"I get that, she said after a pause, "but I'm interested in knowing why. I want to know how someone who believes that there are absolute moral values that apply in all situations knows that. She glanced at Jason, who was visibly enjoying the exchange, and then turned to John with a sly smile. "Have you ever heard the expression, ˜to commune with God'?
"Sure, he said, taken aback at the sudden change of subject. "I do that when I'm praying. Why?
"Because I think -- and I don't want to start another fight here " that when you do that, you might be getting a taste of what whatever problem you're praying about looks to God. Kind of like seeing it from His perspective.
John raised his eyebrows, and then knit them. "Well, he said, "I know that some people think that's a bit presumptuous, putting yourself in God's place like that, but I do kinda get a different view of my problems when I do that. It does make them seem so small and unimportant, in the grand scheme of things, I mean.
"Wow, she said, her eyes suddenly unfocused, and laughed to herself. "I never looked at it that way. Thanks, John. I think you just disproved part of my theory.
"What are you jabbering about?
"Oh, sorry. I had assumed that the only kind of external consciousness that could be overlaid on our circulating quantum patterns was that of another person. That was my problem. But now that I've had a chance to talk with you, I realize that it's a whole lot more complicated than that. I've been thinking that liberals find it easier to be compassionate to others than conservatives do because there was something broken or missing. But what's really happening is that conservatives, well, at least the religious ones, find it easier to overlay what they believe to be God's consciousness than that of other people.
"Hold it. Stop, John said, a confused expression crossing his face. "Did you just say that conservatives have a direct link to God, and liberals don't?
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