Grandma / Moses
God is torturing my grandmother.
Nearly two weeks ago, my ninety-something grandmother was struck by some inexplicable infection and taken to the hospital because she stopped responding. She doesn’t speak, can’t eat and will only occasionally move her eyes in response to a loud noise or someone calling her name. She is, to put it simply, not there. The consciousness I used to call my grandmother is no longer present in that tortured body, but the doctors indicate that she is awake and feeling. She is not in a coma. She is not Terry Schiavo. She’s just no longer interacting with the world.
Yesterday, the doctors who were so certain of her recovery a week ago gave up hope, and she has gone into hospice care. She is being given drugs to ensure her comfort, but she is not being given a feeding tube that would artificially extend her “life.” Her breathing is more labored every day, but no respirator will be provided. In short, we are waiting for her to starve or asphyxiate.
She will spend her last minutes, hours, days or weeks slowly slipping toward death, trapped behind her eyes. It is a brutal cruelty that we as a society would never allow to befall our most dangerous prisoners. In fact, the recent controversy about capital punishment via a nearly painless injection that kills in minutes is an unbearably painful irony for me. Merchants of pain and suffering and wholesale death dealers should be spared the tiniest needle prick, but my innocent grandmother endures an agony of which no one can ever know the magnitude.
This is all because some time around 3,000 years ago, some guy who claimed to have a personal relationship with the ruler of the universe went up to a mountain top and carved “Thou shalt not kill” into a piece of rock. My grandmother is starving to death because of Mosaic law right here in our modern, western, democratic nation which had as one of its founding principles the separation of church and state. When a pet or wild animal is found to be in pain and beyond hope of recovery, we put them out of their misery, but the benevolent Christian god, to whom suffering seems more an objective than a side effect, says that we cannot extend the same kindness to human beings.
If I had the access and opportunity to administer to her the lethal injection that death row inmates find cruel and unusual, I would do so without hesitation. The age-old philosophical question about the superiority of existence to non-existence is an easy one with an existence such as hers. As Americans, we are guaranteed the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Only a perverse doctrine that sees death as something apart and distinct from life could recognize a right to live while denying a right to die. No matter how many books are “revealed,” and no matter how many people believe it, there is simply no such thing as a one-sided coin. That which begins, ends. That which lives, dies. To even have an opinion on the so-called “right to die,” is unintelligible. Everyone ever born has died or will. What other right comes with such an iron-clad guarantee?
~I AM~
March 16th, 2006 at at 12:03 pm
Stay strong I AM. Wishing you the best.
March 16th, 2006 at at 12:11 pm
I read on the internet some time ago of a similar situation, though told from the son’s view as he brought his daughter along to the hospice. She asked, reportedly, “Why can’t we do for Grandma what we’d do to a dog?”
I thought it was pretty profound. Specifics aside, I believe religion perpetuates a fear of death. Those of us who accept this life as all we have come to terms with our own mortality instead of skirting the issue of fantasies and false hopes.
As a society, peaceful euthanization (I’d want it for me in such a state) means actively confronting death instead of letting it happen and pretending the world is cruel and beyond our understanding. The issue here is not about the person dying, but those who are left behind. Because of the cowardice brought on by religion, people would rather let another human suffer than come to terms with their own eventual death.
March 16th, 2006 at at 12:17 pm
I’ve often said the same thing about euthanasia. Amongst pet owners, it’s considered nearly a noble thing to love your pet enough to release them from their misery when they’re suffering, but we can’t give the same grace and dignity to our human friends and family. That double standard is a travesty. My thoughts are with you and your family.
March 16th, 2006 at at 12:48 pm
That is so sad. I remember when my Grandma passed away. She was also in the hospice and her organs were failing on her one by one. It was dragged out over a month or two and was very sad. Too bad nobody is “allowed” to have any control over their passing on, or the passing on of their loved ones when its time to go.
Im so sorry to realize at times like this how barbaric, ignorant, primitive, and backwards our society still is.
