dedicated Christians and Jews to whom this question seems to remain quietly disturbing-in times of personal crisis, occasionally even evoking a desperate plea: Why, God? Second, the effect upon agnostics. This appears even more devastating and often more decisive: "If this is how Christianity or Judaism works in times of need; if this is how God operates, I'm not interested!" Such is not an uncommon agnostic's response. There are, no doubt, a number of other personal, historical, sociological, and family factors in play, which would more precisely define any given agnostic's reluctance to accept God or to join a church or synagogue.

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