That's kinda like the row boat analogy.............I

 sent a row boat .....I sent a helicopter what else did you expect me to do................much to be learned from this.

This wasn't from a religious right-wing site, obviously...lol 

Hopefully, people are knowledgeable enough, & secure in their beliefs to see the ' humor,' in this joke, as gube pointed out.

Yaso...why would this scare you?  As Lori stated, hopefully people are secure enough in their beliefs.  

This is what I got out of this story...Yes, God sent all of those things to save these people.  However, these kids had so much faith in God itself...that they made it to the pearly gates.  My belief and my faith in God .... I would much rather see those Pearly Gates than to spend another minute down here on earth with the negative and suffering.

Everyone has their beliefs....My belief is that God does not force himself on anyone.  I would hope that no one tries to force God on anyone. 

If you put this little ' tale' in perspective, isn't it actually a parallel for the ability to make, ' the better choice,' in every day life?

Oh, I get it...so now God's in favor of stem cell research, clean energy,  a pacifist (of course)....and a socialist? Guess that last one rules out Al Gore... 

Ooops, I forgot to say, Nyuk, Nyuk, whoooop whooop whooop whoooop! While I'm at it, just another observation...If this group of politicians (I'm reading this right aren't I?) were so pious and committed to faith, shouldn't they be happy to see the rewards of the Pearly Gates? And just who holds the copyright to the term "Pearly Gates?" Rappa Big JC and the Crusaders?

Curlyshirly, we don't know, maybe he is, is that what you read into the 'tale'?

just a slob like one of us...just a stranger on the bus... 

Now that I'll buy. But a politically correct "Green God" that also favors stem cell research and socialism? Like I said, at first I thought this was a political ad promoting Al "Pulitzer" Gore as the Second Coming of Christ. But MSNBC's already done that. 

Olivia nailed it: My belief is that God does not force himself on anyone.  I would hope that no one tries to force God on anyone.   

Parables have been used by humans for centuries to tell a morality tale to those who can't quite get behind the concept of a "leap of faith." Either you're comfortable stepping out of the boat, or you're not. It's a personal choice. I personally don't believe that God created 2/3 of the Earth's people to be non-christians just so the anglo-christian world could do the great deed of "saving" them all. Or so He in his mercy could damn all the "unsaved" to hell. Because isn't that basically what they're selling door to door, all in the name of  "fellowship" and spreading "The Word?" 

I truly believe that the "door knockers" think they are doing the right thing.  How many times has my door bell rang and I open the door in my jammies and someone is standing there wanting to tell me about the word of God?  They have to be able to see my discomfort, my impatience of standing there in my jammies, trying to make a graceful exit.  I don't know if they realize they are turning people off to God's message.  Surely that is not their intent. 

God didn't "make" any of us non-believers.  He made us all the same.  Perfect in his eyes.  Unfortunately, we have, along the way had experiences that have molded us into the person we are today.  All that God asks of us is to know him.  Know what He did for us.  By knowing Him, I don't mean....I know who God is.  I mean have a relationship with Him.  Let other people look at you and think to themselves....I want what that person has. Have people become curious about what you have.  I know I was born perfect.  However as humans, none of us are without sin.  Not one of us. God doesn't look at people and say...."hmmmmm, this person is the biggest sinner".  There is no such thing. 

I'm really happy where I am today.  I know that there are a lot of people who have their own views.  That's alright.  I'm comfy and cozy where I am today.  I'm learning a whole new way of living life and that is a life of acceptance.  I feel so much better today knowing that I'm doing what I feel is right for me.  If people notice a change in me and ask me about it, that is my opportunity to say.....I'm getting to "know" God.  Hopefully, the more I grow and the more my attitude changes....that will be His message, His word.

I worked until 3 am last week and at 8:30 am the door knockers paid me a visit.  I called BVS police and reported them for tresspassing! The door knockers told me it was their constitutional right to free speech and I informed them not on my property it isn't!

And what a Great Good Neighbor Act that was, awsmom8.  Keep speading the love!  

And what did the police say?  It isn't as if gated communities haven't adjudicated this type of non-commercial, free, and quite possibly neighborly speech before.  

Often folks working night shifts hang signs on their door so folks know they don't follow the normal sleep cycle.  They're supposed to know the time you went to bed?  

The United States and California Supreme Courts, as well as California Courts of Appeal, have consistently held that governmental bans on door-to-door leafleting violate the free speech guarantees of the U.S. and California constitutions. See Martin v. City of Struthers (1943) 319 U.S. 141, 63 S. Ct. 862, 87 L. Ed. 1313; Schaumberg v. Citizens for Better Environ. (1980) 444 U.S. 620, 626-632, 63 L.Ed.2d 73, 80-85, 100 S.Ct. 826; Van Nuys Pub. Co. v. City of Thousand Oaks (1971) 5 Cal. 3d 817, 97 Cal. Rptr. 777, 489 P.2d 809; Hillman v. Britton (1980) 111 Cal.App.3d 810, 816-817, 168 Cal.Rptr. 852; Alternatives for California Women, Inc. v. City of Contra Costa (1983) 145 Cal. App. 3d 436; 193 Cal. Rptr. 384; City of Fresno v. Press Communications, Inc. (1994) 31 Cal. App. 4th 32; 36 Cal. Rptr. 2d 456 (city ordinance prohibiting distribution of certain types of door-to-door leaflets even where resident has posted a sign prohibiting such distribution unconstitutional); Laguna Publishing Co. v. Golden Rain Foundation (1982) 131 Cal. App. 3d 816, 844, 182 Cal. Rptr 813 (discriminatory enforcement of ban on distributing commercial newspapers in a private, gated community unconstitutional); People v. Fogelson (1978) 21 Cal. 3d 158; 577 P.2d 677; 145 Cal. Rptr. 542 (ordinance prohibiting solicitation unless given permission by government unconstitutional on its face because it affords government officials unlimited discretion); Dulaney v. San Francisco Municipal Court (1974) 11 Cal. 3d 77; 520 P.2d 1; 112 Cal. Rptr. 777 (ordinance prohibiting affixing leaflets unconstitutional on its face because it affords government unfettered discretion); Belli v. State Bar of California (1974) 10 Cal. 3d 824; 519 P.2d 575; 112 Cal. Rptr. 527 (distinguishing bans on door-to-door leafleting for commercial and noncommercial speech; more protection entitled for noncommercial speech).

With neighbors like this, who needs enemies!

awsom, what did your BVP do?

What part of DOOR-KNOCKERS didn't you understand PD? Aws wasn't complaining about a couple of stupid leaflets being left on her porch, but by a couple of rude people knocking on her door after she worked all night - violating her right to peace and privacy.

Aws, do you have a sign posted on your porch? We had so many god-pushers in Vegas I finally posted a 'no soliciting of any kind right' next to my door. It worked for the most part. The ones who knocked anyway, if I bothered to answer, were greeted with the question "Do you know how to read?" They force people to be rude! If I'm in a public place - and the laundromat is always one where I get approached, then I am polite in my refusal.