Freethought & Rationalism Archive

NYCparalegal · 03-13-2003, 02:35 PM

It peeves me a lot when a disaster happens (say, 9/11) and the families of survivors thank god for "sparing" their family member. My big problem with this is... well, what about those other 2000 souls... what are they? chopped liver?

Anyone else wants to share in this?

Shadowy Man · 03-13-2003, 02:46 PM

It was their time to go.

Strawberry · 03-13-2003, 03:28 PM

I'd say incinerated liver, more like. But that's assuming gawd exists, which it doesn't.

Rhea · 03-13-2003, 06:34 PM

Ditto.

Like the Smart family praising God for returning their daughter. And Danielle Van Damm was... ?

Makes me feel icky.

christ-on-a-stick · 03-13-2003, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Like the Smart family praising God for returning their daughter. And Danielle Van Damm was... ?

I thought exactly the same thing.

I know Mark Klaas - father of Polly Klaas, a 12-year-old girl who was abducted from her bedroom and murdered some years ago - spoke on Larry King last night about this - from the transcript:

Quote:

I think this has to do more with the public than it has to do with prayer. I kind of take a little bit of offense when people say that prayer brought Elizabeth back and it sort of (UNINTELLIGIBLE) our own children. That somehow they didn't deserve to come back or that we didn't pray hard enough.

I was wondering, too, how it made Brenda and Damon VanDam feel... pretty shitty I would imagine.

Jewel · 03-14-2003, 04:09 AM

I was thinking the same thing yesterday when I read about Elizabeth Smart being found and all the credit going to prayer and gawd. How inconsiderate to all the parents whose child was never recovered alive or at all. Ya, I guess they weren't xtian enough or didn't pray hard enough to get their child back. It sickens me.

-Jewel

beth · 03-14-2003, 05:36 AM

As far as the Smart family goes, I think that they are just so relieved and greatful that she's alive, especially after fearing the worst. I think they are expressing their gratitude in the only way their religious minds will allow. This was one puzzling thing for me as a Christian; I could never understand how God could allow prayerful and devout families suffer from such tragedy.

Undercurrent · 03-14-2003, 05:53 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by NYCparalegal
It peeves me a lot when a disaster happens (say, 9/11) and the families of survivors thank god for "sparing" their family member.

I remember this being called somewhere, "The argument from incomplete devistation".

Milkman Dan · 03-14-2003, 06:35 AM

I remember this being called somewhere, "The argument from incomplete devistation".

Yepp, it's the argument from incomplete devastation:
(1) A plane crashed killing 143 passengers and crew.
(2) But one child survived with only third-degree burns.
(3) Therefore, God exists.

BTW, didn't something similar happen only a few weeks ago in Algeria?
IIRC a plane crashed in the mountains and only one passenger survived with severe injuries.
Guess this proves that Allah exists

(heck, where is that mullah-smiley with the turban when you need it)

openeyes · 03-14-2003, 06:45 AM

We had a "miracle" happen in the area recently when a young couple was killed in a car crash. One of the troopers finally decided to look around for a child because of all the baby stuff in the car, and sure enough found a two-year old toddler sitting some distance in the snow in mid-twenty degree temps. She was ok except for a superficial head cut or something like that.

Never mind that child is now an orphan. A "miracle" has once again occured according to other family members and some of the officials involved.

03-13-2003, 02:35 PM	#1
NYCparalegal Regular Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Manhattan, NYC Posts: 183	God and disasters - pet peeve It peeves me a lot when a disaster happens (say, 9/11) and the families of survivors thank god for "sparing" their family member. My big problem with this is... well, what about those other 2000 souls... what are they? chopped liver? Anyone else wants to share in this?

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

03-13-2003, 02:46 PM	#2
Shadowy Man Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: A Shadowy Planet Posts: 7,585	It was their time to go.

03-13-2003, 03:28 PM	#3
Strawberry Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Lancaster, PA/Toronto, ON, Canada Posts: 627	I'd say incinerated liver, more like. But that's assuming gawd exists, which it doesn't.

03-13-2003, 06:34 PM	#4
Rhea Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Recluse Posts: 9,040	Ditto. Like the Smart family praising God for returning their daughter. And Danielle Van Damm was... ? Makes me feel icky.

03-14-2003, 04:09 AM	#6
Jewel Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Northern Virginia, USA Posts: 1,112	I was thinking the same thing yesterday when I read about Elizabeth Smart being found and all the credit going to prayer and gawd. How inconsiderate to all the parents whose child was never recovered alive or at all. Ya, I guess they weren't xtian enough or didn't pray hard enough to get their child back. It sickens me. -Jewel

03-14-2003, 05:36 AM	#7
beth Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: where orange blossoms bloom... Posts: 1,802	As far as the Smart family goes, I think that they are just so relieved and greatful that she's alive, especially after fearing the worst. I think they are expressing their gratitude in the only way their religious minds will allow. This was one puzzling thing for me as a Christian; I could never understand how God could allow prayerful and devout families suffer from such tragedy.

03-14-2003, 06:35 AM	#9
Milkman Dan Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Europe Posts: 24	I remember this being called somewhere, "The argument from incomplete devistation". Yepp, it's the argument from incomplete devastation: (1) A plane crashed killing 143 passengers and crew. (2) But one child survived with only third-degree burns. (3) Therefore, God exists. BTW, didn't something similar happen only a few weeks ago in Algeria? IIRC a plane crashed in the mountains and only one passenger survived with severe injuries. Guess this proves that Allah exists (heck, where is that mullah-smiley with the turban when you need it)

03-14-2003, 06:45 AM	#10
openeyes Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Minnesota Posts: 4,215	We had a "miracle" happen in the area recently when a young couple was killed in a car crash. One of the troopers finally decided to look around for a child because of all the baby stuff in the car, and sure enough found a two-year old toddler sitting some distance in the snow in mid-twenty degree temps. She was ok except for a superficial head cut or something like that. Never mind that child is now an orphan. A "miracle" has once again occured according to other family members and some of the officials involved.

Freethought & Rationalism Archive

The archives are read only.