Displaced Person

[Named]

By Eric Frank Russell

He glided out of the gathering dusk and seated himself at the other end of the bench and gazed absently across the lake. The setting sun had dribbled blood in the sky. Mandarin ducks paddled through crimson streaks on the waters. The park held its usual eventide hush; the only sounds were the rustle of leaves and grasses, the murmuring of secluded lovers and muted tootings of distant cars.

When the bench quivered its announcement of company I had glanced along it half-expecting to find some derelict hoping to cadge the price of a bed. The contrast between the anticipated and the seen was such that I looked again, long, carefully, out of the corners of my eyes so that he wouldn’t notice it.

Despite the grey tones of twilight what I saw was a study in black and white. He had thin, sensitive features as white as his gloves and his shirt-front. His shoes and suit were not quite as black as his finely curved eyebrows and well-groomed hair. His eyes were blackest of all: that solid, supernal blackness that can be no deeper or darker. Yet they were alive with an underlying glow.

He had no hat. A slender walking-stick of ebony rested casually against his legs. A black, silk-lined cloak hung from his shoulders. If he had been doing it for the movies he could not have presented a better picture of a distinguished foreigner.

My mind speculated about him in the way minds do when momentarily they have nothing else to occupy them. A European refugee, it decided. Possibly an eminent surgeon or sculptor. Or perhaps a writer or painter, more likely the latter.

I stole another look at him. In the lowering light the pale profile was hawklike. The glow behind the eyes was strengthening with the dark. The cloak lent him a peculiar majesty. The trees were stretching their arms toward him as if to give aid and comfort through the long, long night.

No hint of suffering marked that face. It had nothing in common with the worn, lined features I had seen elsewhere, countenances wearing forever the memories of the manacles, the whip and the horror camp. On the contrary, it held a mixture of boldness and serenity, of confidence in the belief that one day the tide must turn. Impulsively I decided that he was a musician. I could imagine him conducting a tremendous choir or fifty thousand voices.

“I am fond of music,” he said in low, rich tones.

His face turned toward me, revealing a pronounced peak in his glossy black hair.

“Really?” The unexpectedness of his remark caught me at a disadvantage. Without knowing it I must have voiced my thoughts aloud. Rather feebly I asked, “Of what kind?”

“This.” He used his ebony stick to indicate the world at large. “The sigh of ending day.”

“Yes, it is soothing,” I agreed.

“It is my time,” he said. “The time when the day ends- as all things must end.”

“That’s true,” I said for lack of anything better.

We were silent awhile. Slowly the horizon soaked the blood from the sky. The city put on its lights and a wan moon floated over its towers.

“You’re not a native of this place?” I prompted.

“No.” Resting long, slender hands upon his stick, he gazed meditatively forward. “I have no country. I am a displaced person.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Thank you,” he said.

I couldn’t just sit there and leave him to stew in his own juice. The choice was to continue the conversation or depart. There was no need to go. So I continued.

“Care to tell me about it?”

His head came round and he studied me as if only now fully aware of my presence. That weird light in his orbs could almost be felt. He smiled gradually and tolerantly, showing perfect teeth.

“Should I?”

“You don’t have to. But sometimes it helps to get things off one’s mind.”

“I doubt it. Besides, I would be wasting your time.”

“Not at all. I’m wasting it anyway.”

Smiling again, he used his stick to draw unseeable circles in front of his black shoes.

“In this day and age it is an all too familiar story,” he said. “A leader became so blinded by his own glory that he considered himself incapable of making blunders. He rejected all advice and resented all criticism. He developed delusions of grandeur, posed as the final arbiter on everything from birth to death, and thereby brought into being a movement for his overthrow. He created the seeds of his own destruction. It was inevitable in the circumstances.”

“And rightly so,” I supported. “To hell with dictators!”

The stick slipped from his grasp. He picked it up, juggled it idly, resumed his circle drawing.

“The revolt didn’t succeed?” I suggested.

“No.” He looked at the circles and struck a line through them. “It proved too early and too weak. It was crushed with the utmost ruthlessness. Then came the purge.” His glowing eyes surveyed the sentinel trees. “I created that opposition. I still think it was justified. But I dare not go back. Not yet.”

“A fat lot you should care about that. You’re in a good country now and you can fit into it comfortably.”