March 16th, 2006 at at 2:05 pm
I watched my 35 year old brother in law struggle in the final stages of ALS and he had signed papers ahead of time that no life-support was to be given at the end. He was totally paralyzed and could only use his eyes. ALS is a cruel disease where it wastes away the body, but the mind and vision remain intact so the patient is well aware of what is happening to him/her. His last WEEKS were spent in a state of semi-consciousness and his young children and my sister had to watch him struggle for breath and as he cried in pain from muscle spasms as his muscles wasted away. I was there the day he died and was released from suffering. It was an AWFUL and prolonged ordeal for him. He had said when he could still talk that he wanted someone to put an end to it all for him if it got too bad, but legally none of us could carry out those wishes. Looking at his eyes which were pleading “help me” broke our hearts. We did our best to make him comfortable, but we could not give him what he wanted…a peaceful death.
March 16th, 2006 at at 2:54 pm
I’m so sorry about your grandmother. That’s just terrible.
I worked in nursing homes as an Activity Director once upon a time and had to watch countless people live in agony. I was even asked a few times to help they die. It’s so painful to watch.
I hope that she goes quickly, for her sake and yours.
March 16th, 2006 at at 4:12 pm
I don’t know which is worse, opponents of euthanasia or the price-gouging burial industry.
March 16th, 2006 at at 4:28 pm
Sorry to hear about your grandma I am, hang in there, love her while you have, could be that she may not be able to respond but can still take in the love you give her and be aware to some extent.
March 17th, 2006 at at 7:10 am
I know what you are going through. My family and I have had similar events happen and I’ve felt similar frustrations.
I’ve got so much to say on the topic, I can’t say anything.
Try to stay strong.
March 17th, 2006 at at 1:32 pm
Just wanted to send my heartfelt condolences your family’s direction. And my wishes for mercy for your grandmother.
March 17th, 2006 at at 3:28 pm
Thanks to everyone who’s commented. Also, thanks to any Christians who have read this post and restrained themselves from telling me that they’re praying for my grandmother.
I don’t know which is worse, opponents of euthanasia or the price-gouging burial industry.
I’m appalled by what these people get away with. Without religion, that entire industry would collapse. I’ve told my wife that I want to be cremated and thrown away. To me, taking up space effectively forever is an act of unimaginable egotism. If I’m dead, my little patch of land would be better used for a golf course or a parking lot.
March 17th, 2006 at at 5:57 pm
Sorry to hear about that I AM, that’s awful. I agree with you that taking up the space when I’m dead and having my family pay a fortune is a complete waste. I figure I’ll probably donate my body to science (if that’s still around when I die
).
March 18th, 2006 at at 12:35 am
One would think that Christians would actually support euthanasia. It can be seen as a short cut to the eternal bliss of heaven, after all (well, for Christians, at least).
Kevin
March 18th, 2006 at at 3:15 am
I am on March 17th, 2006 at 3:28 pm said:
“I’ve told my wife that I want to be cremated and thrown away.”
Wife? I thought you said you were gay I am?
March 18th, 2006 at at 3:29 am
Kevin Says:
March 18th, 2006 at 12:35 am
“One would think that Christians would actually support euthanasia. It can be seen as a short cut to the eternal bliss of heaven, after all (well, for Christians, at least).”
Christians see it as dishonouring the sanctity and dignity of human life to put someone down, like a dog at the vet is put down Kevin. To the Christian dying is a part of life, the idea is that we all will only live in this body on earth once and we will all only die once, so we should live well (be the best we can while we are here) and die well with courage and dignity befitting a human being (being put down like a dog at the vet hardly fits that description somehow). But having said that, I judge no one who is pro-euthanasia this is their personal choice in a country that makes it legal.
March 18th, 2006 at at 7:10 am
I am on March 17th, 2006 at 3:28 pm said:
“I’ve told my wife that I want to be cremated and thrown away.”
Wife? I thought you said you were gay I am?
What the hell did I say that made you think I was gay? If you can point out the comment that gave that impression, I would appreciate it. Apparently, I’m sending out some confusing messages.
