1. Activist Feedback
The intrepid Rick Hershey, who leafleted at Winter Jam in Springfield,
MO, writes,
I handed out 1800 CVA booklets at Great Southern Bank Arena (formerly JQH
Arena) on the campus of Missouri State U for Winter Jam today. Tour security
physically obstructed my leafleting and told people not to take a booklet.
There were also rainstorms about a third of the time.
2. Narratives That Can Guide Us (continued)
It is a mystery how matter and consciousness came into existence. Perhaps
an even greater mystery is the source of our own consciousness – that sense
of self which is unique to each of us throughout our lives and which is not
shared by anyone else. When I stub my toe it hurts; when someone else stubs
their toe, I feel no pain. I know my own inner thoughts, but not those of
anyone else. Some people call this sense of self a “soul,” but giving it a
name does not necessarily help us understand it, explain where it came from,
or tell us what happens to it when our bodies die.
Given that physical explanations, for example about the properties of atoms
and molecules, does not explain the source of consciousness in general and
our own sense of being a conscious person, it seems reasonable to
hypothesize a metaphysical creative force, which we might call God. If God
were the creative force, it seems reasonable to believe that God desired
goodness. Why else would God go to all the trouble?
A skeptic would, reasonably, point to the suffering in the world, including
intentionally inflicted suffering, to raise doubts that conscious existence
is meant to be good. Perhaps God has the power to create but does not have
the power to abrogate the laws of nature or the power to force people to act
in kind and compassionate ways.
I will continue to explore this topic next.
Stephen R. Kaufman, MD
3. From All-Creatures.Org Ministry
Our weekly newsletter contains up-to-the-minute good news for animals, action alerts, vegan/animal rights stories, poetry, and prose, thought provoking articles, vegan religion and spirituality, recipes, events, and much more!
All-Creatures.org Newsletter for March 22
Do you have things that you would like to see included? Then send it to
us at veda@all-creatures.org.
In the Love of the Lord,
Frank L Hoffman
All-Creatures.org
and
Kindness,
Tams Nicholson
Executive Directress
All-Creatures.org