1. Welcome to Baptist Board, a friendly forum to discuss the Baptist Faith in a friendly surrounding.

    Your voice is missing! You will need to register to get access to all the features that our community has to offer.

    We hope to see you as a part of our community soon and God Bless!

Reflections on the WV mining disaster

Discussion in 'Political Debate & Discussion' started by Matt Black, Jan 6, 2006.

  1. Matt Black

    Matt Black Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Feb 25, 2003
    Messages:
    11,548
    Likes Received:
    193
    What do BB-members make of the ethical aspects, theological issues and the tone of the media coverage of the recent mining catastrophe in West Virginia?

    On this side of the Pond, the coverage has focussed on the awful cruelty of the situation - relatives told their loved ones were alive only for their hopes to be dashed. I'd imagine it'd be the same in the US.

    Here though, in Blighty, we're not so used to public displays of emotion or faith (funeral of Princess Di and more recently George Best aside) [unnecessary description deleted]

    Or could it be that, having been in charismatic circles I've seen examples of hopes raised (apparent healings and 'miracles') only to be cruelly dashed in the cold light of day?

    According to the Independent today, ( some relatives and friends were understandably outraged at the mine owners and physically went for them inside the chapel when the celebrations came to a heart-breaking end. The pastor remonstrated, urging them to trust in God only to be told 'What in the hell has God ever done for us?' Not an unreasonable reaction in the highly charged atmosphere with claims of miraculous intervention, one would have thought.

    That guy's got his work cut out over the next few weeks, months, years ...

    No doubt there will also be uplifting stories too, somewhere in all of this. The challenge, surely, is for them to continue singing How Great Thou Art despite it all ('Then sings my soul ...' doesn't say much about mining disasters)- and for hard questions to be asked, and answered, of a mining company which appears to have flouted a stack of health and safety regs.

    Any thoughts? Comments?

    [ January 06, 2006, 05:05 PM: Message edited by: Phillip ]
     
  2. LadyEagle

    LadyEagle <b>Moderator</b> <img src =/israel.gif>

    Joined:
    Feb 7, 2002
    Messages:
    22,028
    Likes Received:
    1
    Moving this to the Politics Forum.
     
  3. OldRegular

    OldRegular Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 21, 2004
    Messages:
    22,678
    Likes Received:
    64
    Unfortunately, possibly because of the influence of the charismatic and Word Faith movements, some peoples attitude toward God is: "What have you done for me today?"
     
  4. TaterTot

    TaterTot Guest

    We are such an "I deserve..." society. Its so sad that that bleeds into our beliefs about God. We arent here for Him to serve us. Whatever He chooses to do is right and just. No, His grace isnt always "fair", but its right. I dont know why some people suffer and some dont. But we only see in part.
     
  5. Matt Black

    Matt Black Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Feb 25, 2003
    Messages:
    11,548
    Likes Received:
    193
    There but for the grace of God go we...and I'm sure the guy concerned will experience the grace of God again too once he comes to terms with what's happened. Give him time; we're not there, we can only vaguely imagine what these people are going through.
     
  6. Matt Black

    Matt Black Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Feb 25, 2003
    Messages:
    11,548
    Likes Received:
    193
    That said, the anger, blaming and physical violence which was reported as the reaction to when the real news was given sadly shows how easy it is to be a Christian only when the going's good. Strange, how they came out of church and turned into a lynch mob against the guy who was apologising for the mistake.
    I can understand them being very upset, but to turn on the guy like that makes me wonder what the heck they preach in that building.I hope when they go back in that a sermon on "he who is without sin cast the first stone" strikes home to them, for their sake.
     
  7. mountainrun

    mountainrun New Member

    Joined:
    Jun 17, 2001
    Messages:
    567
    Likes Received:
    0
    Matt, The church was simply the gathering point for the families. This does not mean that they were all Christians simply because they were in the building.

    However, I might be able to shed some light on why they reacted the way they did.

    Some years ago, a friend of mine ran a stop light in his pickup and was killed along with his son.

    His brothers arrived on the scene and were adamant and extremely vocal that the tools in his truck had #$&@ well better be there when they came to get them.

    Now this was an extremely close family and the reaction of the brothers surprised everyone.

    I now believe that this is the same thing we saw in the mine disaster.

    You seldom see anything like this when the death has been expected, due to illness for example.

    What the survivors seem to do is to find something to focus their emotions on instead of the sudden and violent end of someone they love.

    Better to be angry than heartbroken, I guess.

    Just a thought.

    As to the media coverage here, I think the media will put out whatever they think will interest the viewers in the name of ratings

    If it bleeds, it leads, as the saying goes.

    MR
     
  8. Me4Him

    Me4Him New Member

    Joined:
    Dec 28, 2004
    Messages:
    2,214
    Likes Received:
    0
    The "Messenger" of "Bad News" is always attacked.

    This is why politicians tell "good lies" to be elected, rather than the "bad truth".

    "Emotions", like drugs, alter a person's personality, in angry, some kill who normally would never "harm a fly".

    The "press" should have "confirmed" the report before printing the story, but "being first", reaps the "greatest profits".

    I don't "totally" blame the coal company, the "violations" don't necessarily reflect their attitude toward "safety",

    The "ultimate" safety device underground is the miners themselves, only when "someone", "Underground", fails to follow the "law" does "accidents" happens.

    The "fireboss" (underground foreman) should have checked all "headings" for "Methane" "BEFORE" the crew entered the mines, (Law) evidently, that wasn't done by the "Fireboss", and it cost him his life as well.

    The law requires the date/time each heading is checked to be written with chalk on the face of the coal, in that heading, an investigation will reveal all heading checked prior to the explosion.

    It is possible the "hand held" "Methane Monitor" used to inspect was "defective", however they are "Inspected/re-calibrated" quite often.
     
  9. emeraldctyangel

    emeraldctyangel New Member

    Joined:
    Jun 11, 2005
    Messages:
    737
    Likes Received:
    0
    The "press" and other interested people were too busy eavesdropping to realize they were getting the wrong information. That is plainly THEIR FAULT. Instead of being so quick to be the first to report, they should have been quick to ask...did I hear they were all alive but one? Or shoot just wait for the release of information.

    Why did a fight break out? Because people are full of passion, as God made us all, and when pressed, some will spill over. I would say the punches being thrown was normal, but wouldnt agree to that say if it happened three days from now. KWIM?
     
Loading...