1-2-3) In Process...

I start with asking, "what is valuable?" Value is placed upon something by someone. I ask, "what does God value?" God values people. I ask, "why people?" Because we relate. I envision that God experienced a relationship of a quality wherein each being was pleasured by the others, and that out of a motivation for other beings to experience this quality [good] of relationship, God created beings capable of doing so. I propose that this type of relationship, wherein each member benefits from all others, is most valuable and is the primary motivation for all of creation.

The components necessary for this type of relationship are (a) autonomous beings and (b) actuated trust. Trust is the hinge that connects two beings, and relationship is the movement resulting from its actuation. In order for a being to be autonomous, it must (a1) have a self and (a2) be capable of choosing [freewill]. In order for trust to be actuated, there must (b1) be an opportunity to trust and (b2) the ability to trust. In order for the opportunity to trust, there must be the possibility for failure: for to trust someone is to propose that another being - who is out of your control - will meet your expectations on a particular account. Trust is an internal posture of one's will; it is to say to yourself, "I take it that they will pay me back." You choose to assume something. In order for this to occur, you must have an incomplete understanding, there must be unknowns. Once that which is trusted is acted upon over time, faith is exhibited.

The game show "Wheel of Fortune" illustrates these components. Each player begins with in incomplete understanding of the word or phase yet to be revealed. Given the limited information about the puzzle, they propose letters that will progress their understanding, either confirming or condemning their suspicions. If they trust their suspicions, and, offering the appropriate letters, find there expectations to be meet, they will grown in confidence of the accuracy of their guess (all the time undeniably unsure). Here it can be seen where a player, expressing faith, offers a guess, does not produce the effects of the revealed letters meeting their expectations, but rather enables this congruency. The point here being that when one has faith in something, it is not the magnitude of conviction or confidence that affects the outcome, but the actuality of that which is trusted in. It should be pointed out, however, that if that which one expresses faith towards is actual, the pattern of satisfied expectations will occur, and confidence will result.

So, in order for this most valuable type of relationship to occur, there must be the possibility for unmet expectations [treachery]. This makes way for injustice. In order for even the prospect of justice, there must be some understanding of the expectations of others: an unwritten code, a "common sense" understanding (i.e. do no harm). In order for justice, there must be a law (written or unwritten) describing the expectations of others. What motivation exists for one to choose justly? The fear of pain and the anticipation of pleasure.