Teen Falls Six Storeys, God Saves Him

[grayman]

After reading the headline about a teen surviving a six storey fall (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20141433?GT1=10252), I knew somewhere there would be a mention of religion. Sure enough, the last sentence: “This was a ‘God is real’ event,” his sister, Mandy Baker, said.

[J. Arthur Hastur]

Good thing God put that bush there!

[Cleon]

Funny, the way God never says "Hey! Moron! Don't climb on the railing!"

[vexed]

From the story, it sound like there were many obstacles to break his fall. Unless 'God' builds balconies and slanted roofs it's just a case of luck.

[This Guy]

From the story, it sound like there were many obstacles to break his fall. Unless 'God' builds balconies and slanted roofs it's just a case of luck.

[Fundie Mode On]God works in mysterious ways! He used Noah to build his Ark. Could he not have used Carpenter's Union 301 (or whomever) to build those obstacles, in preparation for this teens fall?[Fundi Mode Off]

Whew!

That's scary stuff! :eek:

[JoeEllison]

Couldn't "God" have put up a guard rail?

[This Guy]

Couldn't "God" have put up a guard rail?

SHHH!!!







;)

[zooloo]

Couldn't "God" have put up a guard rail?
God's quard rail is the bible.

oh... your going to hell.

:)

[Psi Baba]

Real question is, why did God push him over the railing in the first place?

[Marquis de Carabas]

Real question is, why did God push him over the railing in the first place?
Quality control. God was just making sure gravity still functioned correctly.

[fuelair]

This would be the same dog that prevented any deaths from terrorists on 9/11?

[triadboy]

"This was a ‘God is real’ event,” his sister, Mandy Baker, said."

So when a teen dies after a fall that is a "God is not real" event. I'll bet all those events even out in the end.

[grayman]

"This was a ‘God is real’ event,” his sister, Mandy Baker, said."

So when a teen dies after a fall that is a "God is not real" event...

No, that is a "God took him home" event.

Answer to everything: Goddidit.



Yeah I know, the answer is really 42.

[Hokulele]

I would call it more of a "Teenage boys are stupid" event.

[Freethinker]

I would call it more of a "Teenage boys are stupid" event.

And, at least one is lucky.

[Tsukasa Buddha]

I would call it more of a "Teenage boys are stupid" event.

Waah, meanie :mad: .

I haven't attributed my clutziness to a deity yet.

[Hokulele]

Waah, meanie :mad: .

I haven't attributed my clutziness to a deity yet.


OK, you do raise the average. :)

[headscratcher4]

Everyone on 9/11 obviously deserved to die...especially those cowards on the plane that went down in Pennsylvania. It is a great god who can clean up that kind of mess.

On the other hand, clearly god is also great for saving this kid because someday he will be credited with finding the cure for cancer.

God works in mysterious ways, when god is working.

[shemp]

God works in mysterious ways, when god is working.

However, it's a union job, so he's usually on break.

[IMST]

Stolen blatently from Mr. Deity:
God says: When people pray to me and things go well, who gets the credit? Me! But when people pray to me and things don't go well, who gets the blame? Not me! I'm gonna mess with that?

Sure sounds like balconies, bushes, youth and the flexibility that comes with it saved him. (as noted by others)

[Hourglassmemory]

It would be pretty interesting to see what she would say if the kid had broken his neck and died. Or worse, get paralyzed from the chin down.
The kid was just stupid? Or god was evil?

[tkingdoll]

I didn't...

oh. Teen.

[Mobyseven]

I assume god hung around for a bit afterwards? Did a few interviews and photo-ops? Performed a few miracles so that everyone could see he was the real deal?

...oh.

[n11/n12]

However, it's a union job, so he's usually on break.

So you're saying God has mob ties? I can believe THAT!

[RandFan]

"This was a ‘God is real’ event,” his sister, Mandy Baker, said."

So when a teen dies after a fall that is a "God is not real" event. I'll bet all those events even out in the end.

Mr. Deity: Prayer is not for me. Look, I think it's sweet that people think of me. But it's great for them. It gets them focused on what's important. It's metatative. I hear it wonderful for the blood pressure plus it's a chance to connect to me.