“I don’t think so. I’m not especially welcome here.” His voice was deeper. “Not wanted- anywhere.”

“Oh, nonsense!” I retorted. “Everybody is wanted by someone, somewhere. Cheer up. Don’t be morbid. After all, it’s worth a lot just to be free.”

“No man is free until he’s beyond his enemy’s reach.” He glanced at me with an irritating touch of amusement, almost as if he considered that I had yet to learn the facts of life. “When one’s foe has gained control of every channel of information and propaganda, when he uses them to present his own case and utterly suppresses mine, when he offers calculated lies as truth and damns the truth as a lie, there is little hope for me.”

“Well, that’s your way of looking at things. I cannot blame you for feeling bitter about bygone experiences. But you’ve got to forget them. Here, you’re living in a different world. We’ve got free speech. A man can say what he likes, write what he likes.”

“If only that were true.”

“It is true,” I asserted, slightly annoyed. “Here you can call the Rajah of Bam an arrogant and overfed parasite if you wish. Nobody can prevent you from doing so, not even the police. We’re free, as I’ve told you.”

He stood up, towering amid embracing trees. From my sitting position his height seemed enormous. The moon lit his face in pale ghastliness.

“Your faith is comforting but baseless.”

“No!” I denied.

He turned away. His cape swung behind him and billowed in the night breeze until it resembled mighty wings.

“My name,” he murmured softly, “is Lucifer.”

After that there was only the whisper of the wind.

[venin]

it is way too long for me to read is it a book?

[Bap]

If you're not gonna read it, shutup. Don't spam

Mousie: ROFL Im still laughing at this XD

Interesting story. Is it supposed to be like Paradise Lost in that it is supposed to draw sympathy from you to further prove his decietfulness? He does certainly do that, imo\

But no matter, its all crap anyway :P

[V.VELDANEN]

Excellent stuff, brilliant writing and gave me the chills towards the end.

[Named]

Why is it all crap? It eloquently illustrates a -very- valid point. We -have- never heard Lucifer's side of it, and while God is (hypothetically) in control of all information in the world, how could we?

People just -believe- One side's account, but wouldn't YOU too circulate vicious rumours about your enemy? Even in Christian's own scripture, God is often portrayed as a profoundly arrogant bastard, they just don't seem to identify it as a fault of character, how could they? The concept is 'flawless', despite it's blatantly flawed depiction.
He thinks he's perfect, the concept itself regards itself as perfect, and it's this narcissistic quality in God that caused the 'heavenly conflict'. How dare those foolish creatures ask "Why?". QUESTIONING HIS MIGHTYNESS, THE AUDACITY!

:roll:

[tsunade ^_^]

NIce me likes! Is that part of a bundle or just a st?

[NarutoNineTails]

nice

[Bap]

Why is it all crap? Coz, imo, its like taking a fairy tale and reversing it. Sure, it may be well written and well thought out, but its not how the author(s) intended it. I see the bible like a historical fiction novel. The author(s) say Lucifer is evil, so he is, no question about it.

Now, that is a valid argument you give Named, but it only works if your are a disciple of the Bible, or if you have nothing better to do than try and shoot down a fairy tale or people's beliefs.

[Named]

The author is not a Christian, or a believer in the Bible.
His story stands for more than a reversal of perspective within a fictional concept. It illustrates above all that there is no definitively good and evil force in the world; it's all subject to perspective and circumstance that not everyone will be able to see or understand.

There is no author of the Bible, there are authorS. 66 books, thousands of accounts, and 2000 years of adaptation as time and people changed.
You can't draw a statute of limitations on interpretations of the Bible. This is as valid as any monk, bishop or preacher voicing his/her understanding of scripture.
There is an obvious reason the aforementioned never crossed this theological border, that does not invalidate its disposition.

As far as I know, it's just a stand-alone short story. The writer is a sci-fi author, not sure what inspired him to write this.

[SRVG]

im dum so dont go hating me for it.

but isent this about lucifer the angel banned form heaven??
a.k.a. the devil

[Aurora Dark]

but isent this about lucifer the angel banned form heaven??
a.k.a. the devil
Yes indeed :P

[Bap]

The author is not a Christian, or a believer in the Bible.
His story stands for more than a reversal of perspective within a fictional concept. It illustrates above all that there is no definitively good and evil force in the world; it's all subject to perspective and circumstance that not everyone will be able to see or understand.

