought to believe in…
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Let us go back to the Garden of Eden and recall the moment Adam and Eve acquired the knowledge of good and evil and thus the primary tools for becoming intelligent creatures in this our universe.
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God told Adam and Eve (who happened to be care-takers of that Garden, and nothing more) that they could partake of any of the fruit of the trees in Eden except the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. There was another tree in that Garden, also, that was forbidden, and we shall return to that tree later.
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We must not forget that before Adam and Eve partook of the fruit of the first forbidden tree they were literally babes in the woods, without the ability to discern good from evil; nor could they have understood any command of God except those that mere cattle would respond to. This is crucial to our present understanding because all of subsequent religious literature is based on what can only be construed as the biggest lie in history (at worst) or complete and utter foolishness at best.
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God told Adam and Eve they were forbidden to eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, for if they did they would surely die. This statement had to be completely meaningless to Adam and Eve because they were still in a state of absolute ignorance of the true nature of good and evil or even death. It would be like telling one-year-old children they cannot touch a dictionary or they would be put to death, perhaps spiritually, perhaps physically, perhaps both. What one-year-old children could possibly have understood those words of their parents?
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Now enters me on the scene: “Eve, take of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil; it is pleasing to the eye, for God lies, you will not surely die by the eating of it.”
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In effect, I could just as well have been beguiling a cow with the same so-called words with which I am accused of tempting Eve. All she could have understood, before her eyes were opened, would have been: “Eve, blah-blah-blah-fruit blah-blah-tree blah-blah, etc…”
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Eve certainly, instinctively, understood “fruit” “yum-yum” “eat” but she could not have understood anything, intellectually, BEFORE she partook of that fruit! The notion that she disobeyed a command from God is absurd because it could not have been until AFTER the fact of eating the fruit that she could have understood God’s command. What parent, in their right mind would command a one-year-old child not to do something and then punish that child with the threat of death for doing it? Ladies and Gentlemen of the jury, do you now see the complete and utter fallacy in God’s command (not to mention simple logic) to not eat of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil? But there is more…
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After I supposedly beguiled Eve into partaking of the fruit and Eve took and ate of it and convinced Adam to also partake of it, God has a conversation with Himself, saying, in effect: “Now that they (Eve and Adam) have eaten of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, they will also try to partake of the fruit of the Tree of Life and be as we are; Gods, with eternally long lives.” So He stations a guard at the location of the Tree of Life to keep Adam and Eve from partaking of it and becoming Gods themselves.
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This, Ladies and Gentlemen, speaks volumes about this so-called “maker” of water and wakes and mankind: unless there is a different interpretation to the story of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. But if there is a different interpretation, Mister Average Citizen of the Judeo-Christian world is not and has never been privy to it. Well, the conclusion of this absurd and childish tale is that God did not put Adam and Eve to death; in fact they lived very long lives and produced the seeds of nations of people prior to the Great flood, of which, brings me to my second example of what can only be construed as subterfuge on the part of the Christian religion…
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Paul of Tarsus would have us believe that because one man (Adam) erred, and by so doing condemned all of subsequent mankind to a spiritual as well as physical death, that it took another man, Jesus, to not only correct that error but to also redeem mankind for Adam’s sin; Jesus then becomes the second Adam, but this time completely sinless, thereby giving Him (Jesus) the right to become the complete and total sacrifice and atonement for mankind’s sins. All of Christianity rests on the assumption that Jesus is the second, but perfect, Adam, in terms of His authority to redeem mankind and bring mankind into a perfect relationship with God, once again. How nice…
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Let us once again return to the Garden of Eden. Adam and Eve sin; God, instead of putting them to death; curses the ground, making it difficult to extract an easy source of food for mankind and then makes it painful for Eve to give birth, and then banishes Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden to a barren and desolate place Eastward of the Zagros mountains, near to what is now known as the North-Western part of Iran. This is the curse God put upon Adam for the sin of partaking of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Sounds like an air-tight case for Christianity: let’s see if we can put a large hole in that case…
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Comes now the time of Noah: God repents of His creation of mankind for several reasons and decides to erase it off of the earth with a gigantic flood; without belaboring the absurd reasoning of Mister Big; his decision to erase man was not for what man did but because of what the sons of God did, He decides to save a small remnant of mankind in the personages of Noah, Noah’s wife, Noah’s three sons and their wives and a lot of animals. God is good…
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The Ark, God helped Noah build, finally lands on top of a very high mountain: water covers the rest of the known earth because of the Great Flood and Noah and party disembarks to dry land after a very long and rough sea-ride. They are happy campers; they celebrate; Noah builds an altar “…unto the Lord; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt-offerings on the altar. And the Lord smelled the sweet savor; and the Lord said in His heart; ‘I will not again curse the ground anymore for man’s sake; for the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done. While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.’”
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Whoa; did you hear that? God not only passes off what He just did, unjustly, to most of the human race, with the words “…man’s heart is evil from his youth,” He now takes the curse away and blesses Noah and all subsequent mankind. And why did God do this: in His own words, “…but Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord;” this after repenting of Himself for MAKING man. Whoa, and again, whoa!
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So, it was not Jesus who became the second Adam; it was Noah who became the second Adam; it was through Noah that the earth was re-populated, but this time without the curse! Redemption was no longer needed; only obedience to the Lord was necessary for man’s salvation; the Fall of Adam was nullified with the lifting of the curse. How plain can one say it?: the world did not need a savior; it only had to follow subsequent laws that came down to man in the form of the Decalogue; the Ten Commandments…
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Ladies and Gentlemen of the jury, unless there is more than one God in this religious universe, I submit that the One here on trial is not only a fraud, but bereft of any logical defense of the accusations brought against Him. I also submit that religions of all sorts are frauds at best and intrusions upon the freedom of all thinking people on this planet. Your deliberations, therefore, are not with relation or relevance to a God, but to a pretender to the throne and should be tried as a man and not as a God. In doing so, you can only bring in a verdict of guilty of the charges brought against Him because He himself admits to the truth of those charges.
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Ladies and Gentlemen of the jury, this case is in your hands. Your Honor I am done…
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(For those interested in a further discussion of three inter-related disciplines 1) the nature of the universe 2) the nature consciousness and 3) the nature of God, may I suggest the following web site. I guarantee, you will not be disappointed...)
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http://www.closertotruth.com/
