Villagers in central Cambodia gather for a two day religious ceremony centered on the consecrated corpse of a mutant three-day-old calf. Several thousand miles away, a tornado touches down in Minnesota damaging several buildings and pieces of land. What could possibly relate these two events? Well, nothing.
At least almost nothing.
It is true that these events are entirely unrelated. Some quirk in genetics resulted in a calf born with "thick, dark, scaly skin". Elsewhere, warm humid currents of air clashed with its colder, drier counterpart to form a vortex with strength enough to tear down buildings. What connects these occurrences is nothing causal, but merely a commonality; the humans there to witness these events and in turn interpret the meaning.
"Outh Kdep, the calf's owner, said villagers believed in the animal's divinity because there had been a drought in the area for three months, but it rained the day after it was born." (Photo by Heng Sinith)
"The tornado in Minneapolis was a gentle but firm warning to the ELCA [Evangelical Luther Church in America] and all of us: Turn from the approval of sin. Turn from the promotion of behaviors that lead to destruction" (Photo by CBS)
The forms of reasoning here are slightly different - Post hoc and Cum hoc fallacies respectively - but the common theme is clear.
We should like to think that here in the 'enlightened' west, we are not so silly as to believe dead-calf's saliva will cure our arthritis and usher in an era of prosperity, but that type of thinking actually quite prominent. The Cambodian villagers who scrape together every last riel they have to afford a ceremony over their 'God Cow' in order for it to be reborn "as soon as possible" are being no more or less reasonable than the Prosperity Christians who donate to their church expecting an increased return on investment, or the airplane pilots who believe God saved their life during a crash, or the pastor who believes God sent a tornado to Minnesota to warn of the evils of tolerating homosexuality.
We need only take a moment to look at the larger picture to understand the frailty of this logic. If God sent a tornado to warn against homosexuality, why did that tornado also destroy all those trees, homes and classrooms? If God saved your life during that collision, what about all the lost life-saving medical supplies you were carrying? If this calf really did cure your aches and pains, why are you still limping?
Why are all of your revelations so focused specifically on you?
The lesson here: Stuff happens. Genetic mutations happen. Tornadoes happen. Lightning strikes happen. Diseases happen. Collisions happen. Yes they can have great personal meaning, and we should be glad for when it changes things for the better. But let's stop thinking the universe is here for us. We're just along for the ride.
Comments
Well said. I tend to think there's deep meaning and good omens everywhere. For example, when I come to an intersection and the light changes for me at the perfect time; I think that's a sign.
But, when I come to a light that turns red as I walk up, I think: eh.
I suppose that's just selective reasoning on my part.
Just means you're human.
What about those times when you are running a little later than planned, and pass a huge wreck you just missed, in the very intersection you would have been in if you'd be on time?
Is all luck and serendipity just random? When things like that happen to me, I feel lucky and grateful.
You are so wrong . . . How can you not realize the divinity in nature? How could random atoms colliding create the ordered universe we all exist in? Certainly natural events or occurrences can be interpreted in many ways, but I choose to believe (and have a right to believe) that God's hand is in it all. God directs my life and guides my actions and yes, they are often in response to events you may consider "happenings". But God uses these to redirect us or help us better understand His will. Someone who doesn't have a Christian faith would have difficulty understanding this, I realize. But this is my belief. God's love and concern for me are never wavering and constant.
They are directly related. There is little time left. How arrogant can you be to imagine the world was made without purpose and things "just happen"? All around you from your earliest moments the wonder of creation begs attention. And if you are right then no man's morality, or world view, can be said to be more valid than another's, but as you know we share not only a common perception of right and wrong but also language. Thus there is purpose in both design and function. Language itself defines this. The question you must answer is "What if you are wrong?" I pray God will reveal Himself to you in a very clear way quite soon and he will use your writing skills for a higher purpose.
For real, man. I mean, I was thinking about my friend the other day and then, like, out of nowhere the phone rang and it was him! How can your fancy "science" or confusing "statistics" explain that in a way my admittedly uneducated mind can fathom? You can't, dude. That's why, along with my GED, I have my GOD. Suck it, hater.
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