There is no author of the Bible, there are authorS. 66 books, thousands of accounts, and 2000 years of adaptation as time and people changed.
You can't draw a statute of limitations on interpretations of the Bible. This is as valid as any monk, bishop or preacher voicing his/her understanding of scripture.
There is an obvious reason the aforementioned never crossed this theological border, that does not invalidate its disposition.

As far as I know, it's just a stand-alone short story. The writer is a sci-fi author, not sure what inspired him to write this.

I agree -- the story was great and very interesting, and i agree that there is no good nor evil. But if he was trying to say that Satan was, in fact, "good" then i must say that is bullshit. An author creates the setting, the tone, and the plot. If he deems a character is evil without giving any evidence to prove otherwise, he is evil and you must take his word for it for there is no supporting facts for any other conclusion. If the author provides a flip side, then he may want you to draw your own conclusion about the evilness of a character. The bible is only provides information on why satan is so evil and shit, it -tells- you that Lucifer is pure evil. Now, I'll take the bible's word for it coz it's just a story imo. Its like the witch in Hansel and Gretel, i never doubted for a second that she was evil.

It is understandable to look at the other side of the story and look at Lucifer's intentions and thoughts if you are looking for valid reason to believe in God or whatever. Its just a story to me, so i couldn't care less. God is absolute goodness, and satan is the opposite, and thats the way the author(s) intended.

[regina777]

I agree -- the story was great and very interesting, and i agree that there is no good nor evil. But if he was trying to say that Satan was, in fact, "good" then i must say that is bullshit. An author creates the setting, the tone, and the plot. If he deems a character is evil without giving any evidence to prove otherwise, he is evil and you must take his word for it for there is no supporting facts for any other conclusion. If the author provides a flip side, then he may want you to draw your own conclusion about the evilness of a character. The bible is only provides information on why satan is so evil and shit, it -tells- you that Lucifer is pure evil. Now, I'll take the bible's word for it coz it's just a story imo. Its like the witch in Hansel and Gretel, i never doubted for a second that she was evil.

It is understandable to look at the other side of the story and look at Lucifer's intentions and thoughts if you are looking for valid reason to believe in God or whatever. Its just a story to me, so i couldn't care less. God is absolute goodness, and satan is the opposite, and thats the way the author(s) intended.

ah!! if this is what the author is actually trying to say- then i agree with you wholly on this one. it is just like this- there is a difference in saying "i am sorry this was evil- i have sinned but it was because ..." instead of just coming out to say' i did that because of such and such reasons- you should understand"

nice story by the way- i was expecting this to be posted in the fanfiction section(God!! that place really needs a new story like this- a makeover)

[Ninja - Pirate]

Named, thank you..

[Lost Prophet]

AM, your profile says of thou as a lucifer lover. if lucifer is this "devil"then what would that make you?

[uchiha_melody]

“No man is free until he’s beyond his enemy’s reach.” He glanced at me with an irritating touch of amusement, almost as if he considered that I had yet to learn the facts of life. “When one’s foe has gained control of every channel of information and propaganda, when he uses them to present his own case and utterly suppresses mine, when he offers calculated lies as truth and damns the truth as a lie, there is little hope for me.”

that was my favorite part.....hmmm , it was kind of like a Tale ....does this author write books ? if so could you gimme a name please?

if lucifer is this "devil"then what would that make you?

Devil ???come on i really dont believe he's a devil .....but i dont know .... >_<

it was a nice tale Named

[Ninja - Pirate]

A proud member of Luciferianism, where one thinks of Lucifer as a misunderstood fallen angel, who got banished for a stupid reason.

[V.VELDANEN]

Proud Atheist, believe in no god nor devil but enjoyed the craftiness of the author nonetheless...

[imported_partlink1]

I don't know about use but i've always thought of god as a dictator.
According to the bible you have to do all this stuff to get into heaven, be good be kind, and you'll get just desserts, and thats major bs
Murders get away while innocent people get killed

and anyone else notice that "God" commits lots of sins
l mean how many times have I seen gods "Wrath"(1 of seven deadly sins)

So yea this story is good. and it does have some credible facts.

and I've really gone off topic so *bye*

[Ninja - Pirate]

I wish I could be ignorant of both god and lucifer s well as the devil, but after reading about Lucifer's destiny, I felt as if this was a biig wrong doing against him, and since then I've refused to go to curch events with my family, I do believe in God, for if I did not, I'd be deinying Lucifer's Existense. I have strong faith in him and his fellow angels, as those who stood behind him were also cast down from Paradise.

