It would appear to me that if Chris Obrien had a god, or believed in god, he/she was asleep at the wheel, considering the fact that this man was a truely insperational person within our community and lived his life helping others only to be struck down himself.

How could such a person be delt with such a blow if there was a god looking over him.

Now if this comes under the term 'god is watching over me', then thanks, but NO THANKS, I think I will go it alone.

I would like someone to explain why god did this to one of his 'children' and I know this is not the only case.

Perhaps Chris O'Brien reached a level of consciousness that the rest of us hedonists cannot understand.Stephen Hawking also believes in a god.Hawking is totally trapped in his body and most of us would have given up decades ago.

Without this belief,they probably would not have achieved so much and that cannot be a bad thing.

I don't think that the rules of the universe are changed or altered for any individual.It is a game of chance as well constructive endeavour.Chris O'Brien found that in the end it was people who really mattered and was not drunk with power lust as with many greedy people on this planet.That said,I shall remain an agnostic.

Cancer is still a mystery to the medical profession and I don't think God has much to do with it.

It would appear that genetic and environmental factors contribute to the formation of cancers, how much can be attributed to either is still unknown. Genetics may predispose people to certain types of cancers.

Even as an atheist, I can see that perhaps one's beliefs or a strong faith may assist people to cope with these experiences or to deal with the prospect of death. And if it does who are we to deny them?

Pelican
"Even as an atheist, I can see that perhaps one's beliefs or a strong faith may assist people to cope with these experiences or to deal with the prospect of death. And if it does who are we to deny them?
Posted by pelican, Monday, 8 June 2009 10:30:07 AM"

I deny and mock them because they do not keep it to themselves.
How much science has been lost because of religion?.
Even these days they stand against medical science such as stem cell research which could lead to a cancer cure.
Keep your stupid god out of politics and my life.

Dear rehctub,

We find solace and comfort in different
ways during difficult times. I wouldn't
dream of knocking anyone's belief ( or lack
of it). As the saying goes, "Whatever
gets you through the night."

For me personally - the words of Marianne
Williamson sums it up:

"No conventional therapy can release us from
a deep and abiding psychic pain. Through prayer
we find what we cannot find elsewhere a peace
that is not of this world."

I remember being in hospital and given a poem
called "Footprints." In it someone was looking
back on their "path" in life. Along the sand,
they saw two sets of footprints - their own and
God's. Yet at the worst times of their life, they
noticed there was only one set of footprints,
and they cried, "God, why did you desert me at those
hardest times?"

To which God replied, "At those times, my child,
I was carrying you!"

cancer has..nothing to do..with god..[..going by the responses..your talking of the cancer/specialist]..who died from cancer..god has given many cures..for cancer...#

but..the people cleaning-up..from cancers,..activly..keep them from the people...to me..it seems more that..rather than making this pilll/radioactivity merchant..yet another faulse/god..that over saw many dying...seems more like..some crude form of bush-justice...[those who live..by the sword..dying by the sword]..but that would be talking ill..of the dead

so enough..[of the distractions]..[lets get to the supppressed cures]..it is well known..there are..many causes of cancer..[basiclly they are cells/that went bad..[there is new genetical/testing..to determine which..form of..cancer.[it]..is]

there are some cancers..that increase blood-flow..for egsample..[where these are detected/there is a new treatment emerging that stops the creation of new arteries..[killing the cancer]

other cures..are by vibration/sonics..[sound/not radiation]..yet others disolve cancers by electrolisys..[yet other cancers die with high ph]...

but these cures..are forbidden..to be studied..[have been arround for many years..[maybe god..wants the people to discuss the cures..not the dead god/heads..[physition first heal thyself..comes to mind]

the cancer-industry..is huge..[many die/leaving their whole estates to find..lol..a cure..[most die/as a result of the treatment..[..where would the threats..against smokers be..without the fears of cancer

[3 out of 4 people..can never get cancer..they self-heal..strudy them..but..the cancer god/heads dont talk/study about that..

[did one of his relitives die..was it that..caused him to become a cancer-specialist?...was he/geneticlly..vulnerable to cancer..[clearly in hind-site..he was]

anyhow..i have said enough..[..his faith..in the egsistant statis quo..science of cancer..re-occuring..not..curing..obviously failed him in the end,..just as it fails so many...

im..still not seeing..what good from cancer-study..of the sick..why not investicaste the healthy..recall the promises..forever..a cure in a few years..[only to have ever more dying]..as the cure dont meet the proffit margins..the cancer-businesss needs...

may he rest in peace..[but to those..who would grieve him..instead pray for him...or rather pray for his mortal soul..his deeds may just need them

we are really spirits..having a life experience...death where is thy sting..[some thing regretably...athiests cant concieve...energy cannot be created or destroyed..[where did his life force..[animus go]

well do the..thiest's know..[there is more..than mere corruptable..[cancerous]..meat...god gives life..live with it..[no death..honours the life-giver]...the life-giver gives life..[not death]