All articles are copyrighted property of their respective authors. Reproducing or republishing an article, in whole or in part, in any other forum requires permission of the author or the moderator. I think divine providence can be shown. The historical evidence indicates that, if it indeed exists, it is arbitrary, causing the good to die mercilessly, and the evil to flourish. It also causes other evil-doers to die and other good people to flourish.
Faith is wonderful.
But the strongest faith, the faith that I respect when I contact people having it, is the faiththat has been through doubt, that has suffered and struggled, and still believes. The naive faith is, to me, juvenile. Suffering and doubt are prerequisites for a mature faith, if one is to have such faith at all. It reminds me of the pinetrees in the springtime. To grow, the trunks crack and long jagged scars appear, but the trunk grows and strengthens.