An illustration of the differences that still divide serious Christians, from contrasting stories on the 33 Chilean miners trapped so long underground. From the (Southern) Baptist Press :
When the mine collapsed, three of the miners — including Henríquez — were Christians. Since then, two more of them have made professions of faith . . . . He [Marcelo Leiva, a Chilean Baptist minister serving at the site] has noticed the difference between the families who know Christ and the families who do not.
“This has been a testimony to what the Lord can do in a person’s life,” Leiva said. “Those that are the children of the Lord have been those that have shown, even in the midst of the storm, a testimony of peace, tranquility and trust in the Lord.”
And from the English weekly the Catholic Herald :
. . . what it is that has kept the men sane and united and undespairing, what has sustained their hope of deliverance from this truly appalling ordeal. I have no doubt at all that it was their religion and that that there weren’t that many Adventists or Evangelicals down there . . . .
Consider the following CNA report from Santiago, which appeared on August 27: “The 33 miners trapped in the San Jose mine in Atacama, Chile, have requested that statues and religious pictures be sent down to them as they wait to be rescued . . . “Although a crucifix has already been sent down, the miners are continuing to request more statues of Mary and the saints . . . to construct a makeshift chapel.
Thanks to Catholic Culture.org for the second link.
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