"Ken MacLeod - A Case of Consilience" - читать интересную книгу автора (MacLeod Ken)

"I still don't understand what your problem is, compared to these other Christians."

Donald sighed. "It's a bit hard to explain," he said. "Let's put it this way. You were brought up not to
believe in God, but I expect you had quite strong views about the God you didn't believe in. Am I right?"

Qasim nodded. "Of course. Allah was alwaysтАж" He shrugged. "Part of the background. The default."

"Exactly. Now, how did you feel when you first learned about what Christians believe about the Son of
God?"

"It was a long time ago," said Qasim. "I was about eight or nine. In school in Kirkuk. One of my
classmates told me, in the course ofтАж well, I am sorry to say in the course of a fight. I shall pass over
the details. Enough to say I was quite shocked. It seemed preposterous and offensive. And then I
laughed at myself!"

"I can laugh at myself too," said Donald. "But I feel the same way as you didтАФin my case at the
suggestion that the Son was not unique, that He took on other forms, and so forth. I can hardly even say
such things. I literally shudder. But I can't accept, either, that He has no meaning beyond Earth. So what
are we to make of rational beings who are not men, and who may be sinners?"

"Perhaps they are left outside," said Qasim. "Like most people are, if I understand your doctrines."

Donald flinched. "That's not what they say, and in any case, such a question is not for me to decide. I'm
perplexed."

He leaned back in the seat and stared gloomily at the empty can, and then at the amused, sympathetic
eyes of the friendly scoffer to whom he had found he could open up more than to the believers on the
Station.

Qasim stood up. "Well, thank God I'm an atheist, that's all I can say."

He had said it often enough.

"God and Bush," said Donald. This taunt, too, was not on its first outing. Attributing to the late ex-
President the escalating decades-long cascade of unintended consequences that had annexed Iraq to the
EU and Iran to China was probably unfair, but less so than blaming it on God. Qasim raised a mocking
index finger in response.

"God and Bush! And what are you having, Donald?"


file:///K|/eMule/Incoming/MacLeod,%20Ken%20-%20A%20Case%20of%20Consilience%20[html].html (2 of 11)4-7-2007 2:23:56
 MacLeod, Ken - A Case of Consilience


"Can of Export."

"Narrow it down, padre. They're all export here."

"Aren't we all," said Donald. "Tennent's, then. And a shot of single malt on the side, if you don't mind.