Okay this is sort of a parable relating to homosexualtiy(and just so you know, I'm not gay). I guess it could also deal with sexual "sin" in general, or about "sin" itself. I know the common arguement non-Christians such as myself would give are: If God hated homosexuality why would make (or allow to be made) people to be gay?" Well I suppose an aplologetic might fall back on the whole "why make us capapable of evil" question and discuss it terms of giving us the ability of free will and whatnot. But.. somehow that doesn't sit right with me. The gay issue is seems to have a bit more than the "free-will-to-choose-good-and-evil" issue. There is the question of basic morality versus "sin. Well, I thought I'd mention that so you'd understand the parable a bit more... so without further ado
Another Theological Parable Involving an Inventor and His Robots (a homosexuality parable)
Okay, so lets say I make a bunch of artificially intelligent robots (I use "I" cause I always wanted to make robots when I was a kid ) with "souls" if you will.
Now for the sake of arguement, rather than program them to be purely good, I program them with the ability to choose good and evil, for all the reasons apologetics would give for God giving us that ability (free will...yada yada).
But, for now let us say "good and evil" are not (not yet) defined by what any religion or Scripture declares is sin or not, but simply what most decent people declare as good and bad..."basic humanity" if you will. To break it down... the robots can be kind to one another or cruel to one another.
Now although I gave them free will, naturally I'm a righteous man, so when a robot hurts or mistreats another robot, I get pissed and smash them to peices with my hammer.
Sounds fair enough right?
Now, additionaly, I want lots and lots of robots. I want the robots to build other robots who will in turn build other robots. So here's what I do. In their basic programming, I program them to desire building robots above all else, and to feel very happy when they are engaging in this task. I got a factory full of happy workers.
But then...
I notice something unsual in the mud pit near the factory. A small amount of robots are trying, in vain, to build robots out of mud, and they don't seem at all upset about their failures, but just keep on building. What's going on? It seems theres a defect in the basic programming, possibly the work of some hacker, thats making them feel happy, not when they're working with the metals, but with mud.
Now, what do I, the good father, do about this.
1. Big deal. What's a few robots playing in the mud? Its no threat to production. Tons of robots are pouring in as I speak. If these few are happy in the mud so be it. I mean its not like they're harming anyone. I can laugh at this
2. This is wrong. Robots should be building other robots, not mudthings. That's how I wanted it. So what I'll do is have those robots reprogrammed immedietely. And I'll destory the virus so that all robots will desire to build as I intended them to build. As this task is easy I should do it right away. I want all robots to work with metal and therefore there is simply no point in allowing robots to be programmed to be happy doing it another way. The same can be said for the cruelty programming....but you see, that is a different matter. That involves the complicated matter of good and evil, but what materials a robot uses in construction is outside that, for although they are not doing as I intended, they do not cause suffering in their actions. Hence their mud-making bothers me, but not in the same way as cruelty does. There is a world of difference between evil and mere reproductive defect. As for reproduction, I want all robots to work with metal and hence I shall make all robots be happy and desire working with metal. For I want them to be happy, and with the exception of morality, of basic humanity, there's no point in making my will and their happiness clash if I can help it.
Or i can do this....
3. This is wrong. Robots should be building other robots, not mudthings. That's how I wanted it. So I'll forbid those defective robots from building with mud. Now I could just reprogram them immedietly, but I won't. Maybe a long time from now I will, but for now I'll let them sweat it out. But rest assured, if any of these defective robots so much as looks longingly at the mud pit, he gets the hammer! For indeed their behaviour bothers me every bit as much as cruelty does. Now despite this I will not reprogram them immedietlly for this is a moral issue like cruelty. True, no robot suffers as a result of a few in the mud pit.... but allow me to explain my purpose behind my actions: I built those robots, I am their master, and they are constructed with the main function to do my bidding! Therefore, if I intended them to build robots out of metal and not mud... then they should obey me, even if it makes them unhappy. That's why the course of action is to force upon all the defective robots the choice between spending an exruciatingly long amount of time struggling with their basic programming and barring themselves from that which would bring them great happiness, or being smashed to bits: Kindness or not, they have to know who's boss!
Now I ask you.... which of the three is the least sensible and MEANEST way of dealing with the problem?