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I suppose I must be somewhere in between G'kar's "no faith in God..." and Yorick and Liliara's view. I believe the Divine has his own agenda which includes me and all my fellow humans, but is allowing us to choose just how we wish to fit in to the plan.
We all have free will. While circumstances shape us, ultimately most of us find our own way through to growth and expression of faith. Whether this is in advocating a religious belief strongly or discounting faith altogether, it remains that all lives are touched in some manner through religion.
God didn't 'allow' 911 to happen any more than he has 'allowed' any other atrocity. We as humans who seem bent on acquisition and overt dislike of those 'different' than ourselves choose a journey and when it leads to events such as 911, IMO, God weeps. But true to his plan, he allows us to trip, stumble, and harm ourselves and others, hoping that *someday* we'll learn. Think of a parent watching a baby grow--no matter how much you want to insulate your little one from any and all hurts and falls, you know it's best to teach all you can, then stand back and let him/her screw it all up til he/she learns. But that doesn't mean you aren't always there in the background ready with a warm hug and soothing hand wiping away the tears, always ready with encouraging words and even admonishments. And sometimes you might even have to administer a spanking or two, but not because you enjoy the pain you inflict.
I think of God as the ultimate parent, not the the stern-eyed fire-and-brimstone-if-you-don't-believe guy I was brought up picturing (thru church). My 'parent' would never 'allow' harm come to me, certainly never advocate it. But he would give me the tools to avoid harm and then weep unconsolably when I failed so miserably to use them.........
Then he'd wrap me in warm arms when I finally figured out how badly I f**d it all up and turned back for advice.
Garnet
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