XPost: sci.psychology.psychotherapy, alt.consciousness, talk.origins   
   From: earle.jones@comcast.net   
      
   In article   
   ,   
    AC  wrote:   
      
   > On Wed, 15 Sep 2004 13:26:28 +0000 (UTC),   
   > Harry K  wrote:   
   > > Double Felix  wrote in message   
   > > news:...   
      
   [...]   
      
   > >> The general rule is, if some unexpected *good* event occurs, it's   
   > >> because God was watching out for you.   
   > >>   
   > >> If some unexpected *bad* event occurs, it's because God moves in   
   > >> mysterious ways.   
   > >>   
   > >> Did I get it right?   
   > >>   
   > >>  - Felix   
   > >   
   > > Pretty close.  I like samples like davey's.  Somehow while God was   
   > > watching out for him, he allowed two other (at least) people to have   
   > > -really- bad day.  That never seems to be considered or mentioned.   
   >   
   > That's the holy mystery of it all.  It's the safety valve Christians (and   
   > others as well) have built in to divine intervention, so that even if   
   > something bad happens to a True Believer, it's all part of the Grand Scheme,   
   > which is beyond mere human comprehension.  At the same time the non-believer   
   > is supposed to be so impressed by the intervention that saves lives that we   
   > simply take it for granted that when God doesn't, that's his business (and   
   > it's so complex that us weak, sinning mortals could never understand).  This   
   > is, as far as I can tell, the pattern of claims of divine intervention   
   > whatever the faith.  One would think that True Believers would be wiser not   
   > to use this as part of their advertising campaign.  "Brand X works really   
   > great on stains, except when it doesn't, but it's a really great product."   
      
   [...]   
      
   *   
   I tend to think of organized religion as an insurance company   
   focused on growth and profits.  You pay your premiums to the church   
   all your life and when the end comes, you get your payback dividend   
   in heaven.   
      
   What a business!  They haven't had any complaints yet.   
      
   earle   
   *   
      
   --   
                 __   
              __/\_\   
             /\_\/_/   
             \/_/\_\     earle   
                \/_/     jones   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)