# Hey, God, You forgot to send an angel this time! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 29, 2004, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-god-you-forgot-to-send-an-angel-this-time/237134 "2004-03-29T19:16:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Doomtrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/0ea827/32.png) [@Doomtrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doomtrain)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2004, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-god-you-forgot-to-send-an-angel-this-time/237134/41 "2004-03-30T00:14:43Z")
> [@The Tim](#): > > There are such disorders were not only is the individual hearing voices but feel like they have to do what the voices are saying. It is probably hard to convince juries that this is the case, thus the “Well if she believes God is talking to her could she really refuse?” line of argument. I know that much, I was just admiring the brilliance of the move (and no sarcasm there). In a very strongly religious part of the country, playing the “God told her, how could she refuse” is a masterstroke. Strictly from a tactics point of view, I was just wowed by it. Brassy, yea, but a hell of an angle. I think I’d play it up, like someone else said. Have preachers in, especially local ones with good reputations and huge flocks. Maybe even her preacher, if she’s of a particular religion that’s not “too weird” to play in Texas. Bonus points if they’re charismatic, the faith healer and huge congregation type. If you’re going to play the God Card, may as well put all the chips on the table. “Friends. Lookit my client. Lookit the tears in her eyes. She’s sorry for what she’s done, she’ll tell you that. But when the Lord Himself tells you to do something, well, you do it. That’s what I believe. That’s what you believe. That’s what she believed.” And man, a throwaway line generates some real touching posts. Kudos. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2004, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-god-you-forgot-to-send-an-angel-this-time/237134/42 "2004-03-30T01:32:20Z")
> [@5que](#): > > Katey Couric keeps telling me to get a camera shoved up my butt. So far I am resisting. Resisting how? You’re refusing to entertain even the possibility of this happening, or you’ve got your sphincter squinched down tight against the shoving lens? ---
**Author:** ![gobear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@gobear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gobear)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2004, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-god-you-forgot-to-send-an-angel-this-time/237134/43 "2004-03-30T01:36:37Z")
[QUOTE=tdn] > [@](#): > > Maybe I misunderstand your outrage, but if you’re trying to say that these people are saying “It’s OK to kill children, as long as God says it’s OK”, then I think you’re missing the point by a mile. NO, that’s NOT what I’m saying. What I object to was summarized quite succinctly by **GMRyujin** > [@](#): > > “Friends. Lookit my client. Lookit the tears in her eyes. She’s sorry for what she’s done, she’ll tell you that. But when the Lord Himself tells you to do something, well, you do it. That’s what I believe. That’s what you believe. That’s what she believed.” Yes, I want her to be found not guilty by reason of insanity, but not by appealing to popular religious sentiment. I’d prefer the summation to be,“Your Honor, ladies and gentlemen of the jury, BUCKAW! (Sorry, I’m thinking of the Southern bird lawyer on Futurama). Ms. Laney said God told her to kill her kids. We all know that people who hear God in their heads are fuckin’ nuts, so let’s slap her goofy ass in the state mental hospital and go hit the bar.” ---
**Author:** ![CanvasShoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@CanvasShoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanvasShoes)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2004, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-god-you-forgot-to-send-an-angel-this-time/237134/44 "2004-03-30T02:21:18Z")
> [@IzzyR](#): > > I don’t see where anyone is legitimizing her actions. The lawyer is merely trying to establish that this particular insanity did in fact drive to her to kill her children. > > I don’t think your inference is justified. I watched the opening statement made by the lawyer today on CourtTV, nowhere does he try to do what the OP suggests, or to make it a case of “who does mom listen to, God or her motherly instincts”. He very clearly outlines that the mother had a history of psychotic breaks, most having to do with “God talking to her”. Even if the lawyer/mother etc WERE trying to use God as a defense, how does this make God/religion itself the bad guy? It’s the same thing as OJ getting off by playing the race card, or any other stupid defense the defense tries to pull out on any other sensational case. No different than any other BS Aside from that, what a sad, terrible thing to have happened. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2004, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-god-you-forgot-to-send-an-angel-this-time/237134/45 "2004-03-30T02:53:48Z")
