We all lamented the loss of seven adopted children (and their grandfather) in Florida this past week… Preparing to go to church, they died a fiery death, apparently because it was time for Merciful Gawd to call them home.
But let’s not fool ourselves. Just because this got a lot of press in ‘Merica, doesn’t mean Gawd isn’t calling his children home every day, throughout the world, in a fantastically imaginative variety of ways.
You go, Gawd. Get down with your mysterious self.
From the second draft of “Manhunter”, Michael Mann’s 1986 film based on Thomas Harris’ “Red Dragon”, (screenplay available on the Webernet):
LECTER
I want to help you, Will. You’d be
more comfortable if you relaxed with
yourself. We don’t invent our
natures, They’re issued to us.
Along with our lungs and pancreas
and everything else. Why fight it?GRAHAM
Fight what?LECTER
When you were so depressed after
you shot Mr. Garrett Jacob Hobbs to
death, it wasn’t the act that got
you down. Didn’t you really feel
so bad because killing him felt so
good?
(ironic)
And why shouldn’t it feel good?! It
must feel good to God. God does it
all the time!Graham laughs. Then he starts to listen closely. There is
something here for him:GRAHAM
I don’t believe in God.LECTER
You should, Will. God’s terrific!
(beat)
He dropped a church roof on thirty-
four of His worshippers in Texas last
Wednesday night. Just as they were
grovelling to Him and singing a hymn.
Don’t you think that felt good?
(beat)
He wouldn’t begrudge you two measly
murders.GRAHAM
Why does it feel good?LECTER
It feels good because: if you do as
God does, enough times, you become
as God is: powerful…Will Graham thinks about this.
LECTER
God’s a champ! He got a hundred and
sixty Filipinos in one plane crash
two months ago… Remember the big
earthquake in Italy last spring…?
Oh how I love to bring up these issues with believers. How they squirm and wriggle and try to somehow explain the actions of their heavenly father.