[The Faithful]
“My life has been filled with disappointment, abuse and violence. I have never been able to rely on anybody; and now that I am about to have a child...I cannot rely on myself to look after it. I am already fighting to look after myself!”
The GURU speaks,
[The GURU]
“You want the best for your child. To shield and protect it from the evils of the world.”
[The Faithful]
“Yes. I don’t want my child to live the life I have lived. I want it to know only good; and feel no bad.”
[The GURU]
“Do you believe in God?”
[The Faithful]
“He is the only one that keeps me alive.”
[The GURU]
“If your child could grow up knowing no sin, experiencing no evil, doing no harm, and having no harm done on them...would God permit them into Heaven?”
[The Faithful]
“Ofcourse. God would have to.”
[The GURU]
“Then allow me to present my proposition...
Let me take your child...and put it in a cell.
All four walls of the cell will have video-displays of your choosing.
Your child will have soft cuddly things to hold, and be mechanically fed the most nourishing and delicious foods for its growth and development.
It will never have any human contact.
Your entire child’s developing physical, mental and spiritual needs will be catered-for.
Your child will be constantly monitored. Whenever confusion arises in their mind, a series of focused ‘life-lessons’ will display on the walls to guide them through each of their ‘life-stages’.
Your child will lack one thing...human contact. They will only be able to communicate with a computer that answers questions with positive direction.
But what your child lacks, you can re-fill a hundred-fold with other traits such as musician, artist, writer, poet, linguist, athlete, scientist, and philosopher.
Your child would have a fulfilling life.”
[The Faithful]
“Would my child be guaranteed into Heaven?”
[The GURU]
“I may be burned at the stake for my part in this manifesto, but your child must be accepted into Heaven. Otherwise, getting into Heaven would be a lottery. “
[The Faithful]
“I don’t know if this is right.”
[The GURU]
“Well...I have just presented you with a theoretical stair-way to Heaven. A bypass route to God’s side.
Have I cheated God’s ‘Judgement-Day', or merely prepared for it?
I have committed no blasphemy...some may need to fall in developing the ‘master-plan’, so that many others may enjoy the yield of that very scheme.
If you believe in God and Heaven, then there must be space for the unfortunates who make best of what they have, and live with love in their lives.
My method should make certain your child's entry into Heaven...by your standards; and if God's intention is beyond what we can understand or try to follow...then we might as well enjoy as much as we can whilst we're still alive. Are you sure the world will treat your child well?
I can gaurantee your child's happiness, with limitation, within this proposed "cell". Each and every person has the same capacity to feel emotion, regardless of their situation. Your child can be adorned with contentment...as if already in Heaven.
If you question whether or not to hand over your child to me...then maybe you must also question whether or not Heaven exists.
To me, it does not...so I must regretfully withdrawal my proposition, as I have no "cell" to imprison your child.”
The GURU must now sleep.