Nadia Bloom, an 11-year old girl with Asperger syndrome wandered into the woods in Florida, and was found alive and very well 4 days later, much to the collective relief of those of us who were following the story. Her rescuer, James King, a member of a local church, has been very vocal about the fact that God led him directly to Nadia. He was apparently praying (in English and in "the spirit") the whole time he was walking toward Nadia, often through some pretty treacherous swampland. He claims that the entire time God was guiding him directly to Nadia.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iFVZjUHy3eAV7DstikBYLfffO5XQD9F321BO4
First and foremost, I'm ecstatic that the little girl was rescued. But I also cringe at the thought that her rescuer attributes his actions to supernatural intervention, and that God is being "thanked" for her rescue (while ignoring the fact that so many other lost, kidnapped, or otherwise abandoned children don't fare so well). So, a question we have to ask is: What if Mr. King hadn't felt "compelled" to join in on the search based on his belief that God would lead him to Nadia? It was getting near the point that the search would be called off, and there was a good chance that had he not found her, Nadia would still be in those woods.
What are your thoughts on the fact that many times, these very fortunate outcomes are attributed to the supernatural, instead of chance/luck/good search methods?
Some are found and some are not but when found it may present a good opportunity to re-enforce some religious beliefs or to attibute it to God. It may be very well that this person was praying all the time but so were many others on the trail and in their homes who were following the outcome. That will also re-force the believers in their homes as participants in the prayers. A discriminating God that lets most missing person end up on the morged and once in a while saves one. Thats what it reveals to me.
I recall a video, from The Atheist Experience, that I feel strongly relates to this. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJxCFa8YmbQ)
Thanks for bringing the video to my attention, Dretlin. After poking around, I found this one which seems applicable as well.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFSPXZJtk2A&feature=related
Quote from: "NoStupidQuestions"Thanks for bringing the video to my attention, Dretlin. After poking around, I found this one which seems applicable as well.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFSPXZJtk2A&feature=related
I feel that man is diminishing his achievement. As the presenter said, it was a rather difficult issue to overcome.
I do also feel the same about
chance. Religion, in its very existence, seems to encourage the quickest possible explanation about our situations and the consequences of actions or events. Regardless of its rationality.
Chance and blind luck is, frankly, all we have. Some humans are so determined to see patterns, that are not there, in their daily lives. I only wish that energy was used to collect knowledge, rather than superstition.
So when you take into account all the children that go missing without a happy ending to their story...god's just a dick.
got it.
Quote from: "theTwiz"So when you take into account all the children that go missing without a happy ending to their story...god's just a dick.
got it.
Exactly, I agree with you and with PZ Myers: http://tinyurl.com/yyf22nj
Just took the poll. Looks like the results have changed - big time:
QuotePoll: Was Nadia Bloom's rescue an actual miracle?
Members of Metro Church in Winter Springs, which Nadia Bloom used to attend, call her rescue by former member James King a miracle. Is it?
Yes. God must have directed James King to where Nadia was. How else to explain it? (1201 responses)
9%
No. Couldn't we just chalk this up to chance, persistence and/or good luck? (11254 responses)
87%
Maybe. How can we ever know for sure? (441 responses)
3%
12896 total responses
(Results not scientific)
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/seminole/os-nadia-bloom-miracle-poll,0,6738122,post.poll
This shit is like porn for Christians.