mm..wow..very ..i don’t know the right word but it seems as if ;you have vented some feelings out very clearly..great job, i loved it

tho i feel the exact opposite, this does make since and i respect it.,.. thanks for the mature marking… we all hav our different beliefs.

John, read the bible…. it gets worse.

Wow… after a 4 month absence, this is your first bit? It’s very shocking (which adds to the story, really).
While I completely, totally, and utterly disagree with the sentiment, this is still brilliantly written.
(And, I have to admit I have the same suspicion that Shay vocalized; a venting, almost-autobiographical rant, perhaps?)

Definitely autobiographical. Venting? Sure, you could say that.
I do appreciate the civility in dissent though. It’s a very personal and controversial topic, and my intent was definitely not to offend anyone though I’m sure it’s bound to, or has already, happened.

Wow. You don’t have to agree with something to admit how incredibly awesome it is. Which this is. I’m still trying to get over how ah-freakin-mazing this is. Sure its contraversial and going to upset someone (or a great many someones) but its so well written I don’t think they’ll mind getting offended. I’ve run out of words. All I got left is WOW !

sometimes i’ve thought about this as well.
amazingly written… i mean i respect everyone’s beliefs out there…
i, personally, don’t really know what i believe right now, so i’m unbiased :D
really good thing you’ve got here!!

Welcome back, John. :)

oh and the last part made me laugh

Ok God doesn’t Kill.. people kill people..people die of diseases, accidents.. God gave us free will.. Very bitter story. Well witten,even if it is wrong in my opinion.
Thank you .

it does sound like venting… and the sequel is humorous… We’ll all read it with a grain of salt! Welcome back JP!

Grrrrrr, of course i disagree with you. I think this is quite offensive, and i hope tht you honestly don’t think this. I bet i’m not the only one like this, and i bet you’re not either. But as for the challenge, ummmmmmmmm, well in your story god is a killer, not one that i would appeal to me, and i definetly think this was just letting out emotions (but i could be wrong) anyways, still not sure what to think of it, but don’t take this somment too seriously. *

Strong feelings, they say? Strong feelings, I’ll say! Although I am another one to add to the list of Unagree-ers, I do appreciate you being able to express yourself that well! It’s really something to be proud of!
But, alas, I must agree with BernerOberland. Everyone dies someday, be it by disease or old age… And is it God’s fault that people gave Hitler power themselves? Or that corrupt governments, run by humans, let fellow people starve everyday? That’s just my own personal view on things…

What in the world can I say, except, welcome back John. ;) Oh, and gimme back my spoon! (How am I supposed to stir the sh..tuff when you’re holding my spoon? :P)
.
I can see all the ruffled feathers and I just have to add that: Noone’s opinion can be “wrong.” I don’t think that anyone is trying to change anyone else here. That’s the beauty of this place. And difference is one of the things that makes the world go round. ;D

Jenunique hit the issue right on the head. It’s still drilled in my head that “facts” can be definitively right or wrong, “opinions” are one’s feelings on the subject… they can be backed up by facts, but they cannot be confused with facts.
And difference in opinion is good! Makes for interesting conversation!

Haha, you know what caught me? The fact that I can so closely relate to this ficlet. I lost my grandfather when I was young, and I although I didn’t understand the concept of ‘God’, I did get very sad and angry. Secondly, there are so many good points to touch on in this ficlet. Yes, why would all this disaster happen if there is a God out there? I prefer not to go into existential theories now, so I’ll just say one thing.
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Excellently written, no matter how autobiographical!

Thank you to everyone for the kind words and the thoughtful discussion of a difficult topic.

Wow, heck of a discussion going on here. I could write volumes, but this doesn’t seem the place. Great job though on getting across the feeling of this view point in such a visceral way.

And, in that same spirit of lively and good-natured discussion, you have prequel. It’s a bit snide, but I promise that’s just a literary device put in for effect and not intended in any offensive or aggressive way. Just trying to articulate the counterpoint or alternative view, by sort of adopting the same stance.

wow. just… wow. I’ve thought this… so many times. And I’ve thought it around people who would think I’m going to hell or something for thinking it.

I’m kind of conflicted on the topic myself.

But regardless, this is amazing. Thank you for speaking your mind, thank you for showing me that I’m not the only one.

=]

oh… and I love the title

god has a plan for everyone and that may mean that people are lost but it all happens for a reason to show you something or to make you stronger god does everything with a purpose

Sheesh JP, were you prepared for all this discussion???
Well, at least I can remember, for future reference, that Linus’s words ring relatively true(paraphrased): “There are three things never to discuss with people: religion, politics, and the Great Pumpkin.”

@g2, somewhat. I figured it would ruffle a few feathers, but that’s good. It’s important to question your beliefs, re-assess why you believe the way you do. If I was able to help someone strengthen their own beliefs, then that’s awesome.
It also looks like a couple of people are happy to see that they’re not alone in questioning the status quo, which I’m very proud of.

WB JP . Just one question: did you mean to write this as a sequel to the challenge?

@Pyro, absolutely. The challenge was to write about a serial killer, in one ficlet, and be creative. This was my entry.

JOHN PERKINS ! I haven’t seen any of your stories in forever!

this is a very powerful and emotional ficlet
i love it.. and personally, i completely agree with you

DAMN THIS IS AWE INSPIRING …. If you like i could send some hard hittin pipe swinging brothers over to god’s crib to get midevil on his ass with a pair of vicegrips and a blow-torch, but he is staying on the downlow. however if he should show his face in indo china i will be waiting in a bowl of rice to pop a cap in his ass, if he kills me in a dream he better wake up and apologize. my boy nitchze said he is already dead any way….methods unsound? I see no method at all. awesome shit JP

I’d imagine that you vs. God would be somewhat of a mismatch, john. the best way to get back at him is to stop believing. But then I guess you’d have no one to blame. nuts. You could blame the life spawning ways of inanimate objects. If it makes you feel any better my dog pees on all kinds of rocks and such. Next time I see a puddle I’m gonna stomp on it for you JP, and if a few ameobas feel the wrath of my galoshes so be it. Good ficlet btw lol.

personally I can respect faith, but I don’t believe anyone knows whats really going on and that’s why I choose not to follow.

Wow, John Perkins, I’ve really missed your writing. Now I remember exactly why. Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful writing. And I’m sure it will be very different from the other entries in the challenge :)

So… I sequeled. God has been on my mind a bit lately; I thought: hey, why not? I thought maybe I could add something to the mix.

And by the way, what an extremely creative and well crafted take on the serial killer challenge.

you don’t believe in God?
sounds to me like your angry at inatimate objects then.
Which is cool.. don’t get me wrong, I yell at shoes all the time.