( So glad I was given this link ^_^ )

[Kuchiki]

History is written by the victors. An when the so called "history" (in my opinion anyway) is a collection of stories then it is very easy to villify that which you see to be against your beliefs.

If you do a little reading about the angels of heaven, you come across a couple of the orders whose sole duty is to continually sing the praises of God. Blatant narcissism yes?

Legend has it that Lucifer rose up with a host of powerful angels to challenge the might of God and got banished for his efforts. Perhaps it is also reasonable to see that God recognised the growing power of Lucifer and his followers and fearing a challenge to his rule, he struck first and disposed of his most fearsome rival. The subsequent "truth" could have been concocted to cover such an act.

The catholic church has long had a history of creating such faleshoods to cover the atrocities they commit in the name of God. Such an instance was the purge of the Templars. Their growing power was a direct challenge to the power of the church and their destruction was ordered on the grounds that they committed idolatry in their supposed worship of Baphomet, a demon. Simliarly the Cathars were hounded to earth and put to the sword for worshipping God as one who believed in love and that anyone could commune with God. These people lived a life of simplicity. This belief challenged the power of the Church in that it meant that there was no need for the Church and thus the Cathars were slaughtered for their beliefs.

Another example is the purge of the protestants following Martin Luther's pinning of his thesis. This has lasted to this day in the ongoing hatred between Catholics and Protestants particularly in Ireland.

What is religion but slavery of the profoundest sort

[graff]

thank you for sharing this...im now inspired to draw.

you know i think its hilarious that the devil is considered a demon and ugly when the bible clearly states that he was gods most beautiful creation. thats one of christianities blatant contradictions.

this will sound preachy but imo i think lucifer was the first to recognize that god was nothing more then what we made him. thats to say that theres no line between him and god. so why not take control for yourself? because its looked down on by the church?
to me thats the reason why he was kicked out from heaven.

that is assuming that there is indeed a heave.


ps. YAY FOR OLD CHAOS TYPE THREADS.

[Ninja - Pirate]

the discussion can go on endlessly if enough opinions are posted, I feel as if I'd talk the topic dead if going to deep into it...

But I have a question, if you/any of you were to be that person sitting on the bench having a discussion with that mysterious man, would you have said the same to him as the person encountering Lucifer? and if so, would you say something else if you knew? If you knew it was Lucifer you were talking to?

[imported_partlink1]

yea i'd ask him for his autograph

immagine how much it'd go for on e-bay (authentic)

:wink:

but still, I think the main question would be why throw a revolt agianst something that is suppose to be omnipotent, youe clearly fighting a losing battle

[Lost Prophet]

I wish I could be ignorant of both god and lucifer s well as the devil, but after reading about Lucifer's destiny, I felt as if this was a biig wrong doing against him, and since then I've refused to go to curch events with my family, I do believe in God, for if I did not, I'd be deinying Lucifer's Existense. I have strong faith in him and his fellow angels, as those who stood behind him were also cast down from Paradise.

( So glad I was given this link ^_^ )



I see our beliefs are different. this lucifer, hes seems to be an interesting character, yet I am supposed to hate him due to my beliefs in christianity

[Hime_sama]

i love kuchiki's approach to things from an objective perspection, as in everyone's elses relative perspective.

i myself am a christian. proud of it! last time i posted this i was flamed alot! ironic, cuz they judge christians for being hatters and what not. yet i did none of what you say christians do, and i got pretty flammed! and disliked! i don't mind; it comes with the challenge of living for God!

i like something gandhi said: " i like your Jesus, i just don't like His followers".

it's a shame that only 32% of those who claim to be christians have actually read the Bible, and only 13% actually follow it truthfully.

many throughout history, like kuchiki told us, have used the name of God to their advantage. Maritn Luther had to hide from the pope so he wouldn't be killed just because he stated truthfully what the Bible said.

i laugh when i hear the catholic church declare itself the original church, when it was founded after constantine declared chrisitianity the official religion, finding in it a political advantage; thus joining the church and the state. hence, giving forth what was known as the dark ages. funny how the dark ages were known as such because of the catholic church and all it did.

