|
LafayetteLady -> RE: I renounce Christianity (9/30/2011 4:09:32 PM)
|
quote:
ORIGINAL: SuzeCheri
Thank you LadyP, I do appreciate all you've said.One thing in particular stood out, this part. quote:
My best guess is that it really is all part of some kind of plan that hopefully something good will come out of it in the end.
This is an important point really, if it is part of a plan, then that means God wanted it to happen, and that is incompatible with the doctrine of free will. And without the excuse of free will, the blame falls squarely on the shoulders of God, which doesn't mesh with being good and just.
I did not read this entire thread, I stopped at this point.
First let me congratulate you. Not for choosing not to believe, but for making the statment in a way that doesn't insult those who do. That alone will go a long way in helping you find the answers that you seek.
Originally, God was portrayed as full of wrath. Remember all those "fire and brimstone" sermons (or reading about them)? Then he was omnipotent, all knowing, all seeing and all controlling. These days, it is God is all good. I can see how it can be confusing and frustrating.
I don't know the details of your friend's death. When confronted with such things, a great number of people go through the whole "how could God allow this to happen?" thing. You've been taught that God is all good and all powerful, so why didn't he stop it?
Then there is the whole conflicting idea of free will. If we have free will, then God isn't all powerful, right? You were taught that God created man in his own image. So maybe, God is the king of free will. It is very hard to understand why he would let your friend be killed and bring so much pain to you and those who loved her.
Using childrena analogies just seems to work best. As a kid, I'm sure there were lots of things your parents told you to do and you didn't understand why. "Don't touch the stove," "Why?" "Because you will burn yourself." Very easy, even for most two year olds to grasp, right? But think of the things your parents told you when you were say eight years old and you really didn't understand. Now, you are grown up and maybe find yourself going "wow, my parents were actually right!" Granted this tends to happen lots more after we have kids of our own, and if it hasn't happened yet, trust me it will someday. Oops, there is that "just believe me" thing, yet I bet it doesn't have the same sting, does it?
My point, and some others is that sadly, sometimes horrible things happen to allow people to learn from it. Why? Because humans tend to be dense creatures who sometimes need a big smack upside the head to get something through to them. I'm not saying this person is you. It could be anyone involved, it could just be just a bystander. The event may have led them to change their life in some way for the better.
I know that is of little comfort to you. The thing is that there isn't always an answer. Even without God, we don't always know why a child gets a terminal illness or an innocent, young person dies. I'm not saying "just believe," I'm saying that while you don't know what the answer is, that doesn't mean there isn't one. You may find out the answer tomorrow, twenty years from now or never. Faith is what helps us to believe some things aren't just senseless.
From the standpoint of someone who does believe....I have faith that there was a reason and that while you are angry and frustrated and sad right now, even the questions that this tragedy has brought you will someday lead you on a path you probably wouldn't have taken had this not happened, and I believe that path will be for the better.
Nope, no desire to change your mind, but hope and prayers that you will find peace about all of this soon, regardless of how that peace comes to you.
|
|
|
|
