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Face Ache · Dec 14, 2003, 12:49 AM

http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/...336800605.html

Lightning strike kills nine in church
December 14, 2003 - 1:49PM

Nine people, including a priest and five children, were killed when lightning struck the church they were attending during a service this week.

Radio Swaziland reported the congregants were attending a service of the Zionist Church at Mankayane when the accident happened.

"Lightning directly hit the church, killing the 58-year-old priest, five children, two men and a woman," the report said.

"Three of the nine came from a single family - a mother with her two children - so you can imagine the trauma that the family was facing," said Swaziland Red Cross spokesman Leonard Dlamini.

He said the nine would be given a mass funeral tomorrow at Mbeka in Mankayane. Six survivors were rushed to the nearby Mankayane Government Hospital where they were treated for shock and later released.

So we can pretty much rule out the Zionist Church as the way to heaven.

The lord hath spoken.

ironknee · Dec 14, 2003, 12:55 AM

god's will

G4ME · Dec 14, 2003, 01:06 AM

WOW, Oh the Irony.

xi_hyperon · Dec 14, 2003, 01:37 AM

Perhaps God wanted them in his administration ASAP. Executive privilege and all.

CharlesS · Dec 14, 2003, 02:32 AM

Oh God...

(yes, i see the irony in that)

OldManMac · Dec 14, 2003, 03:11 AM

Must have been one hell of a sermon!

amsalpemkcus · Dec 14, 2003, 03:56 AM

Got beamed up to the holodeck without requests!! That's just not polite.. (quickly hides under the table)

theolein · Dec 14, 2003, 04:20 AM

The Zion Christian church is Southern Africa's biggest church (and the Zion bit has nothing to do with either Israel or Babylon). It's sort of an African version of the Baptists. Member wear a metal star on a green feld cloth background and usually tend to be quite nice people. Met a whole load of them at a BBQ in JHB some years ago. They were spontaneously doing some gospel singing during steak breaks while others were standing around and gulp beer and munch on steak and joining in clapping. Real pleasant.

voodoo · Dec 14, 2003, 06:55 AM

HA! That is nothing, back in the 1500s a whole church sunk to Hell when Satan caught the congregation having a party in the church. Big black hairy and clawed hands rose from the ground and pulled the church down along with everyone in it.

Well that's how the story goes...

willed · Dec 14, 2003, 08:02 AM

Originally posted by voodoo:
HA! That is nothing, back in the 1500s a whole church sunk to Hell when Satan caught the congregation having a party in the church. Big black hairy and clawed hands rose from the ground and pulled the church down along with everyone in it.

Well that's how the story goes...

lol

Actually one an event such as this lead to many people questioning the problem of evil/divine providence - back in the 1700s a whole church in Portugal burned down during a service. But don't worry! God's got a mysterious plan - it is not for us to question his ways

Spheric Harlot · Dec 14, 2003, 09:41 AM

Originally posted by Face Ache:
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/...336800605.html

So we can pretty much rule out the Zionist Church as the way to heaven.

The lord hath spoken.

"Closer, my Lord, to Thee..."

businezguy · Dec 14, 2003, 10:44 AM

So nine people die in a church from lightning and you think that's great? I'm supposed to dlslike the CHRISTIANS, right....not you guys? Sorry, I just need for you to hand my politically correct cue cards, because I'm confused.

Spheric Harlot · Dec 14, 2003, 10:49 AM

There's a difference between bitter irony and a Satanic Anti-Christian Hate Fest�.

At least, to me there is.

And I'm a Christian, mostly.

-s*

ambush · Dec 14, 2003, 11:20 AM

yeah, and god exists.

Sealobo · Dec 14, 2003, 07:46 PM

From there they go straight to the heaven!

People should cheer.

wdlove · Dec 14, 2003, 07:57 PM

My prayers go out to them and their families. It is not for us to know the reason why this happend.

benb · Dec 14, 2003, 08:05 PM

Originally posted by wdlove:
My prayers go out to them and their families. It is not for us to know the reason why this happend.

First normal reply.

willed · 08:07 AM

Originally posted by wdlove:
It is not for us to know the reason why this happend.

Like I said:

don't worry! God's got a mysterious plan - it is not for us to question his ways

blackbird_1.0 · Dec 14, 2003, 09:06 PM

good and bad things happen to good people

good and bad things happen to bad people

Xeo · Dec 14, 2003, 09:13 PM

Originally posted by blackbird_1.0:
good and bad things happen to good people

good and bad things happen to bad people

And we have no clue which type these 9 were.

Lerkfish · Dec 14, 2003, 10:53 PM

Religion is no protection from mishap, elsewise we'd be up to our chins in thousand year old church members.

Religious people die and are injured at the exact same statistical rate as everyone else.

