Re: virus: Pascal's wager

Tim Rhodes (proftim@speakeasy.org)
Fri, 10 Oct 1997 11:31:25 -0700 (PDT)


Tadeusz Niwinski wrote about Jesus:

> (6) A well-meaning Jew with deep understanding of human nature who chose his
> own unique Purpose, got out of his comfort zone risking other people's
> disapproval, was prepared to experience some discomfort (even perhaps a
> sense of going it alone), with his own Personal Programming, surrounded
> himself with people who were committed to living life to the fullest, and
> leading by example, he
> taught about the power of love, forgiveness, and positive thinking, showing
> that one person can really make a difference

Up to this point it sounds like a good description of ol' J.H.C. But then
you write:

> (kind of like the author of the incredibly useful book "Getting Past
> OK", except Jesus didn't *say* he meant everything he said, he just
> meant everything he said). His references to Meme Central
> (http://www.brodietech.com/rbrodie/meme.htm) were taken literally as
> references to God (which is as close as one can get on Earth, anyway),
> but Level-3 people are hardly ever understood..

You know, Tad, after reading all your pronouncements about Brodie on the
list before I met him, I was prepared for either some messianic figure or
a slick devil incarnate. Either way I was intrigued. But when we met,
and thanks in large part to you, Tad, and the inflated expectations I'd
built up based on what you'd said, I was a little disappointed. No halo
or horns. No glowing light or dark ominous clouds. Just a common schmoe.
An intelligent, insightful, humorous and well-meaning schmoe to be sure,
but still just another schmoe like me. He was no more a Messiah than I
am! ;-)

You built up such expectations, Tad. Do you really see him that way?

You are so lucky. I have no gods (or even would be gods) in my life
except the ones I deify. It must be nice to find them "out there" in the
real world, where A=A and 2+2=4, every once in a while.

-Prof. Tim