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I also felt this was a great story ruined at the end. The author is talking about the terrorific (terror-filled) ride of his daughter's birth and young life, th

I also felt this was a great story ruined at the end. The author is talking about the terrorific (terror-filled) ride of his daughter's birth and young life, then flops over to a children's tale about one all-powerful being wanting more followers than a different all-powerful being. What do these all-powerful beings have to do with his daughter and her struggle to live? What does it have to do with all of the doctors and nurses who cared for his daughter? Why thank this all-powerful being who did nothing for your child, but take for granted all of the people who worked to help her?

discreteevent 14y ago
All I can say is that if you have a sick child who is suffering and in danger it is quite different to any kind of trouble you have experienced before. It is very hard to take this on your own shoulders. It helps a lot to have a feeling that there is something bigger out there. You don't have to call it God. But logic etc is of no help in this kind of situation as it is by definition out of your control. This is where all your established positions mean nothing. So whether it is true or not that there is something else I imagine that the feeling that there is is what helps many people keep it together when they would crumble if they felt there were only people and logic in the universe, there's nothing out there, we live, we die, we are just machines that are programmed to reproduce etc. Keeping it together at a time like this can be very important so you take whatever help you can get. And if you feel you got it then it would be untrue to yourself not to be grateful later.
erikpukinskis 14y ago
I think it says a lot about you that you're so excited to fight with someone who believes in an omnipotent god that you've projected that belief onto Paul Buchheit and have taken up the fight on Hacker News. You might be better off finding someone who actually believes that. From what I tell by reading his actual words--and of course such summaries are fraught with peril--Paul's god is the collection of structures which offer "unconditional love" in the world. I see no mention of omnipotence. Then to answer your questions: 1) He described being 'reduced' to unconditional love during his daughter's struggle. 2) Nothing, really. He seems to be talking about the doctors and nurses only as background information for his experience. 3) Paul didn't thank his god in this post at all, nor did he disregard the doctor's and nurses. In fact, most of his story has to do with the doctors and nurses and what they did, and very little about gods. You seem, again, to be projecting the beliefs of... well, I don't know who... your parents? Sarah Palin? ... on Paul.

discreteevent 14y ago

All I can say is that if you have a sick child who is suffering and in danger it is quite different to any kind of trouble you have experienced before. It is very hard to take this on your own shoulders. It helps a lot to have a feeling that there is something bigger out there. You don't have to call it God. But logic etc is of no help in this kind of situation as it is by definition out of your control. This is where all your established positions mean nothing. So whether it is true or not that there is something else I imagine that the feeling that there is is what helps many people keep it together when they would crumble if they felt there were only people and logic in the universe, there's nothing out there, we live, we die, we are just machines that are programmed to reproduce etc. Keeping it together at a time like this can be very important so you take whatever help you can get. And if you feel you got it then it would be untrue to yourself not to be grateful later.

erikpukinskis 14y ago

I think it says a lot about you that you're so excited to fight with someone who believes in an omnipotent god that you've projected that belief onto Paul Buchheit and have taken up the fight on Hacker News. You might be better off finding someone who actually believes that. From what I tell by reading his actual words--and of course such summaries are fraught with peril--Paul's god is the collection of structures which offer "unconditional love" in the world. I see no mention of omnipotence. Then to answer your questions: 1) He described being 'reduced' to unconditional love during his daughter's struggle. 2) Nothing, really. He seems to be talking about the doctors and nurses only as background information for his experience. 3) Paul didn't thank his god in this post at all, nor did he disregard the doctor's and nurses. In fact, most of his story has to do with the doctors and nurses and what they did, and very little about gods. You seem, again, to be projecting the beliefs of... well, I don't know who... your parents? Sarah Palin? ... on Paul.