Since I recently hosted my first Passover dinner, I am still living in the glow of all I learned over dinner that night. First, I learned that we are a free people. We are no ones slaves. Certainly not the government's slaves.

Second, I learned that the glass is not half empty or half full, its full to overflowing and there are three more glasses right after that.

Third, I learned that the Jews believe that in each generation, Isaiah comes back disguised as a homeless person, and he knocks on people's doors and asks them to help him. It is a test. He judges us on how we greet him--- are we decent and good to those who have less than us? Lots less than us?

The secular humanist would tell me it is economically efficient to help out the poor man as it would add to the general health of the community. He would be right. But what if the government told me that I am not allowed to feed this man under penalty of law. Where is the higher authority on the moral dilemna of following conscience or following law?

The person who has a belief in Yaweh (or God or Allah or The Great Spirit) has a distinct advantage over the aetheist or agnostic. The Yahweh believers are not confused as to what to do. They know exactly what they are supposed to do. And indecision wastes energy. See? its Physics!

The secular humanist would say "belief in God is wishful thinking, fantasy, and fiction." Yet, when you're in the trenches and faced with hugely difficult decisions, those with faith in God will do better than those without. Like a compass helps when you're lost.

No matter. It still works. If we treated each homeless person who comes to our door as though they were a richly deserving human being who's suffering we have both the power to and obligation to help. Its Jewish law.

The above writer's angst-ridden whine does make one coherent point. Belief in God is more freeing than belief in government as the ultimate authority. While most divinity based belief systems do come with a raft load of rules and expectations --- the individual is ultimately responsible only to God and can, with full conscience, say no to government when appropriate.

So, if you allow yourself the possibility of belief in an Intelligent God (as opposed to chemistry and physical forces in motion) this means that always, everywhere, that person is truly free to believe what he will and do what he deems necessary....and if God doesn't like it, he can take it up with him later.

(or her. yeah yeah)