That being said...there are things that a person just can't change. They can't create their own universe and therefore they can't change its laws.

I'm trying to understand this whole line of thought, you genuinely sparked my interest.

You seem to imply that an external locus is infinitely better, but it seems to me there should be a balance. There are such things as circumstances, genetics, unforeseen events, that we just do not have control over. It seems strange to think that we are completely in control of everything. You don't need to believe in God or fate to believe that.

What am I missing here?

Stop making us all farmers. I dont want to be one.

You mean 'internal'? not 'external'?

You're correct in that there are some things that one has no power over at all. But comparatively, these things are so far and few in-between that you may as well be all the way on the 'internal' side than somewhere in the middle.

People who are close to completely internal aren't delusional either. They well-acknowledge and recognize (probably better than most) the things they cannot change, for they've likely either tried to change them already, or have become highly effective at directing their efforts appropriately.

So Jesus rising from the dead didn't really matter?

People who suffer agonising deaths enduring months of misery don't matter?

Still-born babies don't matter?

Your wife being raped and killed wouldn't matter?

If there was a god, I'm pretty sure someone like you would go to hell.

Yeah, I meant "internal", got the terms mixed up.

You know any good literature on this topic, besides the obvious wikipedia search?

I think you're forgetting the flow of the conversation. My point was that a body dieing isn't a show stopper.

Jesus rising - body dieing wasn't the end...

Stillborn baby - if they even had a soul yet, they'll just be suited up in a new one...(reincarnation)

Wives raped and killed - tragic, since that's actually a crime and the attacker should be executed, but both souls will be reincarnated.

I should go to hell? - I'm already there; this is far from heaven

and a couple of verses for fun:

"And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell."

"But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the market places, who call out to the other children, and say, ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn'.

I'm not sure why anyone would want to "change". Why would a human being have any interest in creating anything or changing Universal laws? Human beings really don't even understand what Universal laws even are...

Herbrex,

Could you tell me a little bit about your previous lives?

Yea...because we're all peaches and everything's going along swimmingly...

Being a vegetable isn't very fulfilling.

Quite an understatement.

From what I can glean from the ruler of the universe's manual and from personal experience, it would appear that everyone should regard himself as an inmate on death row. The Earth is a correctional facility/school for the criminally insane. Insane because those sent here refuse to acknowledge God as God and live in accordance with his laws which are designed to create a perfect society in which each being can find fulfillment whilst not impeding the same for others. And so in effect, they think they're smarter than God.

On Earth, with it's unique situation that the beings are wearing animal bodies with expiration dates, and need food, shelter, etc.: the laws for theft, land ownership, and the like, which are apparently only relevant for this planet, can be found in the first 5 books of the OT, most notably Deuteronomy. (and note well Deut 4:2)

The 10 commandments, however, are universal principles that are applicable to all beings whom wish to exist in this Utopia, called the universe, created by the almighty.

Given the fine tuning arguments im not sure God could.