I appreciate the bitter irony...except....

imagine if it were instead: Lightning strike kills nine in orphange.

Lightning strike kills nine in Aids hospice.

Lightning strike kills nine in the White House.

Lightning strike kills nine in emergency room.

HAHAHHHEEEHHHOOOHHHHWWWAAWW! gosh, that's funny!

OwlBoy · Dec 14, 2003, 11:23 PM

Lightning started the church I attend on fire awhile back...

-Owl

Sherwin · Dec 14, 2003, 11:34 PM

Originally posted by Lerkfish:
I appreciate the bitter irony...except....

imagine if it were instead:

Lightning strike kills nine in lightning rod factory.

olePigeon · Dec 14, 2003, 11:59 PM

God works in mysterious ways. That's why priests boink little kids.

Lerkfish · Dec 15, 2003, 12:08 AM

Originally posted by Sherwin:
Lightning strike kills nine in lightning rod factory.

ok. THAT made me laugh.

undotwa · Dec 15, 2003, 04:13 AM

Originally posted by olePigeon:
God works in mysterious ways. That's why priests boink little kids.

Why does this get brought up every time the Church is mentioned? Yes there are some problems with paedophilia with a minority of priests who are quite sick indeed, yet even the Church acknowledges that all priests are only human (yes even the Pope and the Archbishop of Canterbury) and are capable to as much evil as any other man. The Church is fixing the problem (BTW. when I refer to Church I refer to all 'mainstream Churches', ie Anglican, Lutheran, Catholic, Eastern Orthodox etc.).

I find it equally disgusting that many rejoice in the fact of persons dying in a lightning strike and using it as evidence that religion does not shield you from misfortune.

Well, I say to you, as a devout Catholic, I admit RELIGION DOES NOT SHIELD YOU FROM MISFORTUNE. And I never believed that. God does not favour one person to another, he designed 'life' for us to live in it, to experience pain, to experience joy, to experience suffering, as a test of faith.

Once God reveals himself to you, and provides 'proof' for his existence, you instantaneously loose faith, as you do not need faith if something has been proven, which changes the whole philosophy of Christianity.

wang_himself · Dec 15, 2003, 05:05 AM

Originally posted by Face Ache:
So we can pretty much rule out the Zionist Church

Remember the South Park movie? Rememebr whom was right and who was wrong? This thread is wrong on so many dif levls

lil'babykitten · Dec 15, 2003, 06:04 AM

Originally posted by Sherwin:
Lightning strike kills nine in lightning rod factory.

v0id7 · Dec 15, 2003, 06:15 AM

its terribly late. i read the thread title as lightning strikes nine inch church. wow it was a good laugh.

Gee4orce · Dec 15, 2003, 08:00 AM

Originally posted by theolein:
Member wear a metal star on a green feld cloth background

I hear they are changing those for plastic ones now....

Zimphire · Dec 15, 2003, 10:05 AM

God isn't the only one that can make lightening strike.

Sherwin · Dec 15, 2003, 10:26 AM

Originally posted by Zimphire:
God isn't the only one that can make lightening strike.

Evidence please Zimph.

Spheric Harlot · Dec 15, 2003, 11:02 AM

Originally posted by Sherwin:
Evidence please Zimph.

deekay1 · Dec 15, 2003, 11:10 AM

Originally posted by Sherwin:
Evidence please Zimph.

Sherwin · Dec 15, 2003, 11:16 AM

Spheric, Deekay: Enough.

He said "lightening strike" not "lightning strike". So we're talking about industrial action by persons involved in removing colour from things. Or pastry chefs.

Logic · Dec 15, 2003, 11:16 AM

Originally posted by Sherwin:
Evidence please Zimph.

Spheric Harlot · Dec 15, 2003, 11:18 AM

Originally posted by Sherwin:
Evidence please Zimph.

Spheric Harlot · Dec 15, 2003, 11:22 AM

Originally posted by Sherwin:
Spheric, Deekay: Enough.

He said "lightening strike" not "lightning strike". So we're talking about industrial action by persons involved in removing colour from things. Or pastry chefs.

I can make it strike anywhere I damn well want to, provided it's not too high up, winds don't throw it off course, etc.

No, don't get on your knees.

At least, not in prayer.

-s*

Kilbey · Dec 15, 2003, 11:50 AM

I think the fact that church buildings are usually the tallest building in the area is the cause of the lightning strikes. This may not be the case in larger cities, but in Little Town America, USA this is certainly the case.

Plus adding a metal spire to the top doesn't help either. The local Catholic Church in my city has their spire grounded to protect against damage from lightning.

The surviving family and congregation must be going through a tough time right now. I am sure they would appreciate prayers from fellow believers.