Jesus: So what you are saying is that you never answer prayers.

Mr. Deity: There's no incentive. If someone prays to me and things go well who gets the credit? Me. If things don't go well who gets the blame? Not me.

Mr. Deity Episode 4: Mr. Deity and the Messages (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UaZDcS-rMf4&mode=related&search=)

[qayak]

I once stood on the railing of a 100 foot bridge and then fell off. Luckily for me, god saw fit to tie a bungy cord to my feet and hook it to the bridge so I was saved!

God apparently is a hot little hippie chick who first collected $80.00 from me but when you've been saved by a miracle, whose gonna argue?

[UnrepentantSinner]

I saw Jake Brown on the Today show this morning.
1sKdpVQHPEk
And I don't recall him mentioning God or angels or anything a single time.

[EeneyMinnieMoe]

I really don't think it's fair to mock a kid who nearly died. Or his family for being grateful he's alive.

Although, yes, the idea that God, if he exists, is interfering in our lives doesn't stand up to any scrutiny.

[JoeTheJuggler]

I really don't think it's fair to mock a kid who nearly died. Or his family for being grateful he's alive.


But we're not allowed to mock these inane God remarks when the person dies. When can we mock them?

[articulett]

No, that is a "God took him home" event.

Answer to everything: Goddidit.



Yeah I know, the answer is really 42.

Yeah... god needed another angel...

he was too good for this world...

the balcony was evil incarnate...

he fell because of abortionists and feminists...

who are you to question god's will???!!?

[UnrepentantSinner]

But we're not allowed to mock these inane God remarks when the person dies. When can we mock them?

Mock the silly comments, not the person.

[TX50]

I once stood on the railing of a 100 foot bridge and then fell off. Luckily for me, god saw fit to tie a bungy cord to my feet and hook it to the bridge so I was saved!


Was that hook or Hooke? :)

[Patricio Elicer]

I really don't think it's fair to mock a kid who nearly died. Or his family for being grateful he's alive.

I think what's being mocked is the idea of the existance of an omniscient, omnipotent and caring god, not the kid. In light of the observed reality, I don't blame those who mock those ideas.

[JoeTheJuggler]

I wonder why God wasn't invoked for the 18 month old that fell 3 stories:

http://www.wtov9.com/news/13829594/detail.html

For that matter, I wonder how often falls from 3 to 6 floor windows are actually fatal.

[articulett]

Mock the Christianity not the Christian... you know, the way they love the sinners but not the sin.

It's not like we're out there raining on anyone's parade... we're joking at the notion that people must forever kiss the ass of the invisible egomaniac lest he stop bestowing goodies upon the stupid.

Commenting on this doesn't hurt the feelings of the grateful... it just encourages less of this kneejerk goofiness in the future--(or at least lets us giggle at it for now.)

And so what if "feelings are hurt"? Does the person saying these dumb things think about the person who didn't have a "real god" moment when they are thanking god? Whenever people praise god for averting disaster it always sounds like a slap in the face of those who didn't get to avert the disaster to me. (Ha, ha,-- my brother fell out a window and lived... but your kid fell out a window and died--god likes my brother better!-- my prayers worked and yours didn't--nyah nyah nyah).

[kurious_kathy]

Although, yes, the idea that God, if he exists, is interfering in our lives doesn't stand up to any scrutiny.

Sure it does. What type of person doesn't acknowledge God's grace working in our everyday lives?

I see answered prayers and God's grace and mercy working all the time, of course I am a woman who chooses to live a life of faith.

[UnrepentantSinner]

Mock the Christianity not the Christian... you know, the way they love the sinners but not the sin.

It's not like we're out there raining on anyone's parade... we're joking at the notion that people must forever kiss the ass of the invisible egomaniac lest he stop bestowing goodies upon the stupid.

Commenting on this doesn't hurt the feelings of the grateful... it just encourages less of this kneejerk goofiness in the future--(or at least lets us giggle at it for now.)

