I just read this scenario in Mark Johnston's book 'Saving God--Religion After Idolatry'. It seems quite relevant to this thread.
Suppose aliens from space land in front of the UN and chastise us about our wars and our bad character. They announce that they will reveal technology that would add to the length of our lives, our happiness, and our help if only we agree to subject ourselves to their will and adopt their plan for humanity without question.
The 'dark' prediction is that most people would happily agree to those terms.
In the second act of this story, however, it is revealed that the aliens only want us to eat or to use as fuel for their starships. This leads to the destruction of humanity.
But, and this is important, the second act of the story is irrelevant. if we give up our dignity and self-determination, we have *already* destroyed ourselves! NO benefit is worth that price!
And yes, this is as true if we are talking a God as if we are talking about space aliens.
Suppose aliens from space land in front of the UN and chastise us about our wars and our bad character. They announce that they will reveal technology that would add to the length of our lives, our happiness, and our help if only we agree to subject ourselves to their will and adopt their plan for humanity without question.
The 'dark' prediction is that most people would happily agree to those terms.
In the second act of this story, however, it is revealed that the aliens only want us to eat or to use as fuel for their starships. This leads to the destruction of humanity.
But, and this is important, the second act of the story is irrelevant. if we give up our dignity and self-determination, we have *already* destroyed ourselves! NO benefit is worth that price!
And yes, this is as true if we are talking a God as if we are talking about space aliens.
