I noticed a couple of weeks ago that there seems to be a trend for parents facing terrible trials seem to be turning increasingly to the Internet for support, as in the case of the parents of a severely disabled girl who have had her chemically bonzaied for her “own good,” justifying it in terms of their religious faith. I know that I haven’t been there and I can’t ever bear to imagine the depths of suffering of these people. However, suffering doesn’t give you a blank cheque to do whatever you choose.

I guess my idea of religion is skewed but It strikes me that these people are usually being “sacreligious” rather than “religious.”
I can’t understand why God would be swayed by weight of numbers.

Is he a bit deaf regarding prayers, so he can’t hear just one? Sufficient weight of prayers from zillions of praying people will get his attention?
Is God now so swept up in the wonders of modern life that he spends all day on the Internet and only responds to prayers from the blogs that get the most links on Technorati?

Are prayers like voting – the tally of prayers decides whose wishes shall be granted?

Do these people have no respect for their God at all? The capricious old testament God of Abraham was at least more consistent than the modern day God who needs his own TV channels. And who callously targets children to suffer and then decides whether they can be relieved if enough people beg him to help and tell him he’s great and they really love him and will pass over loads of money to his preachers.