And so what if "feelings are hurt"? Does the person saying these dumb things think about the person who didn't have a "real god" moment when they are thanking god? Whenever people praise god for averting disaster it always sounds like a slap in the face of those who didn't get to avert the disaster to me. (Ha, ha,-- my brother fell out a window and lived... but your kid fell out a window and died--god likes my brother better!-- my prayers worked and yours didn't--nyah nyah nyah).

Wow you're angry.

[Corsair 115]

What type of person doesn't acknowledge God's grace working in our everyday lives? The kind of person who doesn't subscribe to a belief in God, I'd wager.

[Zep]

You want serious answers to these questions? OK...
What type of person doesn't acknowledge God's grace working in our everyday lives? Atheists.

I see answered prayers and God's grace and mercy working all the time, of course I am a woman who chooses to live a life of faith.Faith = belief without evidence. In other words, you believe the fairy tales.

Good for you.

[qayak]

. . . of course I am a woman who chooses to live a life of faith.

Yeah, you pretty much qualified your post enough with that statement to make it meaningless.

One question though, do you choose to live a life of faith because it is best or do you choose to live a life of faith because you haven't the tools to live a life of reason?

[qayak]

Wow you're angry.

Nothing sexier than a hot headed, female atheist! :p

[UnrepentantSinner]

Nothing sexier than a hot headed, female atheist! :p

I dunno, reading all that froth and bluster wears me out. I'm not sure I have the energy to keep up with someone like that.

[kurious_kathy]

You want serious answers to these questions? OK...
Atheists.

Faith = belief without evidence. In other words, you believe the fairy tales.

Good for you.

No I believe God's truth which we find in scripture. And when God answers prayers it's evident he's there but people need to have faith first before they even see it. God does prove himself to believers all the time.

If I were and athiest I would seriously change sides! Why doubt when belief is way more awesome? Doubt your doubts and conquer your fear, God's been waiting all these years just to meet you. Jesus can open your spiritual eyes!

[arthwollipot]

No I believe God's truth which we find in scripture. And when God answers prayers it's evident he's there but people need to have faith first before they even see it. God does prove himself to believers all the time.

So why did God push that kid off the balcony, Kathy?

If I were and athiest I would seriously change sides! Why doubt when belief is way more awesome? Doubt your doubts and conquer your fear, God's been waiting all these years just to meet you. Jesus can open your spiritual eyes!

R.iiii...ght. You, who have absolutely no idea of the joys of atheism, declare it to be way less awesome than your brand of christianity. Would you like someone to tell you how awesome atheism is? I suspect not - it would probably upset your delicate worldview.

[Hokulele]

And when God answers prayers it's evident he's there but people need to have faith first before they even see it.


And what do you believe when god doesn't answer prayers? That he is not there?

[grayman]

No I believe God's truth which we find in scripture. And when God answers prayers it's evident he's there but people need to have faith first before they even see it. God does prove himself to believers all the time.


Right. And until you believe in fairies and leprechauns, they won't reveal themselves either.

If I were and athiest I would seriously change sides! Why doubt when belief is way more awesome? Doubt your doubts and conquer your fear, God's been waiting all these years just to meet you. Jesus can open your spiritual eyes!

Why deal with reality when superstition is more awesome?

BTW KK, it's atheist. Believe in spell-check and it will be revealed to you.

[Charlie Monoxide]

In todays newspaper there was a story that talked about the "miracles" that happened in the bridge collapse in Minneapolis. Not one of these alleged "miracles" was shown to have violated any of the laws of physics or showed any signs of supernatural intervention.

Maybe I'm a little "unclear of the concept" of what exactly a "miracle" is ...

Charlie (it's a miracle, I tells ya!) Monoxide

[qayak]

I believe God's truth which we find in scripture.

So you believe in:

-incest
-stoning children
-sacrificing children
-rape
-your husband giving you to men to protect his friends
-that you are a second rate person

You must be one heck of a girl to get down and party with!

[Damien Evans]

I would call it more of a "Teenage boys are stupid" event.

nice big sweeping generalization there

[SomeGuy]

No I believe God's truth which we find in scripture. And when God answers prayers it's evident he's there but people need to have faith first before they even see it. God does prove himself to believers all the time.

See herein lies the difference between what's real and what's made up, if something is real you needn't first believe it to see it.