> [@GMRyujin](#): > > Man, that lawyer’s inspired. Going for the touchdown, there. That’s just brilliant. > > Why doesn’t god ever tell anyone to lead a quiet, but meaningful life? No one ever says, “God came to me and told me to pay my bills, not take on too much debt, do some good works, be a nice person, and not hassle anyone.” You don’t know very many nuns do you? ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2004, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-god-you-forgot-to-send-an-angel-this-time/237134/46 "2004-03-30T02:58:32Z")
God’s relevance to your OP is negligible. I can claim I hear Gobear’s voice commanding me to beat my dog. That is neither an implication nor an indictment of Gobear, but it can go to show that I’m looney tunes. And in this country people who are looney tunes generally aren’t judged as harshly as others who know right from wrong. ---
**Author:** ![vanilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f19dbf/32.png) [@vanilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vanilla)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2004, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-god-you-forgot-to-send-an-angel-this-time/237134/47 "2004-03-30T03:02:01Z")
> [@Libertarian](#): > > . The children are alive. Nothing is dead but rotting flesh. :eek: I bet youre a real comfort at funerals. ---
**Author:** ![gobear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@gobear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gobear)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2004, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-god-you-forgot-to-send-an-angel-this-time/237134/48 "2004-03-30T03:07:54Z")
> [@Zebra](#): > > You don’t know very many nuns do you? Ever seen **The Magdalene Sisters**? ---
**Author:** ![gobear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@gobear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gobear)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2004, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-god-you-forgot-to-send-an-angel-this-time/237134/49 "2004-03-30T03:12:17Z")
> [@](#): > > Even if the lawyer/mother etc WERE trying to use God as a defense, how does this make God/religion itself the bad guy? It’s the same thing as OJ getting off by playing the race card, or any other stupid defense the defense tries to pull out on any other sensational case. No different than any other BS I’m not making God/religion the bad guy, I’m making the exploitation of faith in God/religion\*\* the bad guy. > [@](#): > > I can claim I hear Gobear’s voice commanding me to beat my dog. That is neither an implication nor an indictment of Gobear, but it can go to show that I’m looney tunes. Of course you’re looney tunes–I commanded you to **feed** your dog, not beat it. Criminy, these Acme Mind Control lessons just aren’t paying off. Last time I ever trust consumer advice from a coyote! ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Ed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Just\_Ed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Ed)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2004, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-god-you-forgot-to-send-an-angel-this-time/237134/50 "2004-03-30T05:00:14Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > I’m an atheist, so that will explain my confusion. But I am confused. > > Okay, do (some/most) religious persons believe that God can talk to them or to someone else? > > If not, then I’m not confused. > > But if so, well, how do you know God didn’t tell this woman to kill her children? I had the same thoughts myself - and yes, I’m also an atheist (or, more technically, a faithless agnostic). **But**. If we’re all for religious freedom, why are we so self-righteously convinced this woman did _not_ hear the voice of God (or at least _her_ god)? ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2004, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-god-you-forgot-to-send-an-angel-this-time/237134/51 "2004-03-30T05:25:51Z")
> [@gobear](#): > > Ms. Laney said God told her to kill her kids. We all know that people who hear God in their heads are fuckin’ nuts, so let’s slap her goofy ass in the state mental hospital and go hit the bar." But being fuckin’ nuts isn’t in itself sufficient for an insanity defense. The attorney has to prove that she didn’t realize that what she was doing was wrong/illegal while she was doing it. And to do that, he’s got to explain her motive and he’s got to explain what she was thinking when she did it. He’s got to show that she acted consistantly and logically within the framework of her delusions…that anyone else would have done the same thing, if they were in in her situation and had the mindset that she had. ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2004, 7:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-god-you-forgot-to-send-an-angel-this-time/237134/52 "2004-03-30T07:13:03Z")
