Bound To Happen
A lot of bloggers have discussed whether its proper to pray for Christopher Hitchens, famed atheist who's got cancer. I suppose that's up to each individual.
Most people have discussed Hitchens with proper concern, but it was inevitable that someone would try to exploit his illness. So we have George Berkin, who argues Hitchens' situation is an example of grace. A sudden death would leave him unreconciled, but a long one allows him the time he needs to convert.
Even if this were Heaven's Plan, I have to imagine there are better ways to pull it off.
PS Good to see Hitchens keeping up his weekly column. (I'm assuming he doesn't deliver them far ahead of due date). The latest reminds us of the importance of General McChrystal's battle against Al Qaeda and others in Iraq, and what a disaster early withdrawal would have been.
posted by LAGuy @ 12:25 AM
5 Comments:
Somehow this reminds me of George Carlin's (I think) routine where he asks why only the winning team thanks God. You never hear the running back on the losing team say "everything was going great, until Jesus made me fumble."
Similar to QueensGuy, I often think about the people you see interviewed after a natural disaster:
"The flood washed away our home, killed the dog, and left us with nothing but the clothes on our back, but we're alive - god was watching over us that day."
You mean the same god that sent the flood, killed your dog (sinner?), and left you with nothing but the clothes on your back?
Heads he wins, tails... he wins?
Nice gig.
True, but it works both ways. It is somewhat common for people who have suffered great disasters or traumas or atrocities to end up gaining religious faith or becoming stronger in their faith. But it is also somewhat common for such people to abandon their religious faith or slowly move away from it.
The 1755 Lisbon earthquake was a significant factor in the decline of Christian faith in Europe, along with the growth of Enlightenment philosophy. And of course the Holocaust had a similar effect among many Jews as well as many Christians.
It's like the old saying "there are no atheists in foxholes." Oddly, this is used as a pro-religious statement, but it can just as easily be understood to mean religion sounds best when you're at your most vulnerable and least rational.
The praying bloggers should pray away for Hitch- it might keep them from doing anything real and dangerous
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