GPLindsey

Every U.S. Government contract, with few exceptions, will have a clause in it that lists the circumstances whereby a contractor can have an "excusable delay" in completing contract performance. These are circumstances beyond the reasonable control of the contractor, such as epidemics, acts by the Government, floods, fires, acts of the public enemy, and "acts of God." In a 1970 Comptroller General opinion, the U.S. General Accounting Office defined an "act of God" as a "singular, unexpected and irregular visitation of a force of nature." Let me state that again--in 1970, the GAO issued a decision defining what an "Act of God" was!!!! And every day, U.S. Government contracting officers have to sit around and make judgements on whether an Act of God did or did not occur, in order to oversee their contracts! I'm sure this phrasing can be found in insurance policies and private contracts as well.

Where does this bureaucratic use of the term "God" fit into the Establishment debate? If we accept it as a figure of speech for an uncontrollable circumstance, isn't this an example of ceremonial deism (although it seems hardly ceremonial)? Should we agitate that "acts of God" be dropped from all contractual language, and GAO's naturalistic definition inserted? What would the Christian reaction be to such a move? And how come THEY aren't objecting to the Government defining an "Act of God" as basically when anything really big and nasty happens??

Toto

"Act of God" is a term of art in the insurance industry. It has its origins in an outmoded theology of the weather god wrecking vengence on mere mortals, but really has no more religious meaning than "good-bye" ("God be with you") or referring to years as "AD" (Anno Domini = year of our Lord [Jesus Christ]).

It isn't even ceremonial Deism.

lpetrich

I'd prefer "Act of Loki", after the old Scandinavian deity of mischief.

Shake

braces_for_impact

While a staunch supporter of the seperation of church and state, this just seems to be nitpicking to me.