[Katzyn]

I wish I could be ignorant of both god and lucifer s well as the devil, but after reading about Lucifer's destiny, I felt as if this was a biig wrong doing against him, and since then I've refused to go to curch events with my family, I do believe in God, for if I did not, I'd be deinying Lucifer's Existense. I have strong faith in him and his fellow angels, as those who stood behind him were also cast down from Paradise.

( So glad I was given this link ^_^ )



I see our beliefs are different. this lucifer, hes seems to be an interesting character, yet I am supposed to hate him due to my beliefs in christianity
Hmm...this sounds a little weird, but how can anyone justify hating anyone else, just because their religion tells them to? I mean, in this case, with Lucifer, Christians are told he is evil, but who's to say he wasn't doing what HE thought was best, for whoever? **granted, I'm pretty ignorant of Christianity, seeing as how I'm not interested in learning about religions, but still...**

[Lost Prophet]

true, thats how iot is with alot of atheists..now that I think of it........I gues luciferianism isnt that bad...andI shouldnt let my beliefs change my opinion on life

[Hiyo]

I don't believe in any great power out there. I don't like saying "mine atheist" though. It seems like a lot of people like to toss that around to seem rebelious. I'm just "not religious". In my opinion the Bible is just a huge work of stories that are meant to influence the morals of human kind. It's a good thing, and so is religion. I know there are lot of wackos out there and have to go and make religion look bad but that goes with everything in the world. There are always nutcase extremists.

Religion has a purpose in the world now as it always has. A lot of people look to their church after the lose of a loved one to conform them. It's a great way to bring people together.

Imagine if religion never existed. I know a lot of terrible things happened because of religion believes and groups. Lots of great stuff happened too. We might be still have huge wars nowadays if it wasn't for the fear of a religion diety coming down and owning us ancestors butts over the last few thousand years.

How would we have advanced into the huge countries we have no without religion being used by Kings/Queens/Dictators over the years to keep societys from crumbling into anarchy. Think of how often people would be revolting and over-throwing their governments if there was no fear of retribution from a larger power.

[superkhanh0]

too deep for me lol, im buddish :D

[Kuchiki]

I don't believe in any great power out there. I don't like saying "mine atheist" though. It seems like a lot of people like to toss that around to seem rebelious. I'm just "not religious". In my opinion the Bible is just a huge work of stories that are meant to influence the morals of human kind. It's a good thing, and so is religion. I know there are lot of wackos out there and have to go and make religion look bad but that goes with everything in the world. There are always nutcase extremists.

Religion has a purpose in the world now as it always has. A lot of people look to their church after the lose of a loved one to conform them. It's a great way to bring people together.

Imagine if religion never existed. I know a lot of terrible things happened because of religion believes and groups. Lots of great stuff happened too. We might be still have huge wars nowadays if it wasn't for the fear of a religion diety coming down and owning us ancestors butts over the last few thousand years.

How would we have advanced into the huge countries we have no without religion being used by Kings/Queens/Dictators over the years to keep societys from crumbling into anarchy. Think of how often people would be revolting and over-throwing their governments if there was no fear of retribution from a larger power.

Actually religion has nothing to do with the power of the empire/nation/state, unless it was a religious state like the Islamic Caliphates. The power of the kings, queens etc rested not in the religion, but in the might of the armies, sheer military muscle accounted for more power than anything else. Failure was seen as a sign of God's disfavour. Victory was a sign of God's favour. Nothing stopped empires from going to war. They may turn to their faith to determine favourable omens and portents, but in the end mankind can make up any excuse to fight.

If you look at the great European powers that existed during the previous three or so centuries you'll see that none of them exist in that form today. Of all the great civilisations, only one has stayed largely the same in terms of people, and continuity of culture, China. All the other empires and great civilisations have long since slipped into the history books, their current status a far cry from their former glory. Egypt, Rome, Ancient Greece, Babylon, Persia, the Mayan and Incan Empires, etc, all have long disappered and their descendants have never been able to reclaim that glory. Each of these had a system of beliefs.

