They say that whenever people have to choose between doing what's right, and doing what's easy, they choose what's easy. But what of those times where doing what's right is easy, and doing what's wrong is more difficult? Why is it so many choose what's wrong anyhow? Especially those who struggle to continue to deny basic scientific fact, and deny what's, quite literally, staring them in the face? -- Lessons
Humans are, as a species, considered insane. They do many, many things that defy logic and reason. Chief among these things is the flat-out denial of truth and reason. Or, for that matter, the evidence they had once championed. Those confronted with the evidence of their own experience immediately deny it as some variant of fraud.
Case in point, the First Contact with the Firmament of Divine Providence.
The farmer had come out with a shotgun and then reacted in confusion when the "alien" in her sights appeared to be as human as she was. Jessie Erngolt readjusted her thinking in seconds without having to adjust her aim. "You stand where you are, you demon shapeshifter! You aren't stealing my soul!"
Surveyor Tren startled on the ramp of their ship and showed empty hands. "I mean no harm. You see? No weapons. I don't even know how to steal a soul."
"That's what I'd expect a soul-sucking demon to say. You only look Human! I know you're false! Only the righteous exist on the level firmament since all the evil ones were taken into Hell where they belong!"
"Oh... kay...?" allowed Tren. Staying still. "I... don't suppose a peace offering would help in this situation?"
"I'm not taking any bribes from any dingdang demons!" A meaningful gesture with her shotgun. "You get off'a my property now before I fill you full of hot lead."
"Understood," Tren retreated into their ship, which lifted off and vanished into the clouds.
Reports would come in via the news of the appearances all over the world. Strange metal boats that floated in the air kept coming down in various areas. Trying to offer a message of peace and unity in the Galactic Alliance.
The assembled Dictates of Divinity reassured their flock that this was an effort by the forces of evil to invade the Heaven that they were all living in, and reminded them that they were living in the Hundred Thousand Years of Peace as promised by the scripture. They were to keep defending their Heaven from the invading demons, and should know that their righteous souls repelled them clean off the firmament of their world.
The Alliance, meanwhile, tried and failed to understand.
"So," said Tren. "They believe that they are descendants of the righteous who were raptured away into Heaven, whilst the real earth burned and all the sinners suffered for a hundred thousand years. Anyone stopping by to say hello is automatically a demon sent to steal souls for evil purposes. Also... they say their world is flat."
"Because of course they do," sighed Captain Fajr. "We'll class this entire solar system as a no fly zone and hang a DNI over the colony world. We will never change their minds about the truth."
The DNI notice included the phrases, willfully ignorant, and dogmatic faith in its summary.
They would keep their Heaven, made in their own image, and thereby miss out on everything else.
[Image (c) Can Stock Photo / DaveAllen]
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