Question for religious folk

[Rawns]

If there is a god, why oh why would he allow EA to create 'Origin'?

[bodminman]

Just under a year a ago I wanted to punch so many peoples lights out when they we telling me that 'God chose her' & 'it was Gods will' etc in reaction to hearing of the loss of our baby daughter at 41 weeks!

 

Someone even had the audacity to say that 'God will never give you more than you can handle so he obviously holds you in the highest!' I replied with 'explain this to my wife who is taking pills for everything at the moment. ie: too stay awake, to get her to sleep, to numb the pain and to be able to just function day by day at a very basic level. And also how do you think that makes me feel as the person who is also taking various pills for me to be able to get up in the morning and feed my wife and 7 year old daughter etc and also remain on suicide watch because I don't know what my wife may do from one minute to the next'.

 

This person didn't have a response.

[localzuk]

A lot of people seem to think that relating it to God's will is in some way comforting.

[Garacesh]

@bodminman, I'm terribly sorry to hear of your loss, but unfortunately you highlight half of the problem - shifting 'blame' to a deity in order to make it acceptable. Perhaps this is because they can't bear to think that bad things happen to good people? Perhaps they're desperate to pass 'control' of their life to someone or something else in order to live passively instead of getting worked up by things. Of course, I speak only of those 'holds you in the highest' people you mentioned, I'm positive this doesn't apply to all religious folk, but that's just what it screams of to me. They refuse to believe that you, as a good, moral, and loving father, should suffer a tragedy for no reason other than 'just because' (see my earlier comment about the universe not caring), therefore they attribute it to God who can provide (to them) some salvation to the situation (there was some valid reason God stopped the child being born - let's not mention why let it be conceived in the first place then? - the child would have suffered from crippling disease or disability, you wouldn't have been able to cope with another child, etc, whatever their reason may be)

[X-13]

They refuse to believe that you, as a good, moral, and loving father, should suffer a tragedy for no reason other than 'just because'

 

Original sin.

 

Also, "God chose her" doesn't even make sense... Unbaptised children go to limbo. [Or was it hell... I think it was. Curse you, Dante's Inferno.]

 

~Note: I do not agree with the "unbaptised children" statement. I'm just pointing out a flaw.~

 

This person didn't have a response.

 

TBF, I don't even know how to respond to that now...

[sted]

A lot of people seem to think that relating it to God's will is in some way comforting.

i suspect they would get the same feeling just talking to another person or even a wall being able to just dump your problems is often helpful even if nobody listens

 

[*]Point out that religion, throughout history, has been used to control the masses, rather than enlighten them. An example of this includes the Christian crusades, and the present day suicide bombings of Muslims. Are (insert any monotheist faith here) really that different?

i would say it has been used as an excuse because the 3 "main" relegions all acqknowledge moses which means they all contain "thou shall not kill" fairly early in their teachings

 

 

Ontic Dumping - I like that! But I'm not sure what specifically you are disagreeing with -"well no".

 

i was agreeing that relegion isnt illogical (slavish adheance to things that can be proven rubbish is though). If you dont have the tools that science gives you gods throwing lightning bolts at each other is a good an explanation as any

[X-13]

i would say it has been used as an excuse because the 3 "main" relegions all acqknowledge moses which means they all contain "thou shall not kill" fairly early in their teachings.

 

Which is followed pretty quickly by "oh, wait. The don't think exactly the same as us, kill them."

[Willott]

Unbaptised children go to limbo. [Or was it hell... I think it was. Curse you, Dante's Inferno.]

 

Errr... no... innocence of children:

 

One day children were brought to Jesus in the hope that he would lay hands on them and pray over them. The disciples shooed them off. But Jesus intervened: “Let the children alone, don’t prevent them from coming to me. God’s kingdom is made up of people like these.” After laying hands on them, he left.

