This is sad.

I understand that trust and reliance on god(s) often provide solace in times of tragedy. While I don’t wish to wallow in people’s pain, I felt I had to comment on last weekend’s tornados which caused $40 million in damages to the city of Van, Texas.

According to the ABC affiliate WFAA, 515 structures” were damaged with “212 of those being homes,” and nearly 90 of these houses were totally destroyed. Also, a husband and wife, David and Brenda Tapley, lost their lives.

Apparently while the Tapley’s loved ones were sorting through the wreckage, they were amazed to find a completely intact a Bible opened to James 1:2-6. This photo of these verses were posted to the Van Texas Tornado Recovery’s Facebook Page:

It seems many were encouraged by this discovery, and found comfort in the passage which reads:

“My brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of any kind, consider it nothing but joy, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance; and let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking in nothing.”

Now, as evidence supporting how people pick and choose portions of scripture, I could go off a tangent and point out how the rest of the passage could be read as a reprimand of the Tapleys:

“… the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind; for the doubter , being double-minded and unstable in every way, must not expect to receive anything from the Lord.”

Nonetheless, I will not use their deaths to proselytize as believers have done.

Instead, let me offer you a video:

The man at the end was Highland Baptist Church Pastor, Dave Evans. He was speaking about another Bible that was miraculously spared when another couple died in a 2013 tornado.

For the sake of argument, let’s assume that the Christian god does exist. Further, let’s grant that he sometimes decides to spare random Bibles to say, “Hey, I preserved this for you guys. Find comfort.”

Even if all of this were true, how freaking sadistic would that god be? His true message would be, “FYI: I could have preserved your mom’s life, and/or her home, but instead I thought you might enjoy a mint condition Bible.” Or, even worse, “Yo, check out this verse. When I decide to test you in some form or fashion, which may or may not, include death, be happy about it. I’ll pass on a cryptic message to make your family feel some joy.”

Wow. Really? How brainwashed are we?

Forgive me for nerding out here, but the perfect analogy is found in The Game of Thrones. This type of god would be the evil and sadistic Ramsay Snow, who tortured Theon Greyjoy into blissful obedience.

Just saying.

Brother Richard

What do you think?: Post a Comment

Subscribe to Richard’s: All New RSS Feed