gmail
2008-06-21, 06:37
Note: I think this is more B&M-ish but I don't doubt it can get some decent respones
Holy shit I'm in that special state of mind where I need to talk. Its almost 3 am and everyone is asleep. Totse always seems to suffer from my ramblings when this happens.
I just got done having a rare and long conversation about god and religion with my dad. I'm atheist and hes catholic. Its always difficult to talk about religion with him and not piss him off, so here I am, the only place I can share my true opinion without worry of consequence.
This question puzzled the heck out of me even in my god fearing years. Most people in America, religious or not, have most likely been in at least one situation with a group of people that want to do a "group thanks" to god to let "him" know just how happy they are that god was gracious enough to let them eat food that day.
I highly doubt any "true Christian" has ever actually wondered why they were chosen to get something to eat and not millions of people who starve every day. Putting aside all of the obvious thoughts that my statement brings up, I'd like ask WHY? Why do so many people give god credit for their hard work and achievements. I'm so tired of hearing some athlete or musician ensuring their big speech involves this line: "I'd like to thank god for this without him I'd be BLAH BLAH BLAH"
I doubt those people even know what they're saying because giving thanks to god is just what everyone seems to do. I highly doubt that if they hadn't believed in (or at least thanked) god that they would be serving fries at White Castle instead of making millions of dollars. I know I've made my point but it just boggles the mind how these people can thank god for their talents, kids, beating addictions, winning the lottery etc.. Here is a thought: When you achieve something you're proud of THANK YOURSELF for accomplishing the goal. If other people helped you then THANK THEM TOO. To me, it just makes a person seem so weak minded when they walk around giving something that had nothing to do with their success credit for their accomplishment. Right next to annoyance is a hint of actually feeling sorry for these people. I just want to be like "Hey man don't sell yourself short, you accomplished what you said you would and it was no easy task" I wouldn't say it so lame but you get the point.
For my last gripe about thanking god, come the excuses. I'm sure everyone living in the USA has heard this at least 10 times when they pray and things DONT work out. "It's god's will" or "God works in mysterious ways" with the latter they'll typically try to make themselves feel better by adding "Well I didn't get X like I wanted even though I prayed every night for it, but god works in mysterious ways, If I would have gotten X something bad could have happened like a car accident on the way home or something. Yep, god didn't want me to have X in order to save me."
That is the definition of a cop-out if I’ve ever seen one. For what I’ve seen there are 2 reasons for who say this:
1.People who actually believe this statement is 100% true. Typically this isn’t the case despite that this is the answer they will always give. 99.9% of people fall into reason #2 (According to my made-up-on-the-spot statistics book.
2. They just want to have something to justify not trying again for a variety of reasons. In my experience those reasons usually boil down to a drive/willingness to succeed.
I could write volumes more on this and more griping but then no one will read what I wrote anyway. Gah I need to thank god for giving me access to this message board and go to bed.
Note: I did not intend to make any blanket statements. These are simply my own observations.
Holy shit I'm in that special state of mind where I need to talk. Its almost 3 am and everyone is asleep. Totse always seems to suffer from my ramblings when this happens.
I just got done having a rare and long conversation about god and religion with my dad. I'm atheist and hes catholic. Its always difficult to talk about religion with him and not piss him off, so here I am, the only place I can share my true opinion without worry of consequence.
This question puzzled the heck out of me even in my god fearing years. Most people in America, religious or not, have most likely been in at least one situation with a group of people that want to do a "group thanks" to god to let "him" know just how happy they are that god was gracious enough to let them eat food that day.
I highly doubt any "true Christian" has ever actually wondered why they were chosen to get something to eat and not millions of people who starve every day. Putting aside all of the obvious thoughts that my statement brings up, I'd like ask WHY? Why do so many people give god credit for their hard work and achievements. I'm so tired of hearing some athlete or musician ensuring their big speech involves this line: "I'd like to thank god for this without him I'd be BLAH BLAH BLAH"
I doubt those people even know what they're saying because giving thanks to god is just what everyone seems to do. I highly doubt that if they hadn't believed in (or at least thanked) god that they would be serving fries at White Castle instead of making millions of dollars. I know I've made my point but it just boggles the mind how these people can thank god for their talents, kids, beating addictions, winning the lottery etc.. Here is a thought: When you achieve something you're proud of THANK YOURSELF for accomplishing the goal. If other people helped you then THANK THEM TOO. To me, it just makes a person seem so weak minded when they walk around giving something that had nothing to do with their success credit for their accomplishment. Right next to annoyance is a hint of actually feeling sorry for these people. I just want to be like "Hey man don't sell yourself short, you accomplished what you said you would and it was no easy task" I wouldn't say it so lame but you get the point.
For my last gripe about thanking god, come the excuses. I'm sure everyone living in the USA has heard this at least 10 times when they pray and things DONT work out. "It's god's will" or "God works in mysterious ways" with the latter they'll typically try to make themselves feel better by adding "Well I didn't get X like I wanted even though I prayed every night for it, but god works in mysterious ways, If I would have gotten X something bad could have happened like a car accident on the way home or something. Yep, god didn't want me to have X in order to save me."
That is the definition of a cop-out if I’ve ever seen one. For what I’ve seen there are 2 reasons for who say this:
1.People who actually believe this statement is 100% true. Typically this isn’t the case despite that this is the answer they will always give. 99.9% of people fall into reason #2 (According to my made-up-on-the-spot statistics book.
2. They just want to have something to justify not trying again for a variety of reasons. In my experience those reasons usually boil down to a drive/willingness to succeed.
I could write volumes more on this and more griping but then no one will read what I wrote anyway. Gah I need to thank god for giving me access to this message board and go to bed.
Note: I did not intend to make any blanket statements. These are simply my own observations.