HaysooChreesto!

Earlier in the week I posted a threat in regards to NFL quarterback Trent Dilfer who had lost his son to a freak heart infection.
Dilfer spoke at his sons funeral and said, "I won't ask God why Trevin was allowed to be taken. How can I do that when God gave up his only Son for the salvation of the world".
At the sports site I visit there was admiration for Dilfer's strong faith and that by mentioning Jesus' resurrection that we were reminded of what was really important.

Am I wrong to feel so angry about those comments? They condone their god's taking of an innocent child? It's more important to remember the death of a mangod than mourn for a lost child? Is it the unwillingness to face up to life's harshest realities? Maybe it's the attitude of "my child's life was unimportant when compared to Jesus' death".
It all seems so callous to me.

I understand defense mechanisms and the need to be able to emotionally lean on people and philosophy during grievous times. Maybe that's a better way to think about this.
My absolute greatest fear in life is to lose one of my kids and I genuinely feel for parents that have to go through something like this. Maybe that's why it affects me.

I hope that I'm not being tactless by talking about this now. Maybe it would be better sometime down the road or maybe the timing doesn't matter at all.

Jamie_L

Trent's comments seem indicative of what I feel is a problem with religious faith (at least of the Christian variety): it is very difficult to incorporate the death of a loved one into the worldview of a benevolent God who watches over us and loves us. It doesn't make me angry - it just makes me relieved that I don't have to do those kind of mental gymnastics to deal with my own tragedies.

I have lost a child. When I did, it was oddly comforting to know that the big, uncaring, mechanical universe didn't give one whit about it. I didn't have to ask why. I didn't have to wonder if I was being punished, or if the mysterious divine plan might one day need to gobble up a few more of my loved ones, or perhaps me.

I sympathyze with what Trent must be going through. It is a difficult time for him, and I'm sure he is clinging to whatever he has in this life to help him cope - just as I did. It's a shame that he has the added burden of trying to make sense of this event in light of religious teachings of an ordered, purposeful universe. When you accept that things don't necessarily make sense or have purpose, sometimes it's easier to deal with it all.

In the end, it's friends and family that get you through stuff like this.

That's my humble opinion, anyway.

Jamie

Grad Student Humanist

The reason I wouldn't be angry is because he's just speaking for himself. If he wants to be a fool who not only believes in an omnipotent God, but also thinks it's right to absolve said deity of responsibility for the evils of his creation, well that's his problem.

In contrast, two years ago at my M.A. graduation, the black preacher who gave the invocation said something to the effect of "All of your hard work and accomplishments in getting these diplomas belongs to God." Now that made me angry. And it was the first time I had ever been angered by any public prayer or invocation.

ImGod

My uncle was killed 3 weeks ago in a sensless, stupid accident where a firefighter going to work at 5:30 am ran a stop sign at 60 mph. His large truck demolished my uncle's large truck and left it in peaces 150 ft from the intersection. Just 2 seconds difference for either truck and the accident doesn't happen.

The guest minister at the funeral delivered what I thought was the worst "Message of Hope" I've ever heard. Going on about how it was god's plan, trying to tie in the hope of easter (god died for you and Mary was sad too, but it was temporary), and somehow relating the story of Lasuras and the fact god could raise us from the dead if he wanted but it's not in the plan. The minister was 92 and confirmed my uncle. I think he is just a senile old man. He slept through most of the service while another minister led us through the official Lutheran funeral service in the hymnal. It includes blank sections with (fill in name) printed under them.

I sat there thinking that I refuse to go out like this. I told my wife and brother afterwards to cremate me, save the money on the fancy casket and burial and spend it to rent a hall and buy lots of alcohol. Have everyone bring pictures and videos and work through it together listening to my music and having a party.

I too, found comfort in not having to fit the situation into some sort of grand plan. It just sucked and happened.

Badfish

I knew there was something good about Dilfer! :notworthy

May his son Rest in Peace and be with the Lord.

Ronin

Andrea Yates gave up loads of her own children...a true and loving role model she must be to Badfish and Mr. Dilfer.

Salvation from what?

Sabine Grant

Bonsoir.... Andrea had been diagnosed with schizophrenia... I am not sure she had any sense of understanding her crimes. I also doubt she is any kind of " role model" to God believing folks. If anything she is to me personaly.... she is a human being who suffers of a severe mental illness and was not treated medicaly properly. That tragedy could have been avoided if her close family and physicians had considered how easily her mind could be driven to the most horrendous actions even against those she loved dearly. Her name inspires sadness and a sense of anger at the whole system which neglicted to care for her properly.

sakrilege

I sometimes wonder if the Stockholm Syndrome applies.

Hayden

Does Trent get his son back after three days? If not, it's not quite the same, is it?

HR

Ronin

Schizophrenia:

1 : a psychotic disorder characterized by loss of contact with the environment, by noticeable deterioration in the level of functioning in everyday life, and by disintegration of personality expressed as disorder of feeling, thought (as in hallucinations and delusions), and conduct -- called also dementia praecox.

2 : contradictory or antagonistic qualities or attitudes.

An apt diagnosis of the mythical God of the Christians as well, Sabine, for those that have actually read the Bible.

Yes ~ to me as well...no deities involved at all.

It was out of a misplaced respect for the zealous Christian dogma of her husband, Russell Yates, where the woman submits completely to the husband and becomes little more than a baby factory.

Russell and Andrea were were warned that having another child after their fourth would bring on severe depression, yet they went ahead anyway. Andrea had already said that her children were evil, attempted suicide, and was on several mood altering drugs.

What drug was Russell on when he planned the next pregnancy with this knowledge?