TED: Difficult Questions, God and the Tsunami...

[Arthur Dent]

http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/view/id/112

This is an interesting talk given by a reverend in the wake of the 2004 tsunami. The speaker uses a bit of logic and suggests that in the light of the event, maybe god needs to be redefined. I have a lot of respect for this individual.

As usual, this film was one that had pushed me to think critically about the concept of god before I became an atheist.

[Will]

It's terribly difficult for believers to deal with the truths of god highlighted by Epicurus (and countless people since). It's almost depressing to see attempts to rationalize god.

Oddly enough, I'd say that Rev. Tom may be close to allowing his crisis of faith to bring him to a more rational explanation of the universe.

Edit: Finished the video, he's clearly a pantheist now. Do they have pantheistic reverends?

[Arthur Dent]

Edit: Finished the video, he's clearly a pantheist now. Do they have pantheistic reverends?

I certainly find this view FAR more tolerable than most views of god. If "god is everything, and everything is god" you just have to go with the flow; no conscious being to please or fear, everything just "is".

[Will]

Yes, pantheism is certainly more benign than theism. I can't remember any pantheistic crusades or genocides. And I can't imagine a pantheist scaring children with talk of hell or trying to get fairytales taught in science class.

[Santiago]

But like Dawkins said, a pantheistic God is much more "emotionally unsatisfying" than a personal God; Praying to the laws of gravity for instance, doesn't sound very gratifying for a believer.

[Arthur Dent]

But like Dawkins said, a pantheistic God is much more "emotionally unsatisfying" than a personal God; Praying to the laws of gravity for instance, doesn't sound very gratifying for a believer.

True, but if they can understand that the universe isn't benign or compassionate, it's a bit easier to be satisfied with less.

Pantheism sounds like the force, haha.