UK Guardian
columnist Michelle Hanson wrote this rhetorical article that has sparked quite a debate on
social media about
God and why He saved an American doctor and allows 1,200 Africans die of the Ebola
virus.
The writer, who said she gave up on God many years ago, wondered how God
works. Find the article below...
"Lucky
Dr Kent Brantly, the American doctor who has recovered from Ebola, having been
given a dose of the experimental antibody serum Zmapp, whizzed home to the US,
and given another dose. He is now thanking God for saving his life. Through the
medical team and drugs, he admits, but ultimately, it seems, God was in charge.
And he chose Brantly, not the other 1,200 mainly west African people who have
died horribly, which seems a bit picky."
It must be
lovely for Brantly to be so sure of things. I tried, aged 10, to work out
whether God was around or not, but couldn't. "What was his actual
shape?" I wondered. And how could he be everywhere, all at once? How big,
for example, was his toenail?
Continue..
Did it cover Ruislip, where I lived? I imagined
him constantly on the go, distant enough for an effective overview and able to
home in on catastrophes and act. But it was very hit and miss. Would he be on
the spot when you needed him, like Brantly did? On and on I went for years,
trying to believe in him. I even went camping with a tremendously religious
youth organisation, but despite the prayers and observances, even the devout
did some frightfully rude things in their tents. And there was no divine
retribution. I gave up on God, for ever.
Millions didn't.
They seem to be obeying his instructions to the letter, which isn't doing the
world any favours. But at last, a bit of good news. The Jehovah's Witnesses are
mellowing. They have a new tactic. Instead of just knocking on doors, they're
also allowed to stand beside their literature, smiling, near shops and
stations, letting us approach voluntarily.
Marvelous. It's a shame they didn't
do this years ago, when my old friend was a Jehovah's Witness. She was
terrified sick of being sent to knock on our door. Luckily it never happened.
If only all
religions would take this hands-off approach and let us all believe whatever we
like. No pressure. I hope that one day, that will happen. I would say
"Please, God," but I can't
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