People shouldn’t confuse believing in fate (or “god’s will”)with an inability to deal with reality. Saying that losing out on American Idol is God’s Will is certainly possible… but probable? no… I really doubt that God sweats the small stuff. But to issue a blanket edict that all those who believe in a higher-power’s ability to swap outcomes is stupid is just rude and disrespectful.
That being said: not making choices, not planning, and pretending like you are “positive” about failure because it’s in god’s hands is just as irresponsible as sweeping generalizations. It’s also not Zen or Taoist… so I hope no one responds saying that “going with the flow” is similar…. it’s not.
no.1 god doesn’t care about american idol, i promise
no.2 god also doesn’t care about the USA – this was probably not part of his master plan…. if he had one
no.3 blaming bad crap (and good stuff) on god is a coping mechanism for dealing with failures, disappointment or a way to seem modest in the face of great joy or privilege… it’s all about the “me” —–
no.4 people need to feel important – having an intimate connection with “god” works for some people, just like for others it’s something else….
no. 5 stop judging people who a supersticious… they seem stupid to you, but to them it’s freaking gospel… just leave them be. they aren’t hurting you. they don’t affect your life.
— Emily
Also, please don’t confuse faithful with idiots
not all people of “faith” are superstitious or zealots… agnostics and aetheist would have a lot better (and happier) time of it if they’d listen instead of judging.
faith in something “other” is not synonymous with low IQ or moronic behaviour.
— Emily
God isn’t a puppeteer. He is a holy, gracious God blessing all believers and non-believers without proportion to their goodness or badness (if God only blessed in proportion to worth, none of us would be worthy of any blessing at all. We are all superbly unworthy). Simply because people die or fail doesn’t mean God hates them or they fell out of favor. God just blesses us in different ways. For example, that batter that struck out may have a wonderful family and the pitcher may be going home alone. That man who narrowly missed the plane crash may have a sick mother or hard financial times.
Yes, bad things happen. However, it isn’t God that is “messing” things up or failing. Its humans that are messy factor – humans are inherently sinful. And those humans that do bad things in the name of God are actually lacking in their understanding of the true nature God. The preeminent teachings and characteristics of God are love, humility, charity and NOT rising up against your enemy – those that act in this manner with these qualities are true Christians – not those that enslave or kill. Moreover, God does not call or use humans to judge their fellow human beings – it is only God’s place to judge the hearts of humans. When humans kill or judge in the name of God, it is them asserting the judgment that does not belong to them. So do not equate the nastiness of humanity with God. It is misplaced rhetoric. (And for the record, bad things happening are not God’s judgment. God’s judgment will only happen once and God will judge hearts not actions. A person can be good but still with an sinful heart).
For the “why isn’t He helping us with the peace thing or cancer thing” comment, God is not a magician and Christianity is not a magic wand. The difference is the attitude I and other Christians have because I know and believe in God. First, when I suffer, I know that I am not suffering alone. And I know that I have not born near the suffering that my God did when He died on a cross to save me. For that I am always thankful and always feel blessed – for even in my darkest moments I never have to experience even a moment of my day separated completely from God – that I’ve never been in complete Darkness.
Secondly, in my suffering, I know that I am a part of a divine plan. This gives everything I do purpose. It makes everyone, even non-believers, more than dust and more than just an infinite speck. We are all working in a bigger Plan. Thus, every action – even American Idol winner or loser – has purpose that will carry on beyond their life.
Third, because of God, I am not defined by what happens to me but by Him, because He loves me. Again, this makes all the winning and the losing – the good side and the bad side – just nothingness. It doesn’t matter and it doesn’t shake me to my core. I still get excited and I still get sad. I get angry. But I am not made up of the events in my life or the losses I have or have not sustained – I am worth so much more.
But even though I am a part of His plan, God works through humans. Thus, I still have to act. We still have to do. Its just that when my doing doesn’t go how I expect it – I don’t sweat it, because God is caring for me and already knows the plan. Its just a different direction, not a failure. Even death is just a step. Because I believe in God and I believe that Jesus Christ saved me by dying on the cross (a real, harrowing and gruesome death), I have the reassurance that this life is not the only thing I’ve got. I’ve got eternal life – a real life – on a new earth, where God and human are no longer separated by sin. So what’s death on this miserable earth, when I know that I’ve got eternal life to look forward to.
— Emily
Emily seems to have a lot to say-- way too much for the comments section under the article-- so I'm going to invite her to come discuss.
