> Scene: Deputy jumps up and greets the Sheriff as he enters the
> office. Let's listen in.........
>
> Deputy: Sheriff, what brings you to town?
> Sheriff: Nuthin really just thought I'd stir things up a little. The
> citizens seems to be eating each other again. :)
> D: :) Naw, they're just up to the same old same old.
> S: And that is?
> D: Cursing each other and you in the name of Jesus.
> S: What do you suppose they would do without Jesus or a Holy Spirit?
> D: I don't know, what?
> S: They'd invent one.
> D: Why?
> S: Because they have to have someone or something to blame things for
> their short comings.
> D: But I thought they blamed themselves and others for not following
> Jesus words.
> S: Yes it seems that way but ultimately they're blaming Jesus.
> Without a Jesus what would their lives be like?
> D: What?
> S: Responsible? Maybe they'd have to be directly responsible for
> calling someone a son-of-a bitch or worse instead of blaming them for
> not understanding ACIM as they do. But lets look at those who have a
> Jesus/Holy spirit belief and those who don't, okay?
> D: Okay.
> S: Lets go outside for a minute (Sheriff and deputy walk out into the
> dusty street)
> D: So what are we doing here?
> S: Nice day huh? Sun's shining, birds singing, nice breeze.
> D: Pretty much so. It is a nice day.
> S: Okay, and I think if we walk up to any of the citizens they'd agree
> that it is a nice day....unless I said so then they'd say its a shitty
> day. :)))
> D: Sheriff!!
> S: Okay, only kidding but we agree its nice.
> D: We do.
> S: So if I believe in the myth of Jesus would the day be better?
> Conversely if I didn't believe would it be worse?
> D: Seems to me it would be the same.
> S: Sure, same sun, same people, same breeze, same birds.
> D: But sheriff.........
> S: I know what you're going to say but lets first see if we can agree
> that regardless of beliefs empirical evidence is empirical evidence,
> right?
> D: Right. What we see is provable, its sunny and the birds are
> singing etcetera. I guess I'm the devils advocate.
> S: So what do you like to eat deputy?
> D: Pork chops, mashed potatoes and gravy.
> S: Would a belief in Jesus or his majesty change that?
> D: I think not.
> S: You think right. What's you favorite movie?
> D: Coogans bluff.
> S: Does belief change that either?
> D: No.
> S: Okay, here's your chance, what does a belief in the spooks change?
> D: It changes my character.
> S: How so?
> D: It makes me a better man.
> S: How so?
> D: Well I'd believe in Jesus and the rest of them.
> S: That is not answering anything, its a circular argument. Do you
> need these beliefs to be kind?
> D: ?
> S: Does the belief in ACIM make you a better person?
> D: I don't know.
> S: Right, so all we can once again use is empirical evidence.
> D: Which is?
> S: Which is for starters, Toombstone.
> D: But Toombstone is not a good place to judge ACIM.
> S: Why not?
> D: Because Toombstone is a place of attack and counter-attack, it
> seems to be against all of the principles of ACIM.
> S: So are you saying that the people here actually do not believe in
> what they say they believe in?
> D: I don't know.
> S: Well I think I can say that many of them do believe that ACIM is
> true.
> D: Then why do they act the way they do?
> S: I already told you, they believe that ACIM is true.
> D: Hold on sheriff. I don't understand what you are saying. It seems
> to me that if they believed that ACIM is true they would act
> differently toward each other.
> S: If they didn't believe in ACIM they wouldn't be here would they?
> D: Wait a minute, I think I'm starting to see something.
> S: Indeed you are although you are not understanding it which is not
> necessary.
> D: Could you say some more?
> S: Take a gladiator ring. If there were no such things as gladiators
> there would not have been gladiator rings.
> D: And we may have all been better off.
> S: All except Russell Crowe possibly. Only kidding. :) Things are
> created to satisfy a need, no need no creation. You've heard the
> expression that necessity is the mother of invention? Toombstone was
> created to satisfy a need and that need was to verify that ones belief
> in ACIM was correct, that it is as it says it is, a transcription from
> Jesus.
> D: Sheriff, you know me, I'm a little slow sometimes can you cut to
> the chase?
> S: I can and will however you won't like it.
> D: Try me
> S: Beliefs are invitations to conflict.
> D: But isn't that a belief?
> S: Empirical evidence my boy, empirical evidence, remember? Do you
> need to belief in the sun in order to be warm?
> D: Sheriff, do you mean to say you don't believe in anything?
> S: I believe so. :) I choose my beliefs they don't choose me.
> D: How do you do that?
> S: I have no authority.
> D: You mean you don't speed in your car or you break the law if you
> choose to?
> S: No. Others believe in authority and they can make my life a little
> difficult if I don't follow however I don't have to believe they're
> right. If I should want to smoke a joint I know that the law says its
> illegal and I know if I should be caught I will have to face the
> consequences of this man-made law....man-made, not god made.
> D: Sheriff, is there a god?
> S: That's not for me to answer for you. For me the sun shines, the
> birds sing and I'm going home to have some fried chicken and mashed
> potato's. See you soon.
>
>