March 18th, 2006 at at 11:18 am
I AM, I think it had something to do with a comment you made in one of your threads about doing something to yourself with a celery stick.
March 18th, 2006 at at 12:51 pm
I AM, thanks for sharing. My mother has just suffered a similar fate to that of your grandmother and we had to make some tough decisions prior to her passing away. I can assure you I share the same frustration with those who would presume to know what is best for others. There typically is no right or wrong in these situations, particularly when loved ones are kept alive by artificial means.
However, what I’ve also learned through it, is that those with no faith are equally as likely (if not more so) to advocate doing whatever it takes to keep someone alive. A “life at all costs” mentality can be equally present in someone who does not believe in an afterlife as one who does. It can be tempting to pigeon hole a certain group as being the narrowminded or judgemental ones, but unfortunately it runs rampant amongst all sorts of people. What I know for sure is that far too many people think they know far more than they really do.
March 18th, 2006 at at 7:09 pm
I lost my granmother a week ago. She went off of dialysis, and five days later she was gone. The intervening days saw her grow worse, and worse, and worse, until on the fourth day, I would have held a pillow to her face if she’d asked me to. Mercifully (for all of us), she died that very night.
I had some very similar thoughts to yours. Why is it “humane” to end a dog’s suffering (or a cat’s, or ANY animal’s), but “inhumane” when applied to a human? I never found a good answer either.
March 18th, 2006 at at 7:17 pm
She’s gone. I would not expect a new edition of Calendar of Credulity this week. If you’re interested, the topic would have been St. Patrick’s Day.
March 19th, 2006 at at 3:20 pm
Then please, have my condolences. The daft story about the monk, snakes ect. can wait till next year.
March 20th, 2006 at at 2:32 am
I am,
This is what gave me the impression you were gay (it is from your post “Happiness in Slavery”)
Tommykey Says:
February 9th, 2006 at 11:54 pm
SS, are you suggesting that atheists are drug users, alcoholics or sexual libertines?
I can’t speak for everybody else, but I am a happily married man with a beautiful wife, two beautiful young children, I hardly ever drink alcohol anymore, and I don’t use drugs.
It is much harder to be an atheist in America than a Christian. We’re the ones who are made to feel like were less likely to be accepted because we don’t fit in.
[ Quote and Reply ]
I Am Says:
February 10th, 2006 at 6:45 am
Tommykey & LBBP:
To be fair to SS, some of us fit this description. For example, I am a gay, vegisexual alcoholic. That’s right. It’s early in the morning, but I’ve already downed a fifth of scotch, and I’m fondling some male celery as I type this. I’ve had to purchase some genetic testing equipment, because it’s otherwise very difficult to figure out which stalks are male.
As for drugs, those of you who have read much of my writing can probably tell that it all streams onto the page directly from a mind ravaged by a decade of daily LSD use. In fact, I used to believe in god, because I had a vivid image of him sitting on my loveseat for the first three years. One day, god was replaced by a seven-foot tall mauve duck who frequently performs songs from South Pacific, and now I believe only in her.
In all seriousness, I have not yet had an exchange with Social Scientist, and I would like to thank her for keeping things interesting while I wasn’t blogging. She has written at least ten times as much as I have this month, and she is my favorite kind of Christian to attract to the site. Sure, she’s generally deluded and usually misinformed (sorry, just an observation), but she actually tries to build an argument, occasionally concedes a point and remains civil throughout the process.
See what made me think that? Others thought it too after this comment and said things like we will not hold it against you I am etc.
March 20th, 2006 at at 2:58 am
I am,
I am so sorry to hear about your grandma, yet in some ways maybe it is good she is not confused or suffering anymore, and maybe it gives you some peace to know her confusion and suffering is over.
March 20th, 2006 at at 8:45 am
SS:
I don’t think any of those other people were taking me seriously. The opinion you hold of atheists that allows you to believe I was serious worries me.
