I'm a little annoyed that yesterday, on NPR (National Public Radio), I heard a Baptist minister insisting that the shuttle accident was a "message from God" to remind America of its sins. This morning I'm seeing the same message posted on several chat boards by Catholics - who should know better! And surprise, surprise, apparently the Iraqis are saying pretty much the same thing (substitute "Allah" for "God").

Hello! It was an *accident*! Accidents do tend to happen when human beings operate machinery. Most of us would not proclaim that "God was sending a message" when two cars collided on the freeway; why are we so quick to blame Our Lord when a plane or a space shuttle crashes? Is it just because they're way up high instead of down here on the ground?

This is one of the things Atheists and nonChristians criticize which I happen to agree with - albeit for different reasons.

Anyone who really believes that our loving God would allow or even CAUSE the space shuttle to crash in order to "send a message to America" must have a really low opinion of God, that's all I have to say.