god

i must say that most reviewers would not recommend evan almighty if you want quality serious stuff... i was lucky in the sense that i watched the show couple of days back with absolutely no expectations except to relax and have a silly laugh... and the show did not disappoint.

nonetheless, despite all the cranky jokes and the rather weak attempt at re-creating the story of noah's ark (in the modern context), i personally think there was a rather serious message in the show... in the show, mrs evan had prayed to god for a closely knit family. what happened was that eventually, when evan was so caught up with building the ark, mrs evan could not understand him and eventually left him with their 3 sons. god appeared to mrs evan and said something to the effect that when she prayed for a closely knit family, god cannot possibly give it to her.. not in the sense of `nah! give you!' but what happened was that in all that happened, god had created opportunities for the family to build bonds, to stick together, through good and bad times, and in doing so, given them the opportunities to be closely knitted.

i found this conversation very very interesting. for in effect, `god' himself in the show admitted that he has not actually done anything. but in asking for something, the individual has admitted his deficiency/ recognise his desires and more often than not, it is up to the individual's efforts and commitment to recognise opportunities to realise and overcome his deficiencies/ realise his desires. interesting... well, i also asked myself - so what is god in this case?

• is god an abstract created by human beings in an attempt to answer to his insecurities?

• or is god a manifestation of man's fear and uncertainties? something that man has not been able to answer based on his understanding of his surrounding? and that this probably explains the existence of god of fire, god of lightning, goddess of the moon...

• or is god an abstract created to explain the cause of human feelings eg pain & fear (god as fire, lightning, thunder...) happiness (god as nature, beautiful things etc)...

• as such, is god an excuse for man's ignorance? and if a particular religion thinks that it is god that created man, may i then ask, after reflecting - actually, who created who? did god create man? or is god a human construct (ie man created the concept of god)?

• and isn't god as powerful as what man made him to be (ie god's legitimacy is accorded by man)?
  

depending on who's perspective the questions are viewed from, it can be rather controversial and debatable and i do not have any clear answers. it would probably be a topic that will be and probably has been discussed at length by many theologists. no, it is not that suddenly i am interested in theology, it is not. it's just the effect the show had on me. and coupled with the fact that i recently got into this interesting online exchange with this christian lady who swore blind that god has all the answers and that homosexuality is a sin etc etc etc... and that homosexuals are condemned etc if they do not immediately repent so that jesus christ can save them.

i certainly do not accept her answers not because i am not a christian. but rather, i am the type of person who seeks scientific answers. and thus far, genetics is the closest answer i can find about the reasons behind sexuality. as for religion, i think a person's belief in god (regardless what his denomination/ religion is) is a very personal thing and that ultimately, what is most important is the positive influence his religion has on him and his conduct.