March 20th, 2006 at at 12:14 pm
I dunno about you SS, but I thought it was blatantly obvious that I AM was being sarcastic in that comment:
For example, I am a gay, vegisexual alcoholic. That’s right. It’s early in the morning, but I’ve already downed a fifth of scotch, and I’m fondling some male celery as I type this.
Seriously man! Are we humans or are we robots in here? This blog requires from its readers a certain “read between the lines” ability
March 20th, 2006 at at 2:00 pm
~I AM~: Sorry for your loss. I hope that things start to get a little easier now that the pain of waiting through inaction and inevitability are over.
March 20th, 2006 at at 10:36 pm
It’s really sad that this so-called Christian nation requires folks to suffer before they die. It seems to be a ritual of passage that these disturbed people wish everyone to endure. Why?
We, here in Oregon have at least progressed as far as our Death With Dignity Law, also known as physician assisted suicide. It would not do your grandmother any good at this poin, as one must be ale to take the prescribed lethal dose of drugs with no help. But it is a step in the right direction.
Let’s hope you grandmother’s suffering is short and as peaceful as possible.
March 21st, 2006 at at 2:37 pm
Elequently stated, I AM–and on the mark. My condolences.
March 21st, 2006 at at 6:20 pm
I AM,
Sorry to hear about your situation. Funny thing is, I just came over from visiting RA’s website and his fixation on the abortion issue. I just about bought into his potentiality argument, now I’m not too sure.
March 21st, 2006 at at 6:27 pm
I AM,
Sorry to hear about you and your grandmothers’ situation. It’s odd though how I just happened to come to your site after being at the Ravingatheist’s site, pondering his abortion stance and his potentiality argument. RA almost has me convinced, and then I see this. Now I’m not too sure. Dying sure sucks.
March 22nd, 2006 at at 12:38 am
Happy Nowruz every one.
March 22nd, 2006 at at 6:04 pm
You have my condolences. Celebrate her memory. Find pictures of her as a kid. Do a little genealogy on her side of the family. It may help you tune in, and it will give you a sense of her as a stronger person instead of the weak one you knew at the end of her life.
My Grandmother was senile by the time I remember her, and she lived a long time in that state. It wasn’t the easiest time. While tracing her lineage I found old photo albums of her whole life, starting around when she was 5. Now when I think of my Grandmother, the picture that comes to mind is her as a young woman. Its very comforting to think of all of the life she lived, instead of the little bit that she left behind.
Respectfully,
Gregg
March 23rd, 2006 at at 7:48 am
SS:
I don’t think any of those other people were taking me seriously. The opinion you hold of atheists that allows you to believe I was serious worries me.
Sorry I am for any insult I have given you, especially at this time
this was not my intention. I guess I believed what you said so easily not because you are an atheist but because you had such a detailed account of activities - gay, celery sex, alcoholic before breakfast, the length of time as an addict etc. it made me think it must be true because truth has details. Aaron Kinney is right in saying I missed the “read between the lines” mark on your statement, sorry. 
March 23rd, 2006 at at 9:51 am
Of course, even if I Am really was a gay alcoholic vegisexual, we still wouldn’t think any less of him!
March 23rd, 2006 at at 12:06 pm
Off topic but pertinent to us being atheists:
“Atheists Identified as Most Distrusted Minority”
http://www.ur.umn.edu/FMPro?-db=releases&-lay=web&-format=umnnewsreleases/releasesdetail.html&ID=2816&-Find
March 23rd, 2006 at at 11:03 pm
I am still in utter disbeleif that anybody could take I Am’s comment seriously. No offence, Social Scientist…
March 24th, 2006 at at 3:36 pm
I AM,
Sorry to hear about you and your grandmothers’ situation. It’s odd though how I just happened to come to your site after being at the Ravingatheist’s site, pondering his abortion stance and his potentiality argument. RA almost has me convinced, and then I see this. Now I’m not too sure. Dying sure sucks.
SS, in case you’ve not been back to RA’s, I refer you to Post 24 answer to “potentiality” in his March 21st offering. -Thorngod.
