Creator II: Human Behavior Explored

Preface

My initial story idea came from observing the baffling behavior of people when it comes to religion. In pondering the notion, I realized the tale could fit well with my already written book, Creator. I wanted this new effort to delve deeply into irrational human behavior. I wanted it to examine ways of humanity that divide and encourage violence and wars. I was several chapters into the book when I realized it was going to be a diatribe against religion. I did not want to stand on that soapbox. I tabled Creator II.

As I revealed under Acknowledgements, the storytelling worm in my brain refused to give up. It pointed me to an additionally questionable human conduct at a level equal to that of religion. Male domination rescued Creator II. It was certainly valid and, between the two, religion and male domination, I could weave a telling focused on the original puzzle of irrational human behavior.

Well, there are always some who surprise me by their viewpoints on what I write. So, let me emphasize that this is fiction, science fiction, and includes time-travel into the past. Just enjoy the story and open your mind to some new ideas.

Prologue

If you have already read my book Creator, you are ready for this sequel. For those of you who have not, a few words of preparation are in order.

In the initial book, seven Guardians of the Universes hold an eighth guardian, Earth’s Creator, accountable for the unacceptable behavior of human beings on Earth. They summon historian Thomas Scribner to witness the hearings.

Thomas finds himself before a panel of seven Guardians in black robes. They sit at a rounded table. It forms an arc, and he stands at its radial focal point. The presentation of the Guardians’ court is intentionally familiar and comfortable for Scribner. However, they tell him that nothing is as it seems.

The chairman explains the nature of the inquiry. He advises that they will question Eight, Earth’s Creator, regarding human conduct. They also advise Scribner that, depending on the results of the inquiry, they may ask him to report to people on Earth.

Eight appears attired in a white robe. He asks to tell everything from the beginning. There is some resistance to allowing this. However, the panel agrees to Creator’s request. He begins with the telling of the formation of the Universe and the creation of Earth’s solar system. Eight finishes and the panel debate a course of action. The Guardians ask Scribner for an opinion.

Thomas speculates that sometimes a powerful message published in a book can have a significant impact over time. They ask if Scribner could write such a book. Thomas replies he would need the freedom to speak of all he has witnessed.

They grant Scribner his mission to save humanity from erasure. He has a one-on-one meeting with Eight. Creator gives Thomas a Credo for humankind to use as a guide to acceptable behavior. Eight also advises of possible interventions in 2025 and 2035 if there is not sufficient improvement.

Thomas returns to his office at Princeton University and begins writing the manuscript for Words of the Creator. CREATOR II picks up with the Guardians immediately following Scribner’s departure from the court to begin his undertaking.

What else is on the agenda? Much more. The Guardians are not done. Read on …

Allen Pollens

Author

Chapter 1: One-True-God

Tuesday, April 28, 2015, 3:00 PM, Cambridge MA, Harvard Univ., Robinson Hall, and Office of Jeffrey Lerner …

Professor Jeffrey Lerner sat behind his desk in his office at Harvard University. He leaned back and prepared himself mentally for what he was about to do. Jeffrey massaged the mark of the Creator on the palm of his right hand. At the same time, he whispered, Take me to the Garden of Eden and Adam and Eve. It was a time-travel ability endowed by the Guardians of the Universe when he took on his assignment.

Jeffrey realized that a travel request to a non-existent location could not happen. However, his time-travel tests showed that he would travel to the closest possible location in time and place.

Lerner closed his eyes and experienced the familiar roar in his ears. When he opened his eyes, he was standing on sand and was wearing some kind of loose fitting robe or tunic tied with a matching cloth belt around his waist. It was a moonlit night still warm from the heat of the day. Well, no Garden of Eden. This must be the next best time and place, Jeffrey thought. Then, he became aware of the light emitting from the mark of the Creator on the palm of his right hand. It showed 3900 BCE, Jerusalem, and then blinked off.