[soveryapt]

The whole "why does God allow these things" question is a big question, and a big part of the faith, that many have already pointed out, comes from this understanding that God has a plan for whatever that might be, and that is hard to understand for cancer and such as people have pointed out, and the whole "pray and you shall be healed" argument doesn't always mean physical healing in the sense that you ailments will be removed and you will be 100% "Normal" again - something I've struggled with personally over the last 8 years of my life since being diagnosed with Myasthenia Gravis - which basically means long term medications and all the side effects that those medications will eventually lead to (one being the joys of weight gain from steroids and having to accept the jeers for something that I would love to change, but alas, it's not easy when you're on the things). It can mean spiritual healing and peace at heart as well. I know this sounds airy fairy to non religious people, but my peace comes from the fact that I'm a lucky one and whilst I still have to take the drugs and such, they have allowed me to continue my life and keep me alive to go on doing what I do.

 

With the whole "what about all these disasters and murder and ... ..." - well, there is a massive part in the fact that God has given us free will, the ability to choose our actions and not be dictated to by him, that's why there are murderers and rapists and other nasty people out there, it's not that God likes it, far from it, it's that he chooses to do nothing about it because he doesn't want to control us but let us live our lives for ourselves and, His wish, is that we devote this life back to him in praise and worship in all things we do. It's a hard thing to get your head around, I accept, and I still talk over it to see if there is a better "argument or reason" for it and such, but this free will could also be applied to such things as this.

 

Now, don't get me wrong, I'm horrified at the amount of lives that are lost to natural and man made disasters, I wish that it wasn't the case, but these people are living in place called "Tornado Alley" it's a place where such storms are regularly known to exist, yet they still live there, they still build their homes there. Now, I know that these things cannot always be predicted, but surely there are better measures they can take as humans to build better structures, build more adequate bunkers and shelters etc, so that even if the main structures come down, that the bunkers they're in are better fit for purpose which would save many more lives. I mean take the earth quake proof buildings - ok, they probably wouldn't withstand everything the power of the earth could throw at them, but they have been developed and made better so that in the places where earth quakes are regular, they give the people living there a fighting chance.

 

I realise that this argument would then stop people living by the sea and such in case of a Tsunami and what not, that's not what I'm getting at, it's just the fact that we have the abilities as humans, we have the knowledge, given by God or just devised by human ingenuity, that's a whole other argument, but the point is we have it, so why don't they use it, why don't they look at their surroundings and think "hmmm, we could do this better" but it's not until such a storm occurs that they then think to do something about it.

 

So, is it God causing all these issues and deaths, or is it the humans that decided to settle and build where there are some of the worlds strongest storms on a regular basis? Who knows, but ultimately, keep asking the questions, talk to people about it of differing views and make your own mind up. I'm glad of the people of and not of faith who look into things, ask questions, seek answers and work things out for themselves, it's those who go in blindly either to faith or to mock faith and use the same old hat answers from either side that do my tree.

 

I don't know if any of that helps, I tend to ramble a bit on things like this as it is a constant discussion, which is a whole part of faith that does seem to have been lost, the discussion and learning from it - there are too many "these are all the answers you need" stems of "church" these days .. [/Rant]

[Rawns]

Errr... no... innocence of children:

 

One day children were brought to Jesus in the hope that he would lay hands on them and pray over them. The disciples shooed them off. But Jesus intervened: “Let the children alone, don’t prevent them from coming to me. God’s kingdom is made up of people like these.” After laying hands on them, he left.

 

Cant tell if serious, or some kind of church scandal themed joke...

[synaesthesia]

That professor/student exchange is really awful. That student deserves a slap and the professor would have easily been able to counter it.

[Willott]

Perfectly serious in response to X-13 - he suggested that children go to limbo or hell, I was quoting from the Message version of the bible... probably should have done more than a 3 word explanation...

 

The idea is that children are seen as innocent, they don't understand their decisions or repercusions - they lack the knowledge to willingly do wrong. The idea behind the bible verse being that these innocent children will be in God's Kingdom, and it's also a model for Christians to work towards - not lacking the knowledge to willingly do wrong, but to willingly decide, with the knowledge we have, not to do wrong.

[X-13]

The idea is that children are seen as innocent, they don't understand their decisions or repercusions - they lack the knowledge to willingly do wrong. The idea behind the bible verse being that these innocent children will be in God's Kingdom, and it's also a model for Christians to work towards - not lacking the knowledge to willingly do wrong, but to willingly decide, with the knowledge we have, not to do wrong.

