Quatermass

I followed the story of the kidnapping of two teens in Southern California for the past few days. I don't mean to criticize the girls or trivialize this event in any way. It was a tragic, senseless act of violence and I hope those directly involved can rebuild their lives. But I wonder about the notion of answered prayer that the event raised.

One of the girls thanked everyone for their prayers and said that God was listening. ABC News also emphasized that God answered prayers.

I understand that to say that God answered prayers in this case is like saying, "We are grateful they're alive!" But is it really a case of answered prayers? Isn’t that being awfully selective? What about the prayers for safety and well-being when the girls were first kidnapped? What about the girls’ prayers before being raped? Why wasn't God listening then?

Here are a few scenarios to consider.

<ol type="1">[*]The prayers worked - it just took awhile to get God's attention.[*]The prayers worked - God wanted the girls to be kidnapped and raped according to His plan - but He did change His mind on the 'kill the girls' part of the plan.[*]The prayers had no effect on the outcome because it was all part of God's wonderful plan.[*]The prayers had no effect on the outcome because God chose not to intervene with the rapist’s freewill.[*] Who knows if the prayers worked - it’s all a mystery but we should thank God anyway.[*]The prayers had no effect because there was no God to hear them.[/list=a]

You can add 'and/but praying helped everyone feel better' to each of the scenarios to account for the possible psychological benefit realized.

I think it is healthier to realize that human action is the only effective course and there is no divine plan involved or moral lesson to be learned from this brutal event. Thanks belong to the girls own efforts and the citizens and law enforcement agents who helped rescue them.

HelenM

Weren't thanks given to them?

GaryP

I'm sure they were thanked. But when God is brought into the equation, the efforts of the rescuers seem to be trivilized, in my mind.

Because if God was really involved, these mere mortals were simply an instrument of the good that came about. Since god is omnipotent, could he not have used the kidnapper/rapist just as easily for a good purpose?

Abacus

I think God ought to hold a press conference with the media and explain His actions. We need to know the truth, and there would be no better source than from the mouth of the big guy himself.

So where the fuck is He?