CHAPTER TWELVE

Hairy took the next flight to Zurich and met with professor Ruff who said he would be willing to join the committee for creating more good in the world. However, the professor warned Hairy that his magic flashlight had a side effect that he was still trying to eliminate. Hairy asked, “What is the side effect?”

The professor said,” After being exposed to the magic flashlight, people become afflicted with uncontrollable laughter which makes it impossible for them to carry on a conversation.”

Hairy said, “Well, what’s so bad about that. If evil people are changed into loving good people who can’t stop laughing, what’s the harm of that?”

Professor Ruff said, “I am not sure but it just doesn’t seem right. I am worried about it.” I think the side effect should be eliminated before we use the flashlight for large applications.”

Hairy said, “Let’s move your laboratory to the island of Little Exuma where you can continue to work on the side effect problem with the help of the committee for creating good in the world. I will assign Jasmine Loverly to serve as your personal assistant.”

After seeing a photograph of the beautiful Jasmine Loverly, the professor quickly agreed to make the move.

To be continued…

                                      

CHAPTER ELEVEN

When it was the Freelance Thinkers turn to brainstorm, he told the group about a Zurich science professor, Doctor Christian Ruff, who invented a magic flashlight that created a light that stimulates people’s brains so that they have behavioral changes. These changes  positively change people to care about others and become more peaceful. Evil is darkness. Good is light. Give everyone a magic flashlight and there will only be good in the world. The Freelance Thinker suggested that they encourage Doctor Ruff to collaborate with their group.

Hairy said, “That’s it! That is exactly what we need. I will fly to Zurich and convince Dr. Ruff to make his technology available to us. Then we will develop a larger version of the flashlight that can be used to shine its light on the trouble areas of the world such as Syria and Iraq. This will convert the Isis army from a brutal purveyor of death, torture, and mutilation, into a peace loving bunch of people who care about others. They will drop their weapons and start hugging their enemies. There will be peace on earth and Miss America contestants will finally get what they have always wanted!

To be continued…

                               

CHAPTER TEN

Imagined Gods, Mythical Gods, and even the one true God could not or would not eliminate evil. All the world’s religions have not been able to explain it. They call it a mystery that cannot be explained. They say you must have faith that God knows what he is doing. Hairy decided that God needed some help concerning this issue. He reasoned that if there was more “good” in the world, then there would be less room for evil. He decided to search for a way of creating more good.

Hairy Risk Taker, Jasmine Loverly, Lois Lane, the Tsar and the Freelance Thinker all got together for cocktails at Hairy’s luxurious villa on the island of Little Exuma. The purpose of the meeting was to brainstorm ways of creating more good in the world. Hairy reminded everyone of some basic rules for brainstorming: 1. We want lots of ideas. 2. We encourage wild ideas. 3. We defer judgment and do not criticize other people’s ideas. 4. We build on other people’s ideas. And remember, there are no dumb ideas. The Tsar kicked the session off by suggesting that they drop a hydrogen bomb on the Middle East. Hairy said, “Okey-dokey, that is certainly a wild idea. Who is next?”

To be continued…

CHAPTER NINE

Using Hairy’s imagination God appeared to him on a bar stool in Hairy’s favorite tavern during the half price cocktail hour. Hairy was enjoying a martini when the guy next to him said, “I am sorry, Hairy, but I cannot grant your request for a modified free will.”

 “Jesus!” exclaimed Hairy, “Are you really God? You look a lot like everyone else at the bar. And what are you drinking?”

God said, “Yes, I am your imagined God and I look like everyone else because I created mankind in my own image. I am drinking a fine Bordeaux that used to be a glass of water. (God has unique privileges).”

Hairy said, “Why can’t you switch to a modified free will?” I thought you can do anything.”

God said, “It is complicated and beyond your ability to understand. It has to do with the fact that there are two distinct kinds of freedom. There is free will and there is freedom of action. There is an important distinction between these two related, but conceptually distinct, kinds of freedom. The truth of causal determinism further muddies the water. I only created two guys who were compatibilists and capable of explaining it but they are dead and gone from the face of the earth. You just have to trust me. I have exhaustive control of all that goes on and I know what I’m doing.” God lit a cigar and disappeared in a puff of smoke. Hairy ordered another martini and kept shaking his head.

To be continued...
                                 

CHAPTER EIGHT

Hairy knew that the only way to create a hidden force for good was to enlist the help of God. He imagined a meeting with God to discuss it. Since God is “all knowing”, he figured that this would be his best shot at communicating with the “all powerful one”. Whatever Hairy imagined, God would have to be aware of it. So Hairy imagined a meeting in which he proposed that the gift of free will be modified to limit the actions of humans to only good acts and not allow any evil acts.

Hairy told the All Mighty, “Because, by definition, you are a logical entity you should be able to see the sense of modifying free will to eliminate evil but continue to allow people to have the free will to choose to love, or not love you. God would continue to have the pleasure of the willing love of some humans and the rest he could send to hell. The awful evil on earth would be eliminated to the joy of mankind. Now doesn’t that make a lot of sense? And would it not prove that God is good?”

Hairy’s imagined God said, “Yes it does make sense. I will think it over and let you know next week whether or not I will modify free will.”

To be continued…

                  He created man for His glory and for His pleasure (Revelations 4:11)