March 26th, 2006 at at 12:19 pm
The funny thing is, it’s possible that the majority of Americans believe in the right to choose the manner of one’s death, at least when terminally ill. However, the religious nuts seem to have all the power. Why is that? Are the theists so afraid of us atheists that they won’t join with us on issues to benefit all?
I watched my brother, a strong, vital man, die of melanoma. First, he went in pieces, as the doctors tried to remove the tumors from his shoulder, his brain, his lung, his brain (again and again). Then, when they had to admit that there was an inoperable tumor in the middle of his brain, as well as two new ones in just the last two days, and all were bleeding profusely, we watched him die. It took a week, but at least he was so full of morphine, and the bleeding into his brain was doing its damage, so that, for the most part, he was unaware of his surroundings, never mind his condition.
It was still cruel, to make this heretofore strong, healthy man die such a death, piece by piece, day by day, organ by organ, when a simple injection could have ended it all. It was what he wanted, but was denied to him because xtians think that we humans must suffer for “original sin.”
My memories of my brother are all of those last days. I picture his lips, as I wetted them with a sponge. I picture his eyes, as the morphine started wearing off. I picture his body, as his kidneys failed and he bloated like a balloon.
He should not have been subjected to that, and neither should those who love him. I hate anyone who prevents euthanasia, for any reason. I hate them for the suffering imposed on my brother and those who love him, and on every other person, and those who love them, who has had to die a slow, horrible, sometimes agony-filled death.
I hate them all.
March 27th, 2006 at at 4:34 am
Of course, even if I Am really was a gay alcoholic vegisexual, we still wouldn’t think any less of him!
Of Course!
March 27th, 2006 at at 4:57 am
Thanks TK for bailing me out a bit, I feel terrible for believing I am, and yet I did not judge him when I thought he was all those things, I respected who he was besides whatever I was supposed to be shocked by because of the opinion I had already formed about him in talking to and mostly replying to what he has posted. Can we agree that American Christians/Atheists are a totally, totally different species of people, in that an Australian atheist could tell me all that I am said, be serious about it and living it all, and wear it as a badge of honour militantly in my face. The typical response of an Australian Christian is to love their fellow Australians, whether atheist, gay, vegiesexual, addict, achololic or not, they are still a human value by God right? They are still a fellow Australian right? This is the line of reasoning a Christian will take on atheists with these attributes, perhaps it is because atheists here are all powerful and Christians aren’t. Does that make sense or is it impossible to explain an Australian (Atheist or theist alike) ? My real name is Fay I shall sign Fay from now on.
Fay
March 27th, 2006 at at 11:30 pm
SS, I wished what you were saying was true. I live in Australia and I haven’t seen any of the things you described. Militant atheists? Come on! I was all in tears before joining the blog world. I could not find any atheists who cared about theism and its dangers. The theists have infiltrated the political parties in australia and I have yet to see an atheist who cared. All they say is politics is too boring and the theists can’t do realy what they want.
Give me a brake!
A Frustrated Atheist
March 28th, 2006 at at 3:37 am
Roya,
Don’t get me wrong though Roya, militant does not mean “controlling”. It is not the Australian way to try to control others or force your opinion on others, but it is the Australian way to stand up for what you believe in (the Australian way, culture and human rights), which does not necessarily mean attacking those who believe the opposite. We are still a friendly nation that tollerates all sorts of stuff, but there is a militant side. No doubt if you are in Australia you would have seen the riots at Cronulla beach (done by atheists) on TV against the unacceptable unAustralian religious violence and disrespect against non-muslim Australians and women perpetrated by Lebanese muslims, they (the atheists) were militant, organised and hard to stop (e.g. it took the police weeks to get it under control). I met a man at the shop the other day who called himself a “Devout atheist”. From what I gather you have not been in Australia long?
Fay
March 28th, 2006 at at 4:16 am
SS: “the riots at Cronulla beach (done by atheists)”
Atheists? It was racism + muslims vs christians.
omg, how easiely do you twist things around!
