Thank you so much for posting on this topic! Human atrocities linked with common and luxury items are something that those of us privileged to live outside war zones need to pay more attention to before we buy. How many of us bought food picked by slaves today? How many of us wear jewelry that fueled a trade that cost a human life? Ignorance isn’t bliss, and we can and should be held responsible for facilitating the evil actions of wicked men. As Edmund Burke says, all that is required for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.
Now if only we could confront recreational drug users in the US with drug war orphans in Jaurez, maybe we could slow that trade, too.

Prayer…that’s you answer? Really? Swing and a miss.
You mention activism and legislation and then completely gloss them over for something a lot…easier. Just closing your eyes and *thinking really hard* Seems that if prayer were actually the solution to a problem like this, then it would have worked for some of the tens of thousands who’ve been brutally murdered in conflicts involving blood diamonds as they fervently prayed for mercy just before their deaths.
You could have gone somewhere with this, but instead you decided to do donuts in the parking lot of ineffectuality. All-powerful weapon indeed.

A question for all who believe in intercessory prayer:
How many prayers does it take to convince God to do the right thing?

smmtheory,
Exactly. But what does that have to do with this dicussion of the diamond trade? Don’t try to put me in the pro-choice, anti-war liberal box. I don’t fit in there.
Ex-preacher,
You clearly don’t understand the purpose of prayer. It’s not done in place of action, it’s done in conjunction with action, asking God’s guidance for that action, and asking God to aid in that action.
Prayer and activism aren’t mutually exclusive.

So you think that prayer doesn’t actually change God’s mind?

You’re reading too much into my question. Your first question is a false dichotomy anyway. God knows what is right, it doesn’t take any convincing for God to do what is right. Praying for intercession means you are asking God to do something you WANT whether what you want him to do is right or not. Is it possible to convince God to do what you want him to do? Yes. How much prayer it takes is entirely subjective to the amount of faith you hold and the level of faith God might require you to demonstrate in order to have your desire granted.

In similar manner, mercury is commonly used to purify gold and many of those doing the work handle the mercury directly. Their hands are immersed in it.
Here’s one article that speaks to this:
http://www.examiner.ie/world/revealed-trail-of-dirty-gold-91030.html
Eventually, all of these precious possessions are going to burn. (2Peter 3:10) None of them are worth the harm done to other persons.

ex-preacher,
smmtheory is right. You set up a false dichotomy. God does what He wishes, which is in harmony with His character. Prayer is about our relationship with Him. Perhaps we don’t see prayer’s efficacy unless we do it. :)
smmtheory,
Though I agree with you on the role of prayer, I’m still quite dismayed that you’re incapable of reading what I write. Saying that American unilateralism can fuel Russian aggression by allowing the Russian leadership to use it as an excuse or propaganda tool isn’t the same thing as saying all war is all bad all the time and standing on the corner with a sign ordering the US to withdraw overseas troops. Trust me, if we both keep posting here, we’ll get into plenty of political arguments. Save your energy for when we actually have them instead of inventing them.
And please try to learn to read what people with whom you’re discussing write. It makes conversations much more productive.

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Saying that American unilateralism can fuel Russian aggression by allowing the Russian leadership to use it as an excuse or propaganda tool

Except that I only ever hear the phrase – American unilateralism – being used as left-wing codespeak in reference to the effort to depose Saddam Hussein and restore order to Iraq. This despite the fact that it was anything BUT unilateralism! So explain to me exactly what event or set of events comprises this American unilateralism that you keep referring to.