Coal Miners and Faith

By summerbreeze --

Well, here we go again. Another mine explosion in West Virginia. This could end up being one of the worst, fatality wise.

Image by Alberto_F. via Flickr

As a person who has terrible claustrophobia, I have immense respect and admiration for the people who can get up every day, uncomplaining, to work in those dark, tight places to support their families.

I've been listening to the interviews of the miners families very carefully. Nearly every single interview has contained these phrases :

"We just thank the Lord for him being here to give us strength"

"We have prayed and prayed, and God is comforting us"

"The Lord is watching over all our men in that mine"

I remember reading a few years ago in Time magazine, that at least 98% of coal miners and their families are firm believers. It's pretty obvious that the more dangerous the job, the more need there seems to be to believe in an all powerful outside force who cares about us, and protects us.

'And protects us'

"He will give his angels charge of you to guard you in all your ways.
On their hands they will bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone".....Psalms 91:11-12

"The beloved of the LORD shall dwell in safety by him; and the LORD shall cover him all the day long"...
...Deuteronomy 33:12

I'm not poking fun of these poor and tragic peoples' belief in God, and how obviously non-existent this "help" to them is. On the contrary.

What upsets me, is that powerful delusion seems to be the only comfort to these people.....I wonder, could they cope, could they cheerfully go into those mines with the knowledge that God most probably does not exist ? I consider myself a somewhat strong person, (with a mushy middle)..but is it unfair to view ALL peoples as being strong, and I mean really strong, to expect them to be able to live without delusion ? I have pondered that over and over, and I just don't know.

Comments

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