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Permalink Reply by Neal on December 27, 2011 at 8:32am

I definitely understand the thought, but a response that could be given follows:

There is a sentimental response often given to that question. It is offered in the form of a poem, which contains the lines: "God has no hands but our hands, to do His work today." The verse implies that God’s hands are tied by the decision to turn over to us the work of caring for one another. God is not farmer, miller, baker, grocer, or domestic help. If the hungry are to be fed, it is us who must do the feeding.

That same notion is the basis for a folktale about a man who died and went to the place of souls. He was shown a banquet hall, where tables were loaded down with rich food. He was certain he had gone to heaven. At the ringing of a dinner bell, the inhabitants of that place rushed into the room. But all had long spoons tied to each hand, so that they could not feed themselves. Nevertheless, they tried frantically to get the food to their mouths, until attendants came to drive them from the hall. The newcomer understood that he was in hell, and he begged to be shown heaven. He was taken to another place, where the scene was repeated. There was the banquet hall, the food, the inhabitants with spoons strapped to their hands. But here each fed his or her neighbor!

Another response, referencing the multiplying bread and fish fairy tale, could be:

And that, surely, is the meaning of the story. God feeds the hungry. That most minimal of human obligations, God undertakes. Our philosophy, technology, science, and systems to the contrary, God feeds the hungry. It would be inhuman of God to do less. As Simone Weil rightly said, "It is an eternal obligation toward the human being not to let him suffer hunger when one had the chance of coming to his assistance." In the next chapter you will hear Jesus say, "Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?"

All bullshit of course, but possibly we should be prepared for a more detailed response to those who have actually gave some thought to the dilemma.

The religious answers taken from here.

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Permalink Reply by Marianne on December 27, 2011 at 9:13am

I really like that reply that is so much based on biblical fiction; I'm afraid I haven't read any more of the relious b.s. answers to that but I'm not sos ure they can reply very cleverly...

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Permalink Reply by Adriana on December 27, 2011 at 11:58am

It's a good point; not all religious persons are helpless idiots. Many are sophisticated and have thought of all possible answers. The long spoon one is a clever one. It is based on biology: we are a social species, if we don't scratch each other's back, we would not get very far as a group or as individuals.

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Permalink Reply by Marianne on December 27, 2011 at 9:15am

I really loved the movie "Instinct"...

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Permalink Reply by Erin James Carney on December 27, 2011 at 9:16am

So did I obviously. LOL

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Permalink Reply by Adriana on December 27, 2011 at 11:58am

I did not see it, I'll check it out!

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Permalink Reply by Michel on December 27, 2011 at 12:28pm

Hey Erin - I posted your pictures:

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