Big Big Question

Two epic guys with lots of respective canon. Both interested in peace. Both vilified by their contemporary powers-that-be.

Somewhat different methods and personal philosophies.

So what would the Christ and the Vigilante be able to get together on? What are the irreconcilables?

If you could ask one question, big or small, of (your preferred, for this exercise, conception of) God, and get a straight, thorough answer, what would it be? Why that question?

An oldie but a goodie. Interpretations for different values of “God” welcome; personal belief not required, but personal/practical as well as philosophical/abstract takes would be great.

Lent (for those who aren’t in the loop) is a forty-day-long period prior to Easter, for most Christian denoms of which I’m aware — and while there’s a lot more going on that just this, the big Lent hook is giving something up for the duration, as a sort of spiritual sacrifice, a preparation of the faithful for the celebration of the rebirth of Christ.

But why should they have all the fun? If you had to give up something meaningful for forty days, what would it be, and why? (And if you’re a practicing Christian getting your Lent on as we speak, what are you foregoing?)

I’ve been in countless discussions about theism and atheism. But it just occurred to me that most (all?) of these discussions have been meaningless (or at least not as meaningful as they could have been) because the participants never defined “belief.” I say I don’t believe in God. Fred says he does. I ask him why he does. He asks me what sort of proof would make me believe… We’re circling around a word, but we never attack it directly. How can we be sure we’re even talking about the same thing?

Does belief mean “to feel like something is true”? To be unable to imagine it being false (completely unable or able only with a really strong effort)? To be unable to feel like it’s false (even if you can intellectually imagine it being false)? To generally live one’s life as if it’s true (even if you know it may be false — or that it is false)?

It seems reasonable for me to claim belief that my arm exists. But I’m not even sure what I mean by that. I know it’s POSSIBLE that I might be imagining it. Still, there’s a strong emotional/intellectual SOMETHING going on. It feels profound, and I call it “I believe.” What do I mean?

A question inspired by this story of Jewish children secretly baptized, the question arises:

When two (or more) religions have intersecting domains of spiritual jurisdiction, as it were, what happens?  What are the theological boundaries?  The social implications?  Are any religions in particular more (or less) “sticky” in their metaphysical persistence?

In today’s world, where technology (i.e., Photoshop and the
like) can be so deceptive, what ‘Proof’ would make you believe that extra-terrestrial life/a divine being had actually visited Earth?

What would you accept as proof of a bona fide “Miracle”?