The fact that the insurers use the "Act of God" defense to deny coverage doesn't mean God really did it. [img]tongue.gif[/img] [img]tongue.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/biglaugh.gif[/img] </font>[/QUOTE]Yeah, but these guys were the insured ;)

Funny how praying to do harm or "striking people down" is considered black magic in my "religion". It is bad.

Of course Witches can and do call storms, just not at people ;) , so I wouldn't lay the blame on God, but on the untapped potential of directed human will.

I would go around complaining that asking God to hurt people/property is plain wrong.

What luck. Good for you. We had several attorneys in our New York office spend the night. The building and its security workers were kind enough to NOT close the building and maintained everyone's safety (and some water) through the night, despite the absence of food, and kept our guys from being turned out onto the quite chaotic streets. Several emails today (Monday) were sent around commending the kind (underpaid) souls.

Thanks for the welcome Faceman! No need for the wave.

NWN when time permits. I will need some help in the first couple of chapters almost certainly.

James

Faceman, we won't close the topic as long as nobody gets out of hand or starts the flamefests. [img]smile.gif[/img]

James G- indeed, welcome to Ironworks. [img]smile.gif[/img]

Actually, Chewie, in my Christian Church, someone requesting that God hurt another person is considered blasphemy and evil. So this is one of those times when not all 'so called' Christians are considered such by the mainstream or by other Christians who DO practice what God requires of them or try very hard to, at any rate. [img]smile.gif[/img]

[ 08-20-2003, 07:53 PM: Message edited by: Cloudbringer ]

Yeah, I think anyone who publicly endorses prayer to hurt someone qualifies as an extremist and definitley does not represent the vast moderate and sensible element of Christianity as I know it.

Funny how praying to do harm or "striking people down" is considered black magic in my "religion". It is bad.

Of course Witches can and do call storms, just not at people ;) , so I wouldn't lay the blame on God, but on the untapped potential of directed human will.

I would go around complaining that asking God to hurt people/property is plain wrong. </font>[/QUOTE]Nice attempted defelection from the question I asked ;)I didn't ask if asking God to hurt somebody was wrong or Not I asked if you really believed God had struck your radio station would you go around complaining or change your life.

Nice attempted defelection from the question I asked ;) I didn't ask if asking God to hurt somebody was wrong or Not I asked if you really believed God had struck your radio station would you go around complaining or change your life. </font>[/QUOTE]Actual that is a honest answer I gave to your hypothetical, John, not a deflection.
I completely and udderly disbeleive and reject the notion God would strike a radio station down at the request of supposed devoted followers. I reject the notion that God is willing to be petty, vengeful, or discriminaotry against homosexuals. In my mind the God described above doesn't exist. Why would I either complain or change my life because of something that I think is non-existant/imaginary?

According to what I think of God, praying to strike down people/radio stations that are pro/gay should be compained about, that is all.

[ 08-21-2003, 12:39 AM: Message edited by: Chewbacca ]

Actually these cases of: "Please smite them for their sins" are not prayer for god to hurt anybody but for god to commit justice.
I think it's kind of like squealing which is not necessarily the best thing to do in your conversation with god: "Dear god, I heard/saw/noticed those people sin, please punish them"
And it's unnecessary because god (if he exists ;) ) hear/saw them too and decided if,when and how they should be punished that very moment.
Praying for retribution is an old tradition from religions were god(s) was/were not considered omnipotent but "just" (an) immortal being(s).
The antropomorph gods of the ancient Greeks, Romans or Germans were magical immortal beings which COULD be deceived (by each other but also by humans).
The Christian/Jewish/Muslimic monotheistic god CANNOT be deceived and does not mythically interact with humans (i.e. coming down as an avatar to go about his business on earth) except for the one time were he sends his son.
In Christian/Jewish/Muslim tradition we also don't experience wonders we know about (like flaming talking bushes,...) because we only attribute as a "wonder" things we cannot explain and which generally do NOT happen.
In older traditions things like lightnings for example were inexplicable and therefore considered wondrous.