God proving himself would be giving the type of evidence that can also be understood and appreciated by those who don't believe in him.

In response to your earlier remark atheism is way awesome! You get to use stuff like compassion and reason to determine what's wrong or right, not some outdated book that was originally written for a totally different culture.

[MINISTERofTRUTH]

Couldn't "God" have put up a guard rail?

He wants public broadcasting. The setting up of a guard rail, just won't make it into the news.

[qayak]

nice big sweeping generalization there

Yeah, but pretty accurate! :D

[Hokulele]

nice big sweeping generalization there


I am of the opinion that a teenage boy is more likely to do something stupid, than God will manifest himself in a bush (burning or otherwise). ;)

[articulett]

The kind of person who doesn't subscribe to a belief in God, I'd wager.

Fabulous answer.

I wonder if you can make yourself believe if you try really hard not to think...

How much mental energy do you think it takes to convince yourself that believing the right unbelievable story is the key to living happily ever after?

[articulett]

I am of the opinion that a teenage boy is more likely to do something stupid, than God will manifest himself in a bush (burning or otherwise). ;)

Oh... so that wasn't god??

[rustytunes]

Real question is, why did God push him over the railing in the first place?Perhaps it was Satan who pushed him. God thankfully was on hand to save him. He was obvioulsy in God's good books, and not Satan's...

[arthwollipot]

Perhaps he just overbalanced?

[UnrepentantSinner]

I am of the opinion that a teenage boy is more likely to do something stupid, than God will manifest himself in a bush (burning or otherwise). ;)

You are correct. Teenage boys are more likely to do something stupid if the result is a bush manifesting.

Although with todays grooming standards...

[Zep]

God save our falling teen.
Long live our falling teen.
God save our teen.
Make taller balconies.
Bushes and thicker trees.
So long as he doesn't fall on me!
God save our teen!

(For Americans, the tune is "My Country, 'Tis Of Thee")

[ponderingturtle]

-your husband giving you to men to protect his friends


That really should be owner not husband as she was a concubine not a wife.

[Mobyseven]

nice big sweeping generalization there

I noticed that too. Unfortunately, me defending you would be likely lead to my falling off a balcony. Fate is cruel.

By the way, nice sig. Shall we sing a Pogues song and throw ironing boards at eachother?

[Solus]

Mr. Deity: Prayer is not for me. Look, I think it's sweet that people think of me. But it's great for them. It gets them focused on what's important. It's metatative. I hear it wonderful for the blood pressure plus it's a chance to connect to me.

Jesus: So what you are saying is that you never answer prayers.

Mr. Deity: There's no incentive. If someone prays to me and things go well who gets the credit? Me. If things don't go well who gets the blame? Not me.

Mr. Deity Episode 4: Mr. Deity and the Messages (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UaZDcS-rMf4&mode=related&search=)

:D

[Solus]

No I believe God's truth which we find in scripture. And when God answers prayers it's evident he's there but people need to have faith first before they even see it. God does prove himself to believers all the time.

You want to talk about faith? Why consider all the Armenians that were murdered during the Armenian genocide... they were good orthodox christians looks like god didn't notice a million prayers there.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armenian_genocide Lets ask all the people have prayed for their children and still watched them die of cancer (or worse). I picked Armenians by the way because Jews aren't christians of course...

The world will be a nightmare if we don't fight back, yet like so many. You advocate "giving away your life" to an invisible god.

The above is merely a superficial argument used by young agnostics that doubt the christian god. The logical impossibly of any god is a more interesting discussion.

[triadboy]

I see answered prayers and God's grace and mercy working all the time, ...

What you are seeing is life. Some prayers get answered - some don't.

When a jungle shamen, in an attempt to cure a villager, rattles his sacred beads and recites an incantation - the village sees that some prayers work - and some don't.

But here's the key: They only remember the ones that work!

***************

As for God's grace and mercy - there is no example you can give that won't seem like a 'feeling'.

[triadboy]

God does prove himself to believers all the time.

Does Allah prove himself to believers all the time?
Does Brahma prove himself to believers all the time?
Didn't Zeus prove himself to believers all the time?

