Prayer service goes off with very little protest
Despite threats of protest, the prayer vigil held by Gov. Perdue went off pretty smoothly.
I didn’t get a chance to see the coverage of it, but it sounds like it went pretty much as expected. About 250 people showed up, along with a handful of ministers. 22 protesters were there, but they were forced to stay about a block away. A TV helicopter did more “protesting” than the people did.
I noticed a very interesting quote in the 11Alive write-up:
“…gathered at the steps to pray for rain. Their efforts might pay off. The National Weather Service says there is a 40 to 50 percent chance for rain across much of north Georgia tomorrow.”
I don’t doubt that God could provide a miracle, but I find it unlikely. If anything He’s thinking that we need to step up and be better stewards of what we have. However, it seems like quite a stretch to say that “their efforts might pay off”, when the rain was already in the forecast.
I’m not sure that a few showers will do much anyhow. We had days last month with over an inch of rain, and the level in Lake Lanier still went down…
November 13th, 2007 at 2:49 pm
For those who believe, they know all that happens is Gods plan. So, do you think praying is going to make him change his mind??? He knows about the crisis, and if you believe, he is directing it for his own reasons which no one will ever know. Solutions people, solutions…stop whinning and pray in private.
November 13th, 2007 at 5:59 pm
Was Chris George Carlos there?
November 14th, 2007 at 12:42 pm
I mean no offense…
but did anybody besides me envision the governor leading a flock in a rain dance around a bonfire?
Georgia, praying to the gods for rain like it was 100 BCE!
November 14th, 2007 at 1:20 pm
Actually, I’m remembering Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery.”
Maybe next month they’ll all get together and draw lots to see who gets stoned to death.
November 14th, 2007 at 1:46 pm
He’s waiting on Atlanta to get serious
Hey, empty words aren’t going to cut it. God, or really, the gods, since praying for rain is pretty definitively pre-monotheistic, wants a more tangible offering.
No, not virgins. What would the gods want with human virgins, especially dead human virgins? Eww! Besides, we don’t value virginity so much, so the gods would be displeased getting our cast-off, also-ran, victims. I would try Republicans. The state of Georgia puts a strangely high value on them, so their sacrifice would satisfy the gods that we were giving them our A-list goodies. While you might be able to think of things that Georgians value even more highly than Republicans, I don’t think you’ll come up with anything close to them on the value rankings, that is also nearly as expendable. Just tie millstones around their necks and toss them into Lake Lanier. If you want to be conservative, start off with just one, say, Perdue, for example. But if that doesn’t work, be ready to dump them by the forklift load.
Is this likely to help the drought? I wouldn’t think so, but then again, I’m not an animist, and I have no faith in the sort of pagan gods who can be bribed, cajoled or wheedled into cleaning up after us, especially messes we made and can clean up ourselves. Apparently, these days you have to be a self-proclaimed Christian to have that kind of faith in pagan gods.
November 14th, 2007 at 2:12 pm
This is embarrassingly foolish, a great mistake, a waste of taxpayer money, and potentially unconstitutional.
Undoubtedly, this is a serious crisis - which makes it all the more ridiculous and embarrassing that the governor of an entire state is engaging in a superstitious magical ritual which he hopes will change the mind of his omniscient, infinitely intelligent god.
The logic behind intercessory prayer makes no sense. Does Gov. Perdue suppose that Georgians’ prayers will bring to God’s attention a need of which he was not previously aware? Is God forgetful, so that he needs to be reminded to send rain each year? Or did God knowingly cause the drought for reasons of his own - and if so, what arrogance it would be for a Christian to assume that they know better than God what God should do and that they can persuade him to alter his plan!
What a joke. I’m glad I don’t live in Georgia!
November 14th, 2007 at 2:22 pm
That’s probably enough comments on this one. The point has been made, and they seem to be getting a bit uglier…
November 14th, 2007 at 4:51 pm
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