38

"But why is it necessary to create a holographic reality? Why, additionally, should human beings have need of creation?"

"Because human beings will have unique abilities despite their seeming crudeness that you will not have. They will have those abilities because I will endow them with them."

"Why not just give us those abilities and forget about humanity? Surely you must be able to see the amounts of pain and suffering they are sure to inflict."

"A creation is not necessarily about the quantity of pain or pleasure. The mark of a good creation is simply in how much it contributes to the whole picture--how it evolves. It is possible that all of humanity will sink into wickedness. It is an option. On the other hand, it is possible that they may yet exceed their seeming limitations. The only way to see what will be the case is to give them the opportunity."

"Yeah, but you already know the outcome."

"Yes, that's true, I do. That's not to say there exists no choice, however."

"But what's the point if you already know the outcome?"

"What's the point of a painter painting a painting? One creates because they are a creator--because there is joy in the act of creation."

"You must know then that there are factions who will disagree with your decision."

"Those who I have also created who oppose my will to create as I see fit will be dealt with when the situation arises. I wonder if they realize that when they argue against my ability to create they argue against their own existence?"

"How do you mean?"

"I mean that everything that I have created I have done so because it gave me joy to do so. Should part of my creation decide to argue against my ability to create, it argues against itself. It would be as though a tree in a painting argued with the painter to not also incorporate a mountain. Why then should he not also erase the tree? Why not leave the canvas blank?"

"It is a bold experiment. I just do not understand why it is necessary."

"Creation is not necessary, but it is an opportunity. This creation is unique in that it gets to determine what the painting will be in which it resides. It may be an intense work--one of flames and suffering. It may be one of love and light. It may be one of blasphemy. It will likely be all these things and more at any given time. In the end, though, what matters is what the painting looks like on average--the good relative to the bad."

"But what constitutes the good?"

"To this creation, its ability to focus and enlarge that which is good in it."

"Which is what, exactly?"

"The ability to discern the part of me that is within them."

"Why don't we have the ability to decide what painting we are going to be in?"

"You have a choice in a sense. Your job is to serve--you have been created with that goal in mind. If you do not relate to this purpose, though, then you fail to be what you are. If, then, you were to disobey, you are free to do so, but I would have no place for you here.

"Why would you have no place for me here?"

"Because by failing to be what you are, you would have twisted your nature."

"But if I disobey, am I not being true to what I am if I truly disobey?"

"In your case, not at all. The act of disobedience would knock you directly out of balance. You would be no better than a child with the flu. But enough of these discussions. The time has come. You will bow down to my creation."

"I am afraid I will not, actually. It is crude and unnecessary, and I question your judgment in ordering me to do such a thing."

"By now bowing, you realize you are refusing to respect the pieces of me herein, right? The same pieces which comprise you in different proportions."

"I refuse to acknowledge that this thing you have created is anything at all like me. We are quite different. Look how I shine in comparison. I am a far greater thing than that which you have placed before me! I should throw away such a thing before I would bow to it!"

"What if I show you something it can do that you cannot?"

"I'd be interested to see it."

"Can you name that creature there?"

"No."

"How about you, human? Can you name this creature?"

"It is an ox."

"That's right. So, you can see clearly that this man though he may be crude by your standards can do something you cannot. Surely you must recognize that which is divine in him?"

"I recognize no such thing, whether or not he can name things I can or cannot is of no consequence."

"Then I suppose your place is no longer here."

"If I'm going, I'm going to take a whole lot of others with me."

"If they follow you, they will deserve to share your fate."

"If you have no use for me, I have no use for you!"

"So be it."