******************

My point is - you could worship and pray to a broomstick - and get the same amount of answered prayers as you do with Yahweh.

[Beerina]

Real question is, why did God push him over the railing in the first place?

And what about all the kids who starved to death yesterday in Africa and China and India?

I wish God would have helped them, too, instead of letting their miserable, protracted deaths happen.

Aren't there some kids dying of cholera right now among those 39 million displaced flood victims, that the Good, Kind god Yahweh should be helping?

[EeneyMinnieMoe]

But we're not allowed to mock these inane God remarks when the person dies. When can we mock them?

When someone thanks God for an award or for winning the lottery while wars, droughts and famines are widespread around the globe, AIDS is killing millions, a good percentage of the world's population is living on 2 American dollars a day and homelessness is widespread in the wealthiest cities in the world- then you have my blessing to mock them.

To me, it's one thing to thank God for scoring a touchdown and another to thank God for your brother surviving an accident.

[rustytunes]

Faith = belief without evidence.
I look at it this way:
Belief = conviciton of the truth of a proposition without verification.
Faith = wishful thinking.

[Carnegiea]

Everything that's been called a miracle can be blamed on extraordinary chance. Unless some kind of natural laws are violated, it's not a legitimate miracle. When an amputees arms and legs grow back, when a plate of food materializes in front of a starving man or something like that, then you can call it a miracle.

If someone played Russian Roulette with a fully loaded revolver and the gun jammed instead of firing, is that a miracle or an extremely unlikely (but still possible) outcome?

[fuelair]

No I believe God's truth which we find in scripture. And when God answers prayers it's evident he's there but people need to have faith first before they even see it. God does prove himself to believers all the time.

If I were and athiest I would seriously change sides! Why doubt when belief is way more awesome? Doubt your doubts and conquer your fear, God's been waiting all these years just to meet you. Jesus can open your spiritual eyes!
Yesterday a 10 month old baby was thrown out of a car in my neighborhood- and two, possibly three total persons were killed by a car running a red light at ca. 70 mph.
My Dog options are he had some pedophiliacal need for the child or he does not exist. By my most lenient beliefs, if it existed it is a torturing murderer deserving of nothing more than agonizing death at someones' hands (and if I thought it existed I would volunteer and try my best). Or did the ten month old just not have enough faith?:mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:

[Skeptic Ginger]

Teen Falls Six Storeys, God Saves Him. "I had second thoughts after pushing him", said God in an interview with reporters.

[articulett]

Teen Falls Six Storeys, God Saves Him. "I had second thoughts after pushing him", said God in an interview with reporters.

:D

Brilliant!

[The Grave]

No I believe God's truth which we find in scripture. And when God answers prayers it's evident he's there but people need to have faith first before they even see it. God does prove himself to believers all the time.

If I were and athiest I would seriously change sides! Why doubt when belief is way more awesome? Doubt your doubts and conquer your fear, God's been waiting all these years just to meet you. Jesus can open your spiritual eyes!


Here we see the faither mentality in all its glorious hallelujahs! Praise be!:D

They use the word "doubt" to represent "lower mentality"; in fact it is the ability to question and solve which embodies Humans with the TRUTH - there is no god.:)

As a person, I don't "doubt" there is no god...I know it.:cool:

Please, save the effort of telling me I "believe" there's no god and go back to placing your brain in the cookie jar..!:eye-poppi

Griff...

[Skeptic Ginger]

...Why doubt when belief is way more awesome? ...Have you actually read the Bible? If that were about a real god, there is nothing awesome there at all. It's pretty disgusting actually.

From Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, Lot, Noah, all those stories are horrible. People are punished for daring to not "worship". Lot has sex with his daughters and blames them, God likes animal sacrifices, just read the horrendous stuff in this link. (http://www.skepticsannotatedbible.com/cruelty/long.html) The list is quite long. It starts with Genesis:# Because God liked Abel's animal sacrifice more than Cain's vegetables, Cain kills his brother Abel in a fit of religious jealousy. 4:8

# God is angry. He decides to destroy all humans, beasts, creeping things, fowls, and "all flesh wherein there is breath of life." He plans to drown them all. 6:7, 17

# God repeats his intention to kill "every living substance ... from off the face of the earth." But why does God kill all the innocent animals? What had they done to deserve his wrath? It seems God never gets his fill of tormenting animals. 7:4

# God drowns everything that breathes air. From newborn babies to koala bears -- all creatures great and small, the Lord God drowned them all. 7:21-23

# God tells Abram to kill some animals for him. The needless slaughter makes God feel better. 15:9-10

# Hagar conceives, making Sarai jealous. Abram tells Sarai to do to Hagar whatever she wants. "And when Sarai dealt hardly with her, she fled." 16:6

# Lot refuses to give up his angels to the perverted mob, offering his two "virgin daughters" instead. He tells the bunch of angel rapers to "do unto them [his daughters] as is good in your eyes." This is the same man that is called "just" and "righteous" in 2 Peter 2:7-8. 19:7-8

# God kills everyone (men, women, children, infants, newborns) in Sodom and Gomorrah by raining "fire and brimstone from the Lord out of heaven." Well, almost everyone -- he spares the "just and righteous" Lot and his family. 19:24

# Lot's nameless wife looks back, and God turns her into a pillar of salt. 19:26

# God threatens to kill Abimelech and his people for believing Abe's lie. 20:3-7

# Sarai tells Abraham to "cast out this bondwoman and her son." God commands him to "hearken unto her voice." So Abraham abandons Hagar and Ishmael, casting them out into the wilderness to die. 21:10-14

# God orders Abraham to kill Isaac as a burnt offering. Abraham shows his love for God by his willingness to murder his son. But finally, just before Isaac's throat is slit, God provides a goat to kill instead. 22:2-13

# Abraham shows his willingness to kill his son for God. Only an evil God would ask a father to do that; only a bad father would be willing to do it. 22:10

# Dinah, the daughter of Jacob, is "defiled" by a man who seems to love her dearly. Her brothers trick all of the men of the town and kill them (after first having them all circumcised), and then take their wives and children captive. 34:1-31

# "The terror of God was upon the cities that were round about them." 35:5....and so on and so on.

What is "awesome" is the fantastic Universe which we have discovered through science. Black holes, quasars, time, quantum particles, the moons and planets in our solar system, life ... now those things are truly awesome.

[Achán hiNidráne]

A couple of nights ago, my overly Catholic father and I were watching a news report on the miners trapped in Utah and how they were drilling a line down to them in order to supply them with air.

"If those miners are still alive, then it has to be one of God's miracles," he said.

The obvious response would have been to ask "What if they are all dead?" Of course, I didn't feel like getting slugged in the mouth and/or being made homeless, so I kept my mouth shut.

[articulett]

A couple of nights ago, my overly Catholic father and I were watching a news report on the miners trapped in Utah and how they were drilling a line down to them in order to supply them with air.

"If those miners are still alive, then it has to be one of God's miracles," he said.

The obvious response would have been to ask "What if they are all dead?" Of course, I didn't feel like getting slugged in the mouth and/or being made homeless, so I kept my mouth shut.

During the Virginia mining tragedy they all thought the miners were alive momentarily because of a miscommunication... upon learning the truth, one family member said, "god gave us a miracle; and they took it away"...

What do they mean god gave them a miracle-- even as they were rejoicing, the miners were dead... and who took it away? Reality? And wasn't that explosion caused by lightening... isn't god in charge of that? People say the stupidest things in regards to religion and no one bats an eye-- they are so used to covering for it or pretending or giving it a pass, I guess. I keep my mouth shut too, but one day I'll have more nerve.

Do we want people like Kurious_Kathy in charge? Faith is a bad way to know the truth and a recipe for ignorance. And the faithful are blind to their nonsensical statements... it's like they feel "special" for making themselves spout ridiculous platitudes and believe the unbelievable.

[Psi Baba]

During the Virginia mining tragedy they all thought the miners were alive momentarily because of a miscommunication... upon learning the truth, one family member said, "god gave us a miracle; and they took it away"...
I'm glad you brought that one up. I still remember hearing that soundbite at the time, and it still riles me when I think of it.