No, it wasn’t a lightning bolt (though that would have been much more effective). It was a metal bolt that sheared off and caused a minor problem that needed to be repaired. And because it needed to be repaired, the ferry, the Isle of Arran, was drafted in to replace the Isle of Lewis for the initial journey from Stornoway on Lewis to mainland Scotland. However, the repairs were completed sooner than anticipated and the replacement ferry was not needed.
All in a day’s work. A piece of metal got fatigue and was replaced. Nothing spectacular. Routine repairs. And yet, according to some, God was obviously involved.
There was much consternation on the Isle of Lewis (the island, not the ferry) yesterday as the first Sunday sailing took place.
The ferry company, CalMac said it could be breaking equality laws if it did not run ferries seven days a week. It said religion or beliefs were not valid reasons to refuse to run the ferry. Supporters of the service said it would be good for tourism and it would offer more flexibility to travellers.
Protesters gathered in silence behind a banner which read: “Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy”. They sang a Psalm and prayed for the nation to “turn its back from sin and wickedness”. The protesters were confident (according to their words heard in a report on BBC Radio 4 yesterday) that God had caused the problems in the Isle of Lewis (the ferry) to disrupt the sailings.
Several things struck me about this:
The Sabbatarians must be allowed to practise their practices in the confines of their homes and churches, but they do not own the whole island.
God’s funny like that - he/she/it nevers make it clear what side of an issue he/she/it actually supports. I guess he/she/it is all things to all believers.
A case of clutching at sheared bolts?
You have to feel sorry for the religious that God is so unreliable.
It’s all down to belief and the degree of doubt that goes with it.
Anyone who believes in any God to the exclusion of anything else is able to put logic in a box and believe what would normally be unbelievable.
To be able to do that you have to be able to close your mind.
And those who can do that tend to be intolerant of what goes on in other people’s minds.
I’ve no issues with those who prfess a belief. It’s those who have no doubts who worry me.
the chaplain
I agree. The ambiguity is numbinging obvious, but it appears that only those of us on the outside can see it.
SilverTiger
Love the wit!
A Write Blog
I agree. The certainty is frightening. That is what I like about most atheists. A willlingness to change in the light of evidence.