“What kind of God can one infer from the sort of phenomena epitomized by the species on Darwin's Galapagos Islands? The evolutionary process is rife with happenstance, contingency, incredible waste, death, pain and horror.… The God of the Galapagos is careless, wasteful, indifferent, almost diabolical. He is certainly not the sort of God to whom anyone would be inclined to pray.”

— David Hull

Reviewing Phillip Johnson's Darwin on Trial for Nature in 1992, as quoted in Perspectives on Science and Christian Faith Vol. 45, p. 47 (1993) by American Scientific Affiliation

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David Hull 2

American philosopher 1935–2010

Jonathan Weiner (1953) American nonfiction writer

There is a special providence in the fall of a sparrow. Even Drought bears fruit. Even death is a seed.

Chapter 5, A Special Providence (p. 82)
The Beak of the Finch: A Story of Evolution in Our Time (1994)

“I am a big believer of what Darwin discovered in the Galapagos, proving that the species most responsive to change will survive over apparently stronger or more intelligent competitors.”

John Elkann (1976) Italian businessman

"Letter to shareholders" http://www.exor.com/?p=lettera_presidente_dettaglio&s=exor&lang=en, Exor, April 2011

“Evolution discloses a meaning in death, although the meaning is like some of the berries that Darwin tasted in the Galapagos, "acid & Austere." There is a special providence in the fall of a sparrow. Even Drought bears fruit. Even death is a seed.”

Jonathan Weiner (1953) American nonfiction writer

Source: The Beak of the Finch: A Story of Evolution in Our Time (1994), Chapter 5, A Special Providence

“One sort of believes in recycling. But one believes in it as a kind of palliative to the gods.”

Fay Weldon (1931) English author, essayist and playwright

"This much I know: Fay Weldon", The Observer Magazine, August 30, 2009.

“I put the candy on the desk. So you know, it doesn't matter who you shut your eyes and pray to — to God, or anyone, even our leader — no one will ever give you anything. Only another human being … only I, or someone like me, can give you things. Praying to God or anyone for something is a waste of time.”

James Clavell book The Children's Story

"Teacher"
The Children's Story (1982)

“It is crucial to know and understand the truest name of God before wasting your time and praying day and night.”

Mwanandeke Kindembo (1996) Congolese author

“A trapeze to God, or to nothing, a flying trapeze to some sort of eternity; he prayed objectively for strength to make the flight with grace.”

William Saroyan (1908–1981) American writer

"The Daring Young Man on the Flying Trapeze"
The Daring Young Man on the Flying Trapeze (1934)
Context: Through the air on the flying trapeze, his mind hummed. Amusing it was, astoundingly funny. A trapeze to God, or to nothing, a flying trapeze to some sort of eternity; he prayed objectively for strength to make the flight with grace.

“I believe that the greatest trick of the devil is not to get us into some sort of evil but rather have us wasting time. This is why the devil tries so hard to get Christians to be religious. If he can sink a man's mind into habit, he will prevent his heart from engaging God.”

Donald Miller book Blue Like Jazz: nonreligious thoughts on Christian spirituality

Blue Like Jazz (2003, Nelson Books)

“Waste of Blood, and waste of Tears
Waste of youth's most precious years,
Waste of ways the saints have trod,
Waste of Glory, waste of God,
War!”

Geoffrey Studdert Kennedy (1883–1929) British saint

Source: from Waste, in More Rough Rhymes of a Padre (1919)

“Isn’t it only through laughter that we become one with the gods and thus can endure life and can overcome all the horror and waste and suffering here on earth? …Isn’t it only through laughter we can stay human?”

James Clavell book Shōgun

Source: Shōgun

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