Hogan handwaves away the burning question Trisha really cares about by saying no one knows why your friend died, and don’t believe anyone who says they do. Hogan thinks his platitude sounds wise, but it’s plain to hear that this offers Trisha no solace. If Coach Hogan were really trying to understand Trisha’s pain, he’d recognize that. Alas, Coach Hogan can’t relate to someone who sees “God’s ways are mysterious” for the hollow non-answer it is.

Unfortunately for Trisha, Christianity offers no deeper answer to her question. Its shallow answer to every mystery is “God did it”. Why did God do it? That’s a mystery. All it can do is answer mysteries with a bigger mystery and pretend that’s a solution, offer a feeling of understanding and pretend it’s true understanding.

Haven’t said hi for awhile. I’m quite sentimental myself but it’s hard for me to get into the “he said she said” kinda stuff. But I enjoy your writings and perspectives so keep up the good work. Will continue to follow this site. your gb forrest

An atheist cultivates his own garden of morality. To be proud of your garden might be considered a most worthy goal. You can’t please everyone all the time, is a well known aphorism. Those who look at the few “weeds” in your garden, even though they greatly enjoy the rest of it, do not realize that what they consider weeds, you (and others) may consider to be some of your garden’s most endearing, exotic and ecologically balancing parts.