It might not be the Garden of Eden, he thought, but something significant is about to happen or I wouldn’t have transported here. He became momentarily distracted when he realized he had a full beard.

A short time earlier …

A tribe of desert nomads set up camp. The location was not far from what later would come to be known as Jerusalem. They were weary after the long day’s trek though the parched land.

Dinner was over, and they relaxed. Many in their tribe were already asleep. Six people remained seated around the still-glowing fire pit. There were four men, including a priest of their religion, and one woman. Jeffrey stepped forward to allow himself to be seen. Saul was the first to speak. Do you wish to join us …? Saul asked, reaching for a name.

Jeffrey realized that the time-travel adjusted for language and that he could converse. I am Je - Jethro. I became lost earlier today and saw the light of your fire.

I think I remember you from the marketplace, said David.

Yes, I think I remember you too, Jethro (Jeffrey) lied. May I join you?

Of course, said Saul moving a little to one side to make room. I was about to ask a question, but let me introduce you to Priest Jacob, Judith, David, Samuel and Laban.

Jeffrey nodded to each and then was quiet. He was under strict instructions. He could observe past events but was not to change anything. He had no idea what to expect.

The conversation among the others went on as it would have had Jeffrey not been there:

Saul: Do you ever stop to think why we still do this?

Priest Jacob: What are you saying? We have to do this! This statue is a symbol of our most powerful Gods.

David: Yes, but what does this ever do for us? Tired one day, we forgot the offering. On the next, we had rain and refilled our water jars. Food offering at other times had no result except we went to sleep feeling hungry.

Priest Jacob: Do not anger our Gods. Do not fault or question the ones who see all and control our destinies.

Saul: Priest Jacob, I am going to test these Gods, to challenge them to show themselves if they exist.

Priest Jacob: Don’t do it, Saul. It will have terrible consequences.

Saul: Unless Samuel, David, and Laban … and Judith … also do not wish it, I will challenge our Gods.

Jeffrey noted Saul mentioning Judith as almost an afterthought.

David: Do it, Saul.

Laban nodded his agreement, as did Samuel, but Priest Jacob scowled, moaned and held his head in his hands.

Saul: Okay … I’ll do it now. Oh, Gods we have worshipped, I challenge your powers. I say you are FALSE and will continue to say you are FALSE until you strike me down.

Priest Jacob was in a state of high stress but only shook his head silently. They waited several minutes. Nothing happened.

Laban: We must find real gods.

Saul: Okay, I have been asking myself how all this came to be … the land, the sand, the sky, the clouds, the wind, the water, the plants and trees, the animals, seeds and babies. I don’t think it just happened and that the gods we worship and have worshipped made any of this.

Priest Jacob: Then what Gods did make all this?

Saul: I think there is one we do not see, who watches us, but does not show himself … the one and the only one, our Creator … the one who made everything.

Jeffrey was impressed but held himself from commenting.

David: Our false gods are not objecting, Jacob.

Samuel: Continue, Saul. I want to see if an offended God will stop you.

Laban: If Creator did all this, where is He and is He a he or a she?

Saul: I think we have to figure that out for ourselves, or it is not that significant.

David: I have a problem with this. Can we call this Creator, God … the One-True-God?

Saul: I don’t see why not. I see no challenge from another god who is trying to stop what we are doing.

It was all intriguing, but Lerner knew better than to step into the middle of it. He wondered at Judith’s lack of participation.

Samuel: Okay, we have no objections. Let’s continue.

David: Okay, let us talk about how God did all this. Here, are my thoughts. In the beginning, there was probably nothing and the real God, the One-True-God, made the waters, the land, and the light during the day.

Amazing, thought Jeffrey, they are so close to the truth of it.

Samuel: Later, he could have made what grows on the land and what grows in the water.

Judith: Maybe added some animals.

Finally … a suggestion from Judith. She seemed to be alone. Maybe not married. A widow? Jeffrey pondered. Definitely not on an equal level with the others.

