everything and nothing. not really sure yet.

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Faith and healing

Was scrolling through slate today, and found this blog post by William Saletan that brings up some interesting issues. It reminds me of a story of a flood. A guy is sitting in his house, and an SUV turns up to rescue him but he refuses - saying to the rescuers that "God will provide". The water rises, and he has to go up to the top floor of his house, and he's looking out of the window when a lifeboat floats towards him. The people in the boat ask him to get in, so that they can paddle to safety, but he refuses - "God will provide". The water keeps rising, and he has to go up on to the roof to stay above the water line. A helicopter comes and they announce through the loudspeaker that they've come to save him, and they drop a rescue ladder, but he refuses - "God will provide". He drowns, and when he gets to heaven, he asks God why he didn't save him. God's response is - "What are you talking about? I sent an SUV, a boat and a helicopter!"
I'm not 100% sure of the origins of that story, I'm sure I was told it in some sort of Jewish context, but it could just as easily come from anywhere, and I think it illustrates nicely the point Saletan is trying to make.

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