Words Signify Man's Refusal To

Thirdly, Even If We Assume That The World Is Governed By Purpose, We Need Only Add That This Purpose - Or, If There Are Several, At Least One Of Them - Is Not Especially Intent On Preventing Suffering, Whether It Is Indifferent To Suffering Or Actually Rejoices In It.

The Only Theism Worthy Of Our Respect Believes In God Not Because Of The Way The World Is Made But In Spite Of That. The Only Theism That Is No Less Profound Than The Buddha's Atheism Is That Represented In The Bible By Job And Jeremiah.

It Does Not Follow That The Meaning Must Be Given From Above; That Life And Suffering Must Come Neatly Labeled; That Nothing Is Worth While If The World Is Not Governed By A Purpose.

It Is Widely Assumed, Contrary To Fact, That Theism Necessarily Involves The Two Assumptions Which Cannot Be Squared With The Existence Of So Much Suffering, And That Therefore, Per Impossibile, They Simply Have To Be Squared With The Existence Of All This Suffering, Somehow.

The Deepest Difference Between Religions Is Not That Between Polytheism And Monotheism.