Saul: Good, Judith …, and then God would have added at least one man and one woman.

That’s it. The beginning of the Adam and Eve fable, Lerner realized.

Judith: Have fun. I’m going to bed.

The others took no notice of Judith leaving.

David: So what did God, the Creator, do next?

A reference to Creator! Lerner mused. If only they had kept with it. Maybe it wouldn’t have made any difference.

Saul: Maybe, tired after all he had done, God slept.

Samuel: Wait … how long did all this take?

Saul: Who knows? In God’s time, maybe it took a week.

Samuel: It took only a week!

Saul: I say a week in God’s time.

They all agreed a week was reasonable.

Saul: Do you have a problem with any of this, Priest Jacob? You don’t have to support this. We can figure something else for you to do.

Priest Jacob: No, I’m still a little frightened, but I can do this. It can work if nothing strikes us down. I’ll begin by letting everyone else know we have discovered the One-True-God. I won’t tell them that I’m still afraid of our other gods punishing us.

The tribe was hospitable, and Priest Jacob offered Jethro a bed in his shelter. Jethro (Jeffrey) decided on making a quick trip back to his office at Harvard University. He allowed some time for Jacob to get settled for the night. Telling Jacob he was going for a short walk, he invoked the time-travel.

Time at Harvard had elapsed in equal to the time spent where he’d been. It was still Tuesday, April 28, 2015, but the time had advanced to 8:00 PM. To Jeffrey’s surprise, Hank was still in his office. He updated him on his intention to be gone for a few weeks even months. I’ll call you first thing when I am back to stay for a while. I’ll explain everything when I get back. Update Kathy. Lerner then massaged the mark of the Creator on the palm of his right hand while requesting a return to his last point of departure.

The tribe was happy with the new religion. Already built into their religious habits was thanking God for all manner of occurrences. It was Thank God this, Thank God that. They also did not blame God for much. It seemed clear that the ‘One-True-God’ was catching on with the tribe and was not likely to be replaced.

Jeffrey intentionally cultivated his relationship with Priest Jacob so as to be close to anything having to do with religion. Over a period of a few weeks, several other tribes were introduced to the One-true-God and also adopted the belief. Jeffrey already knew people had a tendency never to be quite happy with the status quo. He was not surprised when Jacob suddenly found himself challenged in a new way. Worshippers began asking what happens to them when life ends. Jacob called a council of One-True-God tribes to consider the question. He told Jethro he could attend, as well.

Seven high priests attended the council. Jeffrey was astonished by the speed with which tribes adopted the new religion. Then he remembered there were ultimately thirteen tribes.

The priests discussed the question of an afterlife and, of course, had no indication of anything. However, they felt they could not tell this to their worshipers. After some speculation, they decided humans are probably born with something eternal that survives death. They gave it a name which Jeffrey realized became known as the soul. The question then arose as to where this soul goes when a person dies. The keepers of the religion pondered this for a bit. They decided if the person had been good, the soul would go to a good place. To a bad place, if the person has not been good. Thus, they invented Heaven and Hell.

Jeffrey stayed long enough to observe the tribe’s reception of this new religious wrinkle. The people accepted this as truth. After all, the priests said it came from the One-True-God.

On his time-travel return, Jeffrey went to his home in Sudbury. He set about documenting everything he had witnessed and subsequently shared it all with Kathy and Hank.

Together, they analyzed Jeffrey’s experience with respect to what it revealed with regard to their mission concerning human behavior. They decided it was not clear but were not worried about it. They were only beginning. The three did make note of several key observations:

No proof of Adam and Eve and the Garden of Eden. Most likely a fable included in the Old Testament and taken too seriously.

The One-True-God was invented by human beings and readily accepted by others with little question.

Human fear of death and the need for an afterlife gave rise to the invention of Heaven and Hell, neither of which required any proof.

They were on the right track. This was the basis for the religious beliefs of half the world’s population and schisms that produced nasty human behavior. How did this happen? What was wrong with the species? There was much to learn.