brief hijack- the point of the Abraham/Isaac story is- from that point on, be sure that if a voice tells you to sacrifice your kid, it’s not God. In that culture, child sacrifice occurred- God takes Abraham to the brink to then show him that it’s not in His plan. The Law of Moses explicitly forbids child sacrifice. ---
**Author:** ![askeptic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb9ed0/32.png) [@askeptic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/askeptic)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2004, 7:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-god-you-forgot-to-send-an-angel-this-time/237134/53 "2004-03-30T07:28:11Z")
> [@FriarTed](#): > > brief hijack- the point of the Abraham/Isaac story is- from that point on, be sure that if a voice tells you to sacrifice your kid, it’s not God. In that culture, child sacrifice occurred- God takes Abraham to the brink to then show him that it’s not in His plan. The Law of Moses explicitly forbids child sacrifice. God said to Abraham, “Kill me a son” Abe said “man you must be puttin me on” God said “No” Abe said “what?” God said" the next time you see me comming, you better run" Abe said"Now where you want this killing done?" god said “out on highway 61” In all seriousness Friarted where is this “Law of Moses” of which you speak? And why would it be relevent to christians? (wish there was a smilie for sincere) ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2004, 7:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-god-you-forgot-to-send-an-angel-this-time/237134/54 "2004-03-30T07:59:46Z")
> [@vanilla](#): > > :eek: > I bet youre a real comfort at funerals. [Our grandson](http://www.ourdawson.com) ---
**Author:** ![askeptic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb9ed0/32.png) [@askeptic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/askeptic)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2004, 8:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-god-you-forgot-to-send-an-angel-this-time/237134/55 "2004-03-30T08:14:22Z")
> [@Libertarian](#): > > [Our grandson](http://www.ourdawson.com) Lib, I am trying to figure out that link you posted, so far I can’t. Did I miss something? I mean no disrespect or insult. I honestly cannot understand what you mean. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2004, 8:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-god-you-forgot-to-send-an-angel-this-time/237134/56 "2004-03-30T08:18:19Z")
It means that our beliefs are sincere. We believe that our grandson is alive, and that there is no life in the atoms. Vanilla implied that we had a callous disregard for the lives of the children in the OP on account of saying that they still are alive. That is not the case. (And I think you knew that.) ---
**Author:** ![gum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bbe5ce/32.png) [@gum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gum)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2004, 8:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-god-you-forgot-to-send-an-angel-this-time/237134/57 "2004-03-30T08:23:22Z")
Is that your grandson, **Libertarian**? I’m so sorry. \*\*:`( ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2004, 8:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-god-you-forgot-to-send-an-angel-this-time/237134/58 "2004-03-30T08:26:03Z")
Thanks, Gum. 🙂 But truly, there is no reason to be sad. We saw so many miracles in that children’s hospital. As my wife has said, we prayed for Dawson to be healed, and sure enough, God sent His angel. ---
**Author:** ![askeptic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb9ed0/32.png) [@askeptic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/askeptic)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2004, 8:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-god-you-forgot-to-send-an-angel-this-time/237134/59 "2004-03-30T08:31:01Z")
> [@Libertarian](#): > > It means that our beliefs are sincere. We believe that our grandson is alive, and that there is no life in the atoms. Vanilla implied that we had a callous disregard for the lives of the children in the OP on account of saying that they still are alive. That is not the case. (And I think you knew that.) Lib, I promise you that I knew no such thing! Despite what is said between us in any other threads, I respect your grief for your grandson. If that was a picture of your grandson, and he died, then you have my sincere sympathy. Despite the fact that I do not know what awaits us in the hereafter (if there is such a thing) I really hope your grandson is “alive” and happy. I truely am sorry for your loss. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2004, 8:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-god-you-forgot-to-send-an-angel-this-time/237134/60 "2004-03-30T08:32:04Z")
There is no loss. There is no grief. But thank you all the same. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-god-you-forgot-to-send-an-angel-this-time/237134.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-god-you-forgot-to-send-an-angel-this-time/237134.md?page=4)