March 29th, 2006 at at 2:10 am
SS: “the riots at Cronulla beach (done by atheists)”
Atheists? It was racism + muslims vs christians.
omg, how easiely do you twist things around!
Gosh Roya,
I missed the part where the media reported “Christians” being involved in the riots or even an official denomination of Christians making an official statement about the incident. Do you know why I missed that Roya? Because the word “Christian” was not used in any media report either on television or the paper, neither was anyone who claimed to be Christian or otherwise appearing to be Christian interviewed by the media. So I don’t know where you get that Christian vs Muslim stuff from (the media, the police and the rest of Australia is not aware of it). It was portayed as a violence issue that had been aggravated by over indulgence of alcohol + racism and over a decade of violent provocation by Lebanese youths by the media.
March 29th, 2006 at at 2:24 am
Actually Roya, I very much doubt you are in Australia, if you were you would have read the paper or watched the news on tv and know what the rest of Australia knows about the riots, either that or you have only recently arrived in Australia and therefore cannot give a credible opinion of this Australian occurance or Australians (I was born here). But to say that it had anything to do with Christians when no known Christians were involved is a deliberate miss-representation of the facts presented in the media, which I watched on tv every day and read in the paper every day.
March 29th, 2006 at at 3:32 am
SS: “the riots at Cronulla beach (done by atheists)!”
Prove it.
It wan’t about christianity?
Well christians made sure it was.
To name a few known devouted Christian commentaters, Piers Akerman, and Andrew Bolt, (Others I don’t know their names), who were so quick to point the finger at Muslims.
At seven and nine news, some churches called for harmony, in order to get attention, which made the problem to look like a problem of Islam.
The fundamental christian leader of liberal party NSW attacked the laber party for not being aggressive enough on Muslims.
March 30th, 2006 at at 5:47 am
Roya,
I now understand your frustration, let’s face it as an Australian I can say it was not about muslims, not really was it? It was about the fact that these poor Lebansese Australians were rejected as true Austalian citizens (so wrong) and were discriminated against by Anglo Saxon Australians (people like me Roya, but I would not do that unless I felt threatened by a muslim immigarant). Don’t get me wrong I can fully understand the muslim immigrant’s position when coming to Australia, we will not accept any breach of Australian law, the Sharia law of Muslim people is incompatible to Australian law. It is not a judgement, Australians see the situation as Why would anyone want to come to Australia if they did not want the freedom of Australians that is not included in the Sharia law of muslims? But by the same token Australians will not ever let a migrant group such as the Lebanese aggressors come to our country and define how you can behave towards male and female Australians (e.g. you cannot bash lifeguards trying to protect Australian women from being raped or rape women for wearing a mini skirt - they may actually be virgins - rape is always wrong no matter what). Australia has laws! they can’t be broken by citizens who are third generation Australians born here, they most cetainly cannot be broken by immigrants wanting to live in Australia. We are maintaining by law a lifestyle that is pleasant, profitable to all without discrimination and fair to all Australians (whether they are natural born Austalians like me or recently naturalised Australians) it has to be fair for all!
March 30th, 2006 at at 6:56 pm
SS: “the riots at Cronulla beach (done by atheists)!”
Prove it.
It wan’t about christianity?
Well christians made sure it was.
To name a few known devouted Christian commentaters, Piers Akerman, and Andrew Bolt, (Others I don’t know their names), who were so quick to point the finger at Muslims.
At seven and nine news, some churches called for harmony, in order to get attention, which made the problem to look like a problem of Islam.
The fundamental christian leader of liberal party NSW attacked the laber party for not being aggressive enough on Muslims.
