From: spur17@frontiernet.net   
      
   In the belief that God does answer prayers, and that he would respond to the   
   combined, simultaneous prayers of all humanity, the enclosed Martyr's   
   Challenge was first suggested in 2002. The Martyr's Challenge was purposed   
   as a way to reduce the escalating religious violence, stop the rush to war,   
   and focus attention on the underlying causes of the current war which is   
   being fought throughout the world.   
      
   For the first time in human history, we have the technical knowledge and the   
   systems in place to conduct a global Martyr's Challenge. A Martyr's   
   Challenge which would include live simultaneous broadcasts of the challenge   
   to all corners of the world. All people in all countries and followers of   
   all faiths would hear the challenge and see the results at the same time.   
   All people would hear the call to prayer and pray for a response from God at   
   the same time. A Martyr's Challenge lasting thirty days, with live   
   broadcasts every twelve hours, would ensure that all people, even in the   
   remotest locations on earth, would be aware of the challenge and able to   
   participate in the challenge.   
      
   I ask you to consider the following four questions:   
      
   1. Does God listen to the prayers of the human race?   
      
   2. Does God have a chosen path for the human race to follow?   
      
   3. Does God answer the prayers of true believers and true followers of God's   
   chosen path?   
      
   4. Would God respond to a formal Martyr's Challenge lasting thirty days and   
   thirty nights and including all of humanity?   
      
   If your response to the first three questions is "Yes" then certainly God   
   would respond to the combined prayers of all humanity. I hereby request you   
   consider the possibilities, bring it to the attention of your religious   
   leaders, pray for guidance, and support my call for a formal Martyr's   
   Challenge.   
      
      
      
   Sincerely,   
      
      
      
      
      
   Russell V. Scudder   
      
   ***********************************************************   
      
   A Martyr's Challenge   
      
   This is a direct challenge to all would be martyr's in the world, no matter   
   where you live or what your faith my be. This is a direct challenge to all   
   true believers in the world, no matter where you live, or what your faith   
   may be. If you believe in God, that God listens to your prayers, and that   
   God cares about humanity, I challenge you to come forth and defend those   
   beliefs as a Defending Martyr offering your life to God for an answer from   
   God.   
      
   This is a Martyr's Challenge, and I am a challenging martyr offering my life   
   to God so that all of humanity may know God's will.   
      
   Lord please hear my plea for I come before you as a challenging martyr,   
   seeking answers which only you can provide. The human race has been besieged   
   on all sides by false prophets, perverting the word of God for their own   
   personal glorification and gain. All of these prophets claim a special   
   connection with you, and special insight into your design and your plans for   
   our future. They move amongst us creating confusion and unrest wherever they   
   go. They turn brother against brother generating suspicion and fear which   
   inevitable leads to violence and war.   
      
   Our planet is now divided by over a half dozen major religions whose   
   followers all claim to be the true believers, and the chosen children of   
   God. Those major religious groups are further divided by thousands of minor   
   religious sects, all of whom claim to be following your chosen path for   
   humanity and your will. Each sect in turn viewing all other religious sects   
   with the suspicion and mistrust, which ultimately leads to increased   
   violence and war.   
      
   Our problems are further compounded by national leaders who are driven by   
   ambition, greed, and self glorification. Leaders who are far too willing to   
   invoke the word of God whenever it suits their purpose or furthers their   
   ambitions. They intertwine their political rhetoric with our religious   
   traditions and prophecies in order to divide us and further their own   
   ambitions.   
      
   Lord we seek peace and a clear understanding of your will. That is why I   
   come before you as a challenging martyr offering my life as a vehicle   
   through which you can clearly and unambiguously communicate your desire to   
   the human race.   
      
   The answer I seek my Lord is "Who amongst us is following the true path   
   which you have chosen for mankind?"   
      
   I ask that you respond to this challenge in the prescribed manner so that   
   there can be no question that the answer came from you and no question as to   
   what your desires are. I challenge all true believers of all faiths to send   
   forward defending martyrs so that you may clearly communicate your desire to   
   the entire human race by the method set down in this challenge. I ask that   
   you inspire true believers from all faiths and all religious sects to offer   
   themselves as defending martyrs and proof that their faith is the true faith   
   and that their path is your chosen path for all mankind.   
      
   When the defending martyr of the true path of enlightenment has come   
   forward, I ask that you bring me home by turning my body to dust in one   
   billionth of a second leaving only my right hand as proof of your deed. In   
   that exact same nanosecond I ask that you turn the bodies of all defending   
   martyrs, from the true path of enlightenment, to dust and bring their   
   spirits home, thereby proving that their prophets are the true prophets and   
   their path your chosen path for all humanity. Bringing us home in the   
   prescribed manor is a feat that only you can preform. Bringing us home in   
   the exact same nanosecond will be proof that all humanity can clearly   
   understand.   
      
   In the name of all humanity I ask this of you, so that we may all know and   
   follow the true path of enlightenment and the true prophets of God.   
      
   In the name of God, and for the sake of all humanity,   
      
   Amen   
      
   ******************************************************************   
      
   One People, One Destiny   
      
   Who I am, where I am from, and what I may or may not believe to be true is   
   of any importance. I come before you as a challenging martyr, offering my   
   life in exchange for a simple direct answer from God. No matter where you   
   were born, no matter what political philosophy you follow, no matter what   
   religion you believe in, this is about you, your future, and the future of   
   all humanity.   
      
   As a people, we have achieved a level of technical ability that is   
   unparalleled by any other species. We have reached a level of technical   
   scientific sophistication which makes it possible for us to either ensure   
   our survival as a civilized race, or guarantee our own destruction. Our   
   technical scientific ability has indeed made us one people with one common   
      
   [continued in next message]   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)