If people feared a deity, then why did world war 1 and world war 2 happen? In the last century, you couldn't get two bigger wars. In fact as you look through the ages, the scale of wars has gotten bigger if anything else. In the early ages a battle was between armies of a few hundred men, then it became armies of a few thousand each, then thens of thousands all fighting within the same continent.
Then when you look at the 20th century, millions of men and women went to war. What's more, the war was GLOBAL. Armies travelled the world to reach their battlefields. Whole nations through the prime of their youth into the grinder. Germany and Japan ended up running out of men to send to the front. The allies kept sending more and more men to fight. I'd say that more or less disproves the theory that fear of a deity has given lasting stability to the world.

[Hiyo]

I'm not talking about current countries. I'm talking about earlier civilizations like you mentioned. Ancient Eygpt,etc... if there was a deity you wouldn't have had huge kingdoms formed. All of todays countries are a result of those earlier civilizations around the world going to wars and falling/expanding.

Religion played a huge role back then. That's what the pyramids were all about. You don't get a civilization with a massive army and people willing to build a massive pyramid for their king just cause he is a nice guy. Civilizations formed around religion. Gods played a huge part of them.

Religion has slowly come to mean less and less over time. The countries nowadays exists because of everything that happened to them over thousands of years of warring. By originally when civilizations were forming it wasn't the cool guy getting the power over the people. It was the guy start enough to use religious fears to control the people. Then passing it on to his children.

[Kuchiki]

I'm not talking about current countries. I'm talking about earlier civilizations like you mentioned. Ancient Eygpt,etc... if there was a deity you wouldn't have had huge kingdoms formed. All of todays countries are a result of those earlier civilizations around the world going to wars and falling/expanding.

Religion played a huge role back then. That's what the pyramids were all about. You don't get a civilization with a massive army and people willing to build a massive pyramid for their king just cause he is a nice guy. Civilizations formed around religion. Gods played a huge part of them.

Religion has slowly come to mean less and less over time. The countries nowadays exists because of everything that happened to them over thousands of years of warring. By originally when civilizations were forming it wasn't the cool guy getting the power over the people. It was the guy start enough to use religious fears to control the people. Then passing it on to his children.


Not true, the most powerful of the ancient western civilisations did not rise from a religion. Rome and Ancient Greece were not founded on a religious basis. The Roman Empire was founded out of territorial expansion. The original tribe that later became the Romans, expanded and crushed every other tribe in Italy and went on the found the empire. Ancient Greece was formed largely the same way, with the city state of Athens subjugating its surrounding neighbours by force of arms.

Religion only develops when there is time to establish a system of beliefs during times of peace, when time for contemplation is freely available. Its growth is then furthered by continuing stability of the civilisation.

Ancient Egypt's religion was entwined with its rulers after the empire was established.

The great caliphates that ruled the middle east arose out of similar circumstances. Islam was properly established by Muhammed after a war with the then ruling tribe which had a different religion and was aiming to purge this new religion. Subsequent victories against the ruling tribe and the establishment of an empire allowed Islam to fully flourish.

[imported_partlink1]

I know this is getting off topic
but
has anyone ever heard of the bible code
if so do you believe in it

because if so we won't be here 2012 appearently either a nuclear war or meteor(sephiroth!) will wipe us out

so what are your thoughts on it

[Named]

We were supposed to be wiped out, the Apocalypse, as they call it, in the year 1996. Then, when all was well and they felt their credibility waning, they made a correction to that date. 2000.

Oh, still no worldly destruction? Ain't that a shame. WE MUST HAVE GOTTEN OUR DATES MIXED UP AGAIN.

Eh. That's what I think of such claims. "Eh."

it's a shame that only 32% of those who claim to be christians have actually read the Bible, and only 13% actually follow it truthfully.

What exactly is the 'truthful' way to follow the Bible?
I'm not attacking you at all, I just feel I need some clarification as to what you consider 'truth' of the Bible.

Why is your interpretation, as you understand it, more truthful than that which caused so much bloodshed in the past?
I would be inclined to think the more POPULAR interpretation, that "Let's hate and destroy" is more truthful by sheer number of those who read it that way.

