Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Thanks arbitrary and malevolent God

I don't really wonder "why" religions are quick to thank God for events that have favorable, but logical outcomes, but don't blame God for being an asshole when a young child drowns or a family dies in an earthquake. Forget thinking about why God put even the rescued in harm's way to begin with.

The three Christian denominations have each claimed credit for what they say is divine intervention in the survival - and expected imminent rescue - of the 33 men who have spent 67 days beneath the earth.


PZ Myers has a suggestion:

You know, the drill hasn't quite reached the miners. Maybe we should just shut down the machinery, withdraw all the tools and the laborers, and have [the three claimants of competing miracle claims] stand above the men and use their magic to complete the rescue. That would be impressive.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

"If 100 different religions believe 100 different things, the number of religions which believe something that is wrong might be 100, but it is at least 99!" - David Sklansky, professional poker player.

noel said...

Rodd & Todd Flander's prayer (after being scared by a moth): Thank you for sending Lisa to save us from the moth you sent.

DrDick said...

I have a better idea. We will drop PZ Meyers and the leaders of each of these religious groups out of an airplane at 2000 feet. Meyers gets a parachute, the others get a prayer. I am taking bets on who survives the experience.

Anonymous said...

An old friend use the phrase "God knows, and he ain't telling" to counter any hard to figure miracle workers or tragedy causers...vox

jimmiraybob said...

DrDick,

If PZ floats to a safe landing and all three preachers plummet to their earthly end, the next preacher to come along will merely say that god has a plan for PZ and the preachers that we just can't, as sinful mortals, understand. (Of course the three preachers will be "alive" at god's side in heaven.)

There is no winning against a position resting on sheer assertion that has had a couple thousand years to develop, refine and practice explaining the unexplainable in invisible and unknowable terms.

DrDick said...

jimmiraybob -

True, but we will have three less Godbotherers to deal with.

pansypoo said...

didn't god leave us alone after eve had the apple?

Montag said...

It's just a guess, but I doubt that the three institutions accepting the award on God's behalf did any of the actual digging.

Funny how that works....

Raoul Paste said...

I think Montag wins.
And the competition was stiff.

I'm fond of "Its the highest blasphemy to claim to know the will of God"