Chapter 2: Guardians Court

Ten Days Prior to Lerner’s Initial Time-travel, Earth Date Saturday, April 18, 2015 …

The Guardians were still in the courtroom created for Thomas Scribner’s comfort when Eight returned from his final meeting with the professor. The panel of seven was still seated at the somewhat rounded table. Eight approached and stood before them. He nodded to the other Overseers.

Eight, tell us about your one-on-one with Thomas, the Chairman, Four, requested.

We had a good conversation. I gave him a guide to acceptable human behavior, a Credo. We discussed each part of it at length. I also warned of possible interventions in 2025 and 2035, if there is insufficient improvement in human conduct.

Eight, are you satisfied with what is in place and are you serious about the interventions, Three asked.

"Yes, I intend actions in 2025 and 2035 if Scribner has not gained enough attention with his book and other aspects of his mission. Scribner’s first priority is writing and publishing Words of the Creator. It will convey our message, including the Credo, to Earth’s inhabitants."

Are you now content with what is in place? Five asked, essentially repeating Three’s question.

It is a good start but, no, I am not satisfied. Scribner’s mission as it is currently defined addresses unacceptable human behavior and threatens the ultimate punishment, eradication if it is not corrected. However, I believe we owe it to my creations to understand the basis for the faulty behavior that has led to so much violence and bloodshed.

What would be the purpose? Five questioned.

The interventions, I see them as opportunities to deliver meaningful messages … ones that will help Scribner in his efforts.

Six was puzzled. What might these interventions, these messages be, Eight?

I don’t know. Perhaps actions to help humans to do better.

Yes, but how will you decide on what these interventions should be? Three queried.

By learning what drives human violence. I made them with the intention they would support one another and be as one. I take full responsibility for this unexpected flaw.

Thank you for admitting and accepting this failing, Eight, commended Six. Please continue.

Guardians, you have challenged me in what I have created. I believe we have come together in agreement about humanity. We have determined a course. It would pain me to take the final step of purging the Earth of this species. However, we stand together on this if it is necessary.

What do you propose, Eight, Four asked.

As I mentioned in our earlier hearings, I observed human conduct that surprised me. I believe we need a better understanding of what underlies the behavior.

Do you have a suggestion as to how we can comprehend this? Four asked.

I favor extending this conference to discuss the gathering of additional information … a new session with the summoning of another human to attend the meeting.

Seven rankled. For a Guardian with such a questionable record …

Stop! Four admonished. Eight has cooperated fully regarding our unhappiness with human behavior. He shared what took place from the very beginning. He cares deeply for his creations but accepts humanity’s eradication if it is necessary. He is with us in this difficult situation. Has he not earned the right to be an equal in our endeavors as we go forward?

Four paused and waited for conversations to subside. He smiled. Thank you for your telepathic agreements. Eight, you may put on a symbolic black robe if you wish.

I’ll stay with white for now. I ask again for an immediate conference to consider how we may learn about the root causes of perplexing human behavior. I also repeat my request for a human participant.

This is going to be a further waste of our efforts, Seven said.

Why do we harp on this when little time is required? Six complained. We have accomplished much, but Eight wants to do more. I vote yes.

Signal yes or no, Four responded. There was a momentary delay. Continue Eight. We will hold your conference and will summon a human to attend. Do you have someone to recommend?

Professor Jeffrey Lerner in the History Department of Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts in the United States. He has, in addition to his PhD in, History, one in Psychology. He was my second choice for the just completed inquiry.

What else can you tell us about Professor Lerner, Eight? Four asked.

He is forty years old and has reconciled himself to an unfortunate divorce five years ago. He has no children. He has authored several papers and thrives on challenge. Jeffrey might become our man on the ground, so to speak if we decide we need one.

What caused the breakup of his marriage? Six asked.

