Behind the Veil of Ignorance
Let's look at Christianity from a different prespective. Let's ask ourselves what we could expect if that kind of God existed. Let's say we are placed behind a theological Rawlsian "veil of ignorance." Behind that veil we are to consider what world we should expect to find if God created that world. Behind that veil we must think about the kinds of things we could expect to find, based upon a full description of the God that is supposed to exist. What would you expect to find prior to experiencing such a world?
Now it's true we couldn't dream up the exact kind of world God should create with all of its details, for God is supposedly omniscient beyond our dreams. But we could have some ideas, broadly speaking, especally if humans are also supposed to be created in his "image." What kinds of things would we expect to find when the veil is removed?
I don't have the time to go into detail here, so let me suggest a few ideas and let others add some more in the comments. Even if we didn't think of these things behind the veil, we would still be surprised if this world turned out to be like the one we experience.
No law of predation. All creatures would be vegetarians.
All human beings would be created with one color of skin.
God would create us so that we did not need to sleep, and that we could work longer and harder.
There wouldn't be the problem of divine hiddenness, or religious diversity.
God would reveal himself in every age.
God would unequivocally condemn racism, slavery, and gender discrimination.
God would predict things centuries in advance to show us he exists.
God would create us with better immune systems, or supply us with the knowledge from the start how to treat various diseases with things like Penicillin.
God would create us with the ability to understand more of his ways, and with better memories.
If we had souls (or minds) we wouldn't need to have brains.
The orbits of the planets wouldn't need to look like they formed naturally.
In fact, according to Victor J. Stenger in God: The Failed Hypothesis, "earth and life look just as they can be expected to look if there is no designer God."
First posted on 4/09/07
Now it's true we couldn't dream up the exact kind of world God should create with all of its details, for God is supposedly omniscient beyond our dreams. But we could have some ideas, broadly speaking, especally if humans are also supposed to be created in his "image." What kinds of things would we expect to find when the veil is removed?
I don't have the time to go into detail here, so let me suggest a few ideas and let others add some more in the comments. Even if we didn't think of these things behind the veil, we would still be surprised if this world turned out to be like the one we experience.
No law of predation. All creatures would be vegetarians.
All human beings would be created with one color of skin.
God would create us so that we did not need to sleep, and that we could work longer and harder.
There wouldn't be the problem of divine hiddenness, or religious diversity.
God would reveal himself in every age.
God would unequivocally condemn racism, slavery, and gender discrimination.
God would predict things centuries in advance to show us he exists.
God would create us with better immune systems, or supply us with the knowledge from the start how to treat various diseases with things like Penicillin.
God would create us with the ability to understand more of his ways, and with better memories.
If we had souls (or minds) we wouldn't need to have brains.
The orbits of the planets wouldn't need to look like they formed naturally.
In fact, according to Victor J. Stenger in God: The Failed Hypothesis, "earth and life look just as they can be expected to look if there is no designer God."
First posted on 4/09/07