If God exists..

[RESiNATE]

They might have a different outlook on life, certainly, but their potential remains somewhat the same. Whether they achieve it or not depends on many things, among others how their parents brought them up.

Exactly my point.
And it demonstrates the difference between 'in-built' (genetic) potential and 'socio-schematic' (environment) potential. In other words, genetic ability vs the awareness of that ability.
The child raised by couple B, may quite possibly have the genetic ability (inherited from its parents of couple A), but may never recognise that potential because of the restrictions placed upon them by their socio-schematic ideals.
If the child had been raised by its natural parents, then we might assume that the genetic potential would have been nurtured and allowed to progress; it is expected of them.
Of course, as you pointed out in your examples, FLESH, that isn't always the case...which brings me, quite nicely, back to my point about our lack of ultimate choice.

In the Matrix (Reloaded), there was a discussion between Neo and the Counsellor, about the thing that sets us apart from machines. Neo suggested that we have choice, and therefore ultimate power and control over the machines. The Counsellor, however, pointed out that if we excersised that power, then the ramifications could be disasterous (ie, in the discussed case of shutting down the life-support mechanism). He showed that, whilst we 'think' we have choice, in fact, we do not.

We don't have ultimate choice.
However, we do (some of us) have the gift of 'independent thought'.

I also know some people who were born to poor, yet hard-working people. They grew up with lots of ambition, in part because they don't want their own children to have it as hard as they did. They work, sometimes 2 jobs, just to be able to go to University, and when they managto get their degree, their life changes and they become the affluent parents of the first example.

This is very true - and we can see examples of this in every walk of life.
The 'choice' to break free from the comfort zone that we find ourselves in, is one that we can all make. Some, like the ones that you describe, have the courage to persue their ambitions - others prefer to accept their position in life (no matter how unsatisfactory that existence is), because the mere thought of change scares the shit out of them.
Using your example, the child has gained independent thought, and can no longer accept the situation that they are in - believing that they 'deserve better than this'. In gaining their independent thought, they discover a potential within them and strive to acheive it.
They now have a choice; do I accept my situation, or do I change it?
It is probably the biggest choice that we have - but it still only pertains to the individual, and is relatively small, in comparison to the whole.

If we accept that independent thought allows us to change our lives, regardless of our socio-schematic situation and genetic potential, then we must now question where that ability comes from.
For example, I come from a background that doesn't subscribe to such things as religion and philosophy, and yet, here I am discussing those very subjects. There is obviously something deep inside me that causes me to question my existence, and the dimension in which I reside. Where has that come from?
Why can't I accept that 'this is it'?
Furthermore, why do I reject the answers placed before me (ie, religion), and yet entertain the idea of a 'divine influence'?
Is my psyche driven by a protocol which controls my deepest thought patterns, and if so, to what ends am I being steered towards?

If we look at Man's acheivements over the years, what is the fundamental question that has been responsible for those acheivements?

"What happens if...?"

And, who is asking the question?
Is it just our human curiousity?

Certainly, if we view life from our own perspective, then we can say that we are merely satisfiying our own humanistic appetite for knowledge - but we are just the inhabitants of one small planet within a universe that we cannot even begin to measure the size of...surely we can't be so ignorant that we think that we are the only intelligent beings around.
And given that ideology, we must also accept that ours is not the only dimension that exists.

Your thought so far?

Res...

RESiNATE Reviewed by RESiNATE on 12-01-2004. If God exists.. ..then why doesn't he prove it? He created Man in His image, so surely he can understand the complexities of the Human brain. Surely he knows that after thousands of years without proof, some of us are going to start doubting His existence. So if he proved it back then, why won't he prove it now? I mean, all he needs to do is give us one sign - one unquestionable, irrifutable piece of evidence - and all of us 'non-believers' will believe. People say that He doesn't prove himself because we Rating: 5