A failure to have children and the difficult ordeal of several miscarriages. He blames himself although there is nothing to indicate he was at fault in any way. He doesn’t speak of it and focuses himself on positive pursuits. It is not unusual for humans at mid-life to have accumulated some difficult experiences. Lerner has done well in accommodating his. I have submitted his full background into our system’s open database.

Thank you, Eight, said the Chairman. There are no objections to Dr. Lerner. We will summon him. Let’s focus on the conference.

Let’s get out of this courtroom and no black robes, pleaded Two.

Seven added, I envision a large room with a round table seating nine. It has glass windows all around with a city view on one side morphing into a nature scene on the other. The windows begin three feet from the floor and extend to the ceiling. No doors. Not necessary. The window views change periodically.

Make it so, advised Four. We will all attend the meeting in Earth business dress. We want Lerner to be comfortable. If there’s nothing else … There was a brief pause, and the courtroom vanished.

Jeffrey Lerner found himself standing in the only remaining space at the large round table. He gazed around the room. The skyscrapers of New York City were evident in the view ahead. He turned to survey the rest of the conference room. The Grand Canyon was directly behind him.

The eight Guardians seated around the table presented themselves in the attire of businessmen. They looked to be near his age. There was a place card in front of each presenting, in order, a single number spelled out, beginning with One and ending with Eight.

Four rose from his seat. Do you know why you are here, Doctor Lerner?

I was summoned.

Yes, that is true. We wanted you to be here with us today, but you have no idea where you are and why. True?

Yes.

Of course, there is no way you could know. May I call you Jeffrey?

Certainly, Lerner responded with a slight nod.

"My name for the purpose of this meeting is Four, or Guardian number four. I am acting Chairman.

The Guardians on either side remained silent as Four continued. This bears some explanation. Nothing is what it seems. We are the eight Guardians, Overseers of the Universes. We present ourselves in this meeting room and in the manner of humans in standard business dress. We do this for your comfort. We would like your participation

Lerner wondered if he should be concerned. There was nothing suggesting any personal jeopardy. The meeting room was a little odd but conference rooms varied. He could accept the current one.

Jeffrey, we know your background as a historian. We know you are divorced and have no children. You thrive on challenge, something which of late, has been missing from your life. We are about to begin a discussion on a matter of considerable importance that could conceivably use your further involvement.

Lerner had a feeling of an off-world experience and wondered if he could be dreaming.

You are no doubt pondering whether your mind is playing games with you as you sleep. I assure you this is no dream. Also, be aware we are somewhere other than Earth. As I mentioned earlier, we are the Guardians of the Universes. Eight, to your right, oversees the Earth system and is its creator.

Jeffrey turned momentarily towards Eight who nodded acknowledgement.

Jeffrey, the Chairman went on, we Guardians have been considering your planet and its many troubles. Current human behavior is unacceptable. We have already instigated a mission in hopes it will avert eradication of the species. This meeting is in the nature of a further effort to explore and understand humanity. Your initial role will be to help us to determine how we may accomplish this. Okay?

Eradication of the species! Jeffrey paused to consider the threat. He decided there was only one course open to him. I’ll do my best to help, Jeffrey responded, doing his best to suppress his unease.

Thank you. If this council ends with your taking on a further assignment, you will be granted full recall of all that we discuss. Otherwise, your memory will be wiped before your return to Earth. Do you need some time to settle yourself about all this?

Thank you for your concern. It is a lot to digest, but I will do my best to adjust.

Let us know at any time if you need a break, Four responded. Please take the ninth seat at our table, Professor. We begin immediately."

The Chairman turned to Eight. This conference is taking place in response to your earlier request. Please summarize the circumstances and goals.

Eight responded, "Humans often lack mutual respect. This has manifested itself in humanity’s history of wars and violence. We are hopeful for the success of Thomas Scribner’s mission to deliver the message that this is not tolerable. However, humans are complex, and their conduct is often surprising. Our goal is to uncover the root causes of perplexing human