So ask yourself... If God is so great, why would he write a book so many of his creations would read in such a hateful way? Even the Buddha, a mere mortal man, spread a teaching that has yet to be blatantly twisted to cause such devestation. Leading me to conclude the Buddha understands more of the human condition than a GOD, who can't even write a coherent book, a book which seemingly endorses and is thusly embraced by hate monguers united. *_*

Surely, a God, can foresee such a cataclysmic failing? Of course not, he doesn't make mistakes?
On the seventh day, after well-deserved rest, God scribbled in his journal "I love me, i'm so awesome. Everyone should agree!"

Sooo... We are left to weigh the remaining two logical possibilities. God is an idiot? Or God doesn't care.
*shrugs* Which would you prefer? ^^

Me, i'm cool, I could swing either way. :P

[Kuchiki]

I believe the problem is that believers feel the need to interpret the messages in the Bible. Why do they not accept the message as is, as a lesson, not as a precedent. That if A does B then A+B-C happens regarldess of any extenuating circumstances.

The need to interpret is what has given rise to the troubles and associated horrors/atrocities/conflicts through the ages. This then begs the question, What, if any, interpretations are correct? thus leading to Are any of the intereprations correct?

I prefer the thought that NONE of the interpretations are correct.

Actually I think you missed a third possibility. "God has no friends" which i find much more highly likely.

A figure of absolute authority and power cannot have friends. God may be loved but He is also feared.

[Nova]

Why is it all crap? It eloquently illustrates a -very- valid point. We -have- never heard Lucifer's side of it, and while God is (hypothetically) in control of all information in the world, how could we?

People just -believe- One side's account, but wouldn't YOU too circulate vicious rumours about your enemy? Even in Christian's own scripture, God is often portrayed as a profoundly arrogant bastard, they just don't seem to identify it as a fault of character, how could they? The concept is 'flawless', despite it's blatantly flawed depiction.
He thinks he's perfect, the concept itself regards itself as perfect, and it's this narcissistic quality in God that caused the 'heavenly conflict'. How dare those foolish creatures ask "Why?". QUESTIONING HIS MIGHTYNESS, THE AUDACITY!

:roll:

Wow dude! You're a terrific writer. Your words created a great picture. I don't know if you wanted me to figure it out. But once you finished describing him I knew he was the devil. This was sugoi! It's very deep, yet simple to understand the meaning. I've always thought like this, what's his side, we can't really know. All we know is what he is forced to do, what we have learned from reading God's side of the story. I liked it.

[AK47]

if you read the first few words it says
BY eric frank russel
although it is a terrific piece of writing

[Nova]

if you read the first few words it says
BY eric frank russel
although it is a terrific piece of writing

Oh...I thought maybe it was Named's name. I don't know, I'm not big on reading poetry. But anyway, I don't know I thought Named might be some poet prodigy.

[narutoIZZAbest]

wow, that was awesome! is there more to it?

and that last phrase of yours was very amusing ^__^

lol "QUESTIONING HIS MIGHTYNESS, THE AUDACITY!"

[AK47]

if you read the first few words it says
BY eric frank russel
although it is a terrific piece of writing

Oh...I thought maybe it was Named's name. I don't know, I'm not big on reading poetry. But anyway, I don't know I thought Named might be some poet prodigy.
i never thought of that
but in the thread, give your names, and he said his name is named
:D
but then at the end of the story named says that "the guy" is a great writer

[Katzyn]

if you read the first few words it says
BY eric frank russel
although it is a terrific piece of writing

Oh...I thought maybe it was Named's name. I don't know, I'm not big on reading poetry. But anyway, I don't know I thought Named might be some poet prodigy.
i never thought of that
but in the thread, give your names, and he said his name is named
:D
but then at the end of the story named says that "the guy" is a great writer
[color=purple]Yes, Named's real name IS Named. ^______^ [color]

[Kuchiki]

Actually Named real name NOW is Named, it used to be something else...let me consult the oracle on this before I reveal it in its blinding glory

[Ninja - Pirate]

Haha, it suddenly turned out as a question for Named's previuos Name, doesn't matter really, Named suits him better than the previous one.

I love the feeling of this piece of work! makes me want to enduldge myself in books and stay there forever.

[Nova]

Just wanted to bump this back to the top of the list. As much as I sometimes disagree with Named on many things, I do enjoy his taste in literature. This is a great short story and it inspires all to write/draw/paint or whatever. I enjoyed this and I think it deserves more respect in the form of a BUMP!!!!

[.Sage.]

Awesome story man...