 

THIS DOESN'T EVEN MAKE SENSE!!!

 

How can you have original sin AND you are born innocent...

[Modey]

Just under a year a ago I wanted to punch so many peoples lights out when they we telling me that 'God chose her' & 'it was Gods will' etc in reaction to hearing of the loss of our baby daughter at 41 weeks!

 

Someone even had the audacity to say that 'God will never give you more than you can handle so he obviously holds you in the highest!' I replied with 'explain this to my wife who is taking pills for everything at the moment. ie: too stay awake, to get her to sleep, to numb the pain and to be able to just function day by day at a very basic level. And also how do you think that makes me feel as the person who is also taking various pills for me to be able to get up in the morning and feed my wife and 7 year old daughter etc and also remain on suicide watch because I don't know what my wife may do from one minute to the next'.

 

This person didn't have a response.

 

I really can't imagine what you went through with all that (and obviously still are going through. I just hope there is some light at the end of the tunnel for you all.

 

As for religion, I'm not a believer myself but I do respect those who find a comfort in it (my mum being one of them).

[sted]

THIS DOESN'T EVEN MAKE SENSE!!!

 

How can you have original sin AND you are born innocent...

 

isnt that one of the differences between catholics and protestant faiths? one believes your born iccocent one believe you have the taint of original sin

[Willott]

THIS DOESN'T EVEN MAKE SENSE!!!

 

How can you have original sin AND you are born innocent...

 

Original Sin being Adam and Eve (don't ever refer to that... maybe it's a Catholic term) - we're talking free will, informed decisions vs lack of knowledge to make informed decisions

[Garacesh]

well, there is a massive part in the fact that God has given us free will, the ability to choose our actions and not be dictated to by him, that's why there are murderers and rapists and other nasty people out there, it's not that God likes it, far from it, it's that he chooses to do nothing about it because he doesn't want to control us but let us live our lives for ourselves and, His wish, is that we devote this life back to him in praise and worship in all things we do.

 

.. didn't the Devil/Snake convince Eve to eat from - what the Bible itself declares - the Tree of Knowledge?

Does it not logically follow, then, that God wishes us not to have knowledge, and in fact, our free will comes not from God, but from the original sin itself? And does it not follow from that, then, that if we are to agree that free will and independence are positive things, that the creature described as the embodiment of all evil is in fact, not so, and instead is the one responsible from releasing us from the shackles of slavery to God?

(Heck, maybe we'd be happier being mindless slaves, but that's a different discussion. I'm sure most Christians would agree Free Will is a good thing)

 

That's what I understand the Bible to say, anyway. I'm not trying to cause arguments, that's just my interpretation of it. Maybe God and the Devil do exist, and the Bible's one big smear campaign

[X-13]

isnt that one of the differences between catholics and protestant faiths? one believes your born iccocent one believe you have the taint of original sin

 

FFS.

 

Same source material, two completely different interpretations.

 

we're talking free will, informed decisions vs lack of knowledge to make informed decisions

 

If everything is according to God's plan, then there is no free will. So, you're being punished for something you have no say in.

[jinnantonnixx]

At this point I'd recommend Irrelegion by John Allen Paulos. Every single argument thus far has been discussed in detail by this book.

[sted]

FFS.

 

Same source material, two completely different interpretations.

 

theres also translation errors to throw in there aparantly you can translate virgin mary as unmarried mother just as easily so exactly the sort of person people complain about

[X-13]

you can translate virgin mary as unmarried mother just as easily so exactly the sort of person people complain about

 

Jesus made a sit-down dinner for 13 people with little notice.

 

I'm not sayin', I'm just sayin'.

[soveryapt]

.. didn't the Devil/Snake convince Eve to eat from - what the Bible itself declares - the Tree of Knowledge?

Does it not logically follow, then, that God wishes us not to have knowledge, and in fact, our free will comes not from God, but from the original sin itself? And does it not follow from that, then, that if we are to agree that free will and independence are positive things, that the creature described as the embodiment of all evil is in fact, not so, and instead is the one responsible from releasing us from the shackles of slavery to God?

