This occurred in Alanta City , New Jersey Some of the letters are comical (a man asking God to let him win the lottery, twice), others are heartbreaking (a distraught teen asking forgiveness for an abortion, an unwed mother pleading with God to make the baby's father marry her). The letters — about 300 in all, sent to a New Jersey minister — ended up dumped in the ocean, most of them unopened. Also the minister died two years ago at 79. How the letters, some dating to 1973, wound up bobbing in the surf is a mystery.
2006-11-02 23:57:15 · 7 answers · asked by SWM 38 _4_ YOUNG GF 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Just read about it. The most depressing part to me is that the guy who found them is auctioning them off on Ebay. Can he do that? I believe that by just opening them, he broke the law. How can he take peoples hopes, pleas for forgiveness, and dreams and make a quick buck on them? I hope they stop him.
2006-11-03 00:01:59 · answer #1 · answered by Lynda M ♥ 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I though it was heartbreaking. But the shameful part is that these people felt this letter-writing was necessary. Why is it that they were not taught to go directly to God in prayer? Why is it they (seemingly) were taught to write letters to a "man of the cloth," as the saying goes, so that he can intercede for them? There is no intercession other than Christ Jesus, according to Christianity and the Bible.
How painfully this news account underscores the need for accurate Bible knowledge – even as God's word says at 1 Timothy 2:4.
Hannah
2006-11-03 08:15:08 · answer #2 · answered by Hannah J Paul 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've read the artical. THe minster never opened them. Somehow, someone found them after his death and dumped them in the ocean. Possibly to send them off to God, who knows. But I don't think they should be sold on Ebay or put in a muesum or anything like that. THose are personal. How would anyone here feel if they read that artical and realized that something so personal and private was going to be sold to a stranger to read?
2006-11-03 08:09:21 · answer #3 · answered by sister steph 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it's a shame. Many of those letters were by angst filled people who felt guilty over what the church made them feel guilty about. It really gives insight into how religion works. It plays on people's emotions to make them feel guilty. The church doesn't care how much pain it causes as long as the converts come to them for solace (carrying their wallets, of course).
2006-11-03 07:59:26 · answer #4 · answered by nondescript 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
And the condition appears that they were not dumped too long ago, either.
Very strange
2006-11-03 08:01:25 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I guess its a good metaphor for...No one is answering your prayers.
2006-11-03 08:01:00 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
no
2006-11-03 08:07:17 · answer #7 · answered by mstrywmn 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