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**Peer claims ‘God is sad’ after spiritual experience**http://www.theherald.co.uk/images/space.gif
MICHAEL SETTLE
August 01 2005http://www.theherald.co.uk/images/space.gif, Politicians often believe they have God on their side when it comes to fighting their enemies, but few invoke his name in their defence.
However yesterday Lord Pearson of Rannoch, the independent Scottish Conservative peer and well-known critic of the European Union, claimed to have had a one-to-one with the Almighty.
The 63-year-old businessman’s spiritual experience came as he was having surgery to remove varicose veins. Although anaesthetised, Lord Rannoch could feel excruciating pain and began to panic, but was unable to move.
He said: “I remember thinking: ‘Oh my God, nobody is going to believe this has happened.’ Then, I heard a voice reply: ‘But they don’t believe in God either, do they?’”
Then peer explained that the conversation continued, until, in an attempt to end the pain, he shouted at the voice: "Stop it. How do I escape?
“What do you want me to do?”
At this point Lord Rannoch claims he saw saw a “ghost-like vision”.
He was unable to see the spirit’s face but noticed he was wearing what he described as “a greeny-brown tweed suit”.
He said: "It became apparent he was some kind of messenger. " He reached out, took my arm and led me towards huge granite steps that descended into the earth.
"Each step was like a wave of deeper pain but I took them, half-dreamlike, half-conscious, following my companion.
"He then pointed to a huge doorway of a cave and beckoned me to go through, which I did.
“He did not follow as I found myself in the presence of God.”
He went on: "It was definitely a masculine presence that felt warm, strong and compassionate.
“However, I soon became aware of a pervading sadness,” he said.
"There were no words but I could feel this presence giving me a strong message.
“The message was that God was sad because he was losing the fight of good against evil and sad because people have lost faith.”
The peer insisted this was the message he had to bring back to tell people: that people had to fight harder against evil for God to win.
"I don’t know how I came back but the next thing I knew I was being wheeled out of the operating theatre.
“I was exhausted but also exhilarated,” he said. The Eurosceptic peer added that he drew great strength from his experience and no longer feared death because he knew there was an afterlife.
He added: "It has given me a greater awareness of issues of right and wrong and has also made me pretty fearless.
“I don’t mind taking on the House of Lords on an issue about Europe even if it means I will be ridiculed and despised because it is part of the crusade of right against wrong,” said the former Etonian.
MICHAEL SETTLE
August 01 2005http://www.theherald.co.uk/images/space.gif, Politicians often believe they have God on their side when it comes to fighting their enemies, but few invoke his name in their defence.
However yesterday Lord Pearson of Rannoch, the independent Scottish Conservative peer and well-known critic of the European Union, claimed to have had a one-to-one with the Almighty.
The 63-year-old businessman’s spiritual experience came as he was having surgery to remove varicose veins. Although anaesthetised, Lord Rannoch could feel excruciating pain and began to panic, but was unable to move.
He said: “I remember thinking: ‘Oh my God, nobody is going to believe this has happened.’ Then, I heard a voice reply: ‘But they don’t believe in God either, do they?’”
Then peer explained that the conversation continued, until, in an attempt to end the pain, he shouted at the voice: "Stop it. How do I escape?
“What do you want me to do?”
At this point Lord Rannoch claims he saw saw a “ghost-like vision”.
He was unable to see the spirit’s face but noticed he was wearing what he described as “a greeny-brown tweed suit”.
He said: "It became apparent he was some kind of messenger. " He reached out, took my arm and led me towards huge granite steps that descended into the earth.
"Each step was like a wave of deeper pain but I took them, half-dreamlike, half-conscious, following my companion.
"He then pointed to a huge doorway of a cave and beckoned me to go through, which I did.
“He did not follow as I found myself in the presence of God.”
He went on: "It was definitely a masculine presence that felt warm, strong and compassionate.
“However, I soon became aware of a pervading sadness,” he said.
"There were no words but I could feel this presence giving me a strong message.
“The message was that God was sad because he was losing the fight of good against evil and sad because people have lost faith.”
The peer insisted this was the message he had to bring back to tell people: that people had to fight harder against evil for God to win.
"I don’t know how I came back but the next thing I knew I was being wheeled out of the operating theatre.
“I was exhausted but also exhilarated,” he said. The Eurosceptic peer added that he drew great strength from his experience and no longer feared death because he knew there was an afterlife.
He added: "It has given me a greater awareness of issues of right and wrong and has also made me pretty fearless.
“I don’t mind taking on the House of Lords on an issue about Europe even if it means I will be ridiculed and despised because it is part of the crusade of right against wrong,” said the former Etonian.
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