James Blish - A Case of Conscience

A Case of Conscience A Case of Conscience When you say it's Providence that brought you here,“ said Qasim, ”what I hear are two things: it's bad luck, and it's not your fault." The Rev. Donald Maclntyre, M.A. (Div.), Ph.D., put down his beer can and nodded. “That's how it sometimes feels,” he said. “Easy for you to say, of course.” Qasim snorted. “Easy for anybody! Even a Muslim would have less difficulty here. Let alone a Buddhist or Hindu.” “Do tell,” said Donald. "No, what's really galling is that there are millions of Christians who would take all this in their stride. Anglicans. Liberals. Catholics. Mormons, for all I know. And my brethren in the, ah, narrower denominations could come up with a dozen different rationalizations before breakfast, all of them heretical did they but know itwhich they don't, thank the Lord and their rigid little minds, so their lapses are no doubt forgiven through their sheer ignorance. So it's given to me to wrestle with. Thus MacLeod, Ken - A Case of Consilience a work of Providence. I think." “I still don't understand what your problem is, compared to these other Christians.” Donald sighed. “It's a bit hard to explain,” he said. “Let's put it this way. You were brought up not to believe in God, but I expect you had quite strong views about the God you didn't believe in. Am I right?” Qasim nodded. “Of course. Allah was always...” He shrugged. “Part of the background. The default.” “Exactly. Now, how did you feel when you first learned about what Christians believe about the Son of God?” “It was a long time ago,” said Qasim. “I was about eight or nine. In school in Kirkuk. One of my classmates told me, in the course of... well, I am sorry to say in the course of a fight.