Roya,
Just because Christians may have commented after the riots or during them does not mean it was a Christian vs Muslim thing. The media always seeks out the Christian opinion on major moral issues, that does not mean they are involved in it, others gave their opinion on this issue too, such as the police, politicians, a Lebanese muslim leader and social workers. No Christians were directly involved in the riot, neither did the churches bad mouth Islam or muslims, why do you think that calling for harmony is to get attention? You have to understand that these Lebanese gangs apparently committed acts of violence for over a decade before the local atheist youths took them on in this riot so it was not an unprovoked attack on Lebanese Australians, though as I said before the Lebanese youths felt discriminated against all thier lives even more so after 9/11 so thier violent attitude had a root cause too. I think it is hard for Australians to accept that the problem does not stem from the muslim faith, not just because of 9/11 but also because of the decades of Islamic inspired violence we see muslim groups such as the Lebanese committing in other countries on tv. Lebanese Muslims may think it is religiously acceptable to blow up a school bus and kill unarmed innocient children in Israel, but when Australians see that on tv they think we have to tighten immigration so we do not have muslims come here and do that in our land. Most non-muslim nations believe the land of Israel belongs to the true Israelites who have lived there according to historic records for thousands of years, Israel is a Hebrew word obviously and the true Israelites are the Jewish people. Lebanon was the base for terror attacks on Israel instigated by Yasser Aarafat for decades after the Jews drove him out of Gaza, what was he fighting for? It was not to regain his land, Yasser was born in Egypt not Israel. Australians would want to return to their land if they were separated from it by invasion like the Jews were, it wouldn’t matter if it was 50 years or 100 years they were separated from their land they would want to return as soon as they could, the need for the Jews to return to their land is no different. As it is the Jews have lost a large portion of land that was for thousands of years a part of Isreal, Jordon was taken by invasion and was renamed after the river Jordon by the invading Arabs, it was a part of the land of Israel prior to this invasion.
I think the terrorist label that muslims have to wear is a fair one really and if muslims want to convince the world that they are not terrorists they need to cease the terrorists activities that they have been committing against other nations and races from the beginning of the religion to the present day in Israel, Africa and in Europe in the countries around Russia. The world is not going to believe that Islam is not a religion of terror until it’s adherents give the world a reason to believe that by stopping all terrorist attacks (how many times did Arafat turn down peace treaties and truces and continue terror attacks after Israel withdrew as a token of peace only to have to go back in to control terrorists attacking them during a cease fire?).
April 4th, 2006 at at 5:34 pm
Greetings and blessings to you.
I don’t believe that you have your facts straight. I don’t know any Christian who wants anyone else to suffer. Nope, quite the opposite. Christians believe in a healthy life (and style) and an abundance of it. It is not my choice nor yours to decide who lives, who suffers, and who utimately succeeds. Death of the flesh is certain. Pain associated with death is almost certain. God set these rules to live by (including pain of the flesh). We must all endure these trials and tribulations as one of the prerehquisits of entering Heaven. Think of it as a test of the flesh.
As far as comparing humans to 3rd class animals, I don’t think we are even in the same category. If you believe so, then it would not be a crime for me to come and purchase you from your “Master” and put you to work at my house like a slave. This is the same type of classification that was wrongly placed upon the black slaves of our country which eventually equated to a civil war. Domestic animals were placed upon this earth for us to control, eat, and do our will.
Your blame of the christian society as to why your grandmother is suffering is also out of place. Once again, I don’t know of any chrisitan who is against the use of pain-killers to alleviate pain. It seems that you have a deep seeded hatred towards christians in your writtings and seem to blame everything that is wrong in your life on them or their idealogy.
I am wondering what is keeping you from picking up a big stone and crushing your grandmothers head? Oh yeah, those christians outlawed murdering people too!!! The very laws that you complain about has kept you alive on this earth thus far. Then when tragedy strikes, you are quick to blame the christians for your problems. Don’t you think that other people experience similar situations? Sometimes when we speak, we are just sharing to the world our ignorance of real life.
Thanks for sharing!
May God Bless you and guide you to your answers,
Brent Jackson
April 6th, 2006 at at 8:02 am
Brent,
I am a Christian too, so I am not against you as a person ok, but I have to say you lack sensitivity to I am, his grandma has just died for crying out loud. If what you said needed to be said to I am (he is fair game if he has a blog site) now was not the time to say it, a little Christian love would not have gone astray, I am is a person with feelings you know.