(Heck, maybe we'd be happier being mindless slaves, but that's a different discussion. I'm sure most Christians would agree Free Will is a good thing)

 

That's what I understand the Bible to say, anyway. I'm not trying to cause arguments, that's just my interpretation of it. Maybe God and the Devil do exist, and the Bible's one big smear campaign

 

That's my point, they might have been convinced, but they had their free choice, they could have chosen to not do it .. take the Heist by Derren Brown as a great example - he took perfectly innocent people and made them hold up an armoured van, did they have a choice? Yes, they knew that was wrong to do, but still it was something they did (by the way, not saying Derren is the devil here, I quite like his work to be fair) ..

 

It's the tree of knowledge of good and evil, the ability to know the difference instead of living in God's design if you like .. they chose to want to know what this all was, we are, by the very nature of our being, sinful ..

[Willott]

Just under a year a ago I wanted to punch so many peoples lights out when they we telling me that 'God chose her' & 'it was Gods will' etc in reaction to hearing of the loss of our baby daughter at 41 weeks!

 

Someone even had the audacity to say that 'God will never give you more than you can handle so he obviously holds you in the highest!' I replied with 'explain this to my wife who is taking pills for everything at the moment. ie: too stay awake, to get her to sleep, to numb the pain and to be able to just function day by day at a very basic level. And also how do you think that makes me feel as the person who is also taking various pills for me to be able to get up in the morning and feed my wife and 7 year old daughter etc and also remain on suicide watch because I don't know what my wife may do from one minute to the next'.

 

This person didn't have a response.

 

I can't tell you what my response would be - I simply would'nt have said that at that time.

 

As for the "it was God's will" comment - my concept is that God acts much like a school governor - He knows what's going on, and has a strategic overview (ie He has a plan for the overall direction of life, the universe and everything, but leaves the day to day running to the Head (Science), Bursar (Earth - natural resources) and staff (our bodies)). Like many of our students, we don't know why our bodies, the earth or science do various things, and very sadly, sometimes they do things which are horrific as in your case. I would not say that this is God's will.

 

I also think that it's not true that "God will never give you more than you can handle" - I think that challenges will befall all of us, some challenges much worse than others. I think that God knows what challenges lie ahead of us and tries to provide a route for support through those difficulties. I see from your sig a couple of groups which have probably provided you with some support through the past year - my viewpoint would be that God's will was to make this support available and that in the future, your family will be able to support others through the lowest points of their lives.

 

I hope that I won't be added to the list of punchees, and will continue to hold your family in my prayers.

[soveryapt]

I can't tell you what my response would be - I simply would'nt have said that at that time.

 

As for the "it was God's will" comment - my concept is that God acts much like a school governor - He knows what's going on, and has a strategic overview (ie He has a plan for the overall direction of life, the universe and everything, but leaves the day to day running to the Head (Science), Bursar (Earth - natural resources) and staff (our bodies)). Like many of our students, we don't know why our bodies, the earth or science do various things, and very sadly, sometimes they do things which are horrific as in your case. I would not say that this is God's will.

 

I also think that it's not true that "God will never give you more than you can handle" - I think that challenges will befall all of us, some challenges much worse than others. I think that God knows what challenges lie ahead of us and tries to provide a route for support through those difficulties. I see from your sig a couple of groups which have probably provided you with some support through the past year - my viewpoint would be that God's will was to make this support available and that in the future, your family will be able to support others through the lowest points of their lives.

 

I hope that I won't be added to the list of punchees, and will continue to hold your family in my prayers.

 

I like that governor analogy!

[bodminman]

I really can't imagine what you went through with all that (and obviously still are going through. I just hope there is some light at the end of the tunnel for you all.

 

Thankyou. We are in a much better place now thanks but we are also still in the year of firsts. ie: We've had the first christmas without her, mothers day and we still have fathers day and our birthdays to come before we get to the first anniversary on the 4 August!

 

Still, we as a family have become a lot stronger and I'm sure we'll be helping each other through various 'moments' for the rest of our lives.