Divine design and common sense -version 2

Divine design and common sense -version 2

fiction
edward w pritchard

see version 1 same theme

Titus was traveling with his lord Gentile to the council of Nicaea in the year AD 325 in Iznik turkey [- for more on Iznik see the wandering beggar who impersonated Jesus feb blog]. His lord, Gentile was preoccupied and troubled throughout the journey.

Gentile was an honored speaker going to the council of Nicaea specifically to arrange and codify a consensus among all the bishops present concerning the role of divine design in the history of the cosmos. Nearly all of the major Christian bishops would be present.

It seems to us present readers, looking back into history from the convenience of our position in the future, regarding the Council of Nicaea, the seminal event in shaping modern Christian thought; that all present, men and bishops believed in God, they were specifically coming to reach common gound on doctrinal matters, and all were supposed to be Christians. However, at that time and place there was much disagreement, political in fighting, and favoritism for some people wouldn't support a position unless they got something out of it. In short despite the important religious underpinnings of the meeting, in reality things were similar to a political meeting now and it was stressful and unpleasant to reach a consensus on any issue; even one as important as agreeing to God's role in designing the Earth and the Cosmos.

Gentile was pacing about the campsite on the way to the meeting in Iznik tomorrow. They had been traveling for two days and Titus was functioning as a guide, body guard and assistant to Lord Gentile. Titus was not an educated man but he had seen much, been a soldier and had worked for other lords. For Gentile he functioned not as a slave but as business associate. It troubled him to see Gentile troubled and concerned him that Gentile had not written out his presentation for the assembled bishops on divine design. Titus knew Gentile to be brilliant but he couldn't see the issue. Titus saw God's hand in the world around him and didn't need to read about it or debate it to know that.

Gentile was still pacing and Titus decided to take the bull by the horns so to speak and show his lord what he Titus thought on the issue of divine design. He brought Gentile some fresh blackberries he had picked and gave them to the hungry Gentile who had got so preoccupied in his debating and fretting with himself that he had neglected to eat.

As Gentile attacked the delicious blackberries and then thanked Titus for picking them, Titus said there is your evidence of divine design master.

Among other things agreed at the Council of Nicaea, including the Creed of Nicaea, was consensus on divine design in the cosmos. There was much debate and unnecessary infighting but Gentile ruled the debate and began his presentation with "consider the blackberry" and then he gave each participant at the long afternoon meeting a bowl of the delicious fresh fruit passed out by his assistant Titus. Gentile ruled the day and the issue of divine design was voted as common sense needing no debate.
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