So here's a question for you. It's not meant to cause offence and it's something I would appreciate a well thought out response too.
I'm sure you've been faced with this scenario on many occasions when challenged about your faith. Let me just make one thing clear, I'm an atheist. Having said that, I respect anyone's beliefs and if it draws comfort for those that believe then I'm pleased for them.
But here's my question. So my 30 year old friend...a beautiful, intelligent, dignified, mother to a 10 year old girl and everything that's right about a human being, is dying of cancer. She's battled for 7 years but the end is near and she has a maximum of 6 months to live. She has struggled, suffered (along with her daughter and wonderful mother) throughout this dreadful disease. She has been dignified and stoic, she even put herself through university and gained a 1st despite her condition and treament.
Now what possible explanation could your faith provide me with to justify how cruel and unfair this is? When there are peadophiles and murderers who get to carry out their lives in full. Why is she made to suffer a long, drawn out and painful death? What possible explanation can you offer to her daughter to have to witness such a dreadful and traumatic end to her mothers life?? Something she will spend the rest of her life trying to come to terms with?
And please, don't say that 'god works in mysterious ways'. That's a cop out. Or he 'takes the good ones for a reason'. Well if that's the case then why not just take them? Why let her and her family go through the worst pain and unimaginable suffering? It's a fair question and in respect to her, it warrants a justifiable explanation.
I often hear 'pray for her'. Pray for her???? What am I praying for exactly??? To whom am I begging for leniency when it comes to her drawn out and torturous death??? 'Please god would you be so kind as to not let this beautiful human being lose her life and her body be ravaged by a disease that will slowly and painfully kill her for all her loved ones to witness and that every night she goes to bed with the only hope that it takes her quickly. I'd be ever so grateful to you'. Seriously??
I'm sure you've been faced with this scenario on many occasions when challenged about your faith. Let me just make one thing clear, I'm an atheist. Having said that, I respect anyone's beliefs and if it draws comfort for those that believe then I'm pleased for them.
But here's my question. So my 30 year old friend...a beautiful, intelligent, dignified, mother to a 10 year old girl and everything that's right about a human being, is dying of cancer. She's battled for 7 years but the end is near and she has a maximum of 6 months to live. She has struggled, suffered (along with her daughter and wonderful mother) throughout this dreadful disease. She has been dignified and stoic, she even put herself through university and gained a 1st despite her condition and treament.
Now what possible explanation could your faith provide me with to justify how cruel and unfair this is? When there are peadophiles and murderers who get to carry out their lives in full. Why is she made to suffer a long, drawn out and painful death? What possible explanation can you offer to her daughter to have to witness such a dreadful and traumatic end to her mothers life?? Something she will spend the rest of her life trying to come to terms with?
And please, don't say that 'god works in mysterious ways'. That's a cop out. Or he 'takes the good ones for a reason'. Well if that's the case then why not just take them? Why let her and her family go through the worst pain and unimaginable suffering? It's a fair question and in respect to her, it warrants a justifiable explanation.
I often hear 'pray for her'. Pray for her???? What am I praying for exactly??? To whom am I begging for leniency when it comes to her drawn out and torturous death??? 'Please god would you be so kind as to not let this beautiful human being lose her life and her body be ravaged by a disease that will slowly and painfully kill her for all her loved ones to witness and that every night she goes to bed with the only hope that it takes her quickly. I'd be ever so grateful to you'. Seriously??