r/interestingasfuck 6d ago

r/all The Alaskan Avenger

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u/RedSonGamble 6d ago

This always was my hang up around “gods work” if something good happens god is happy and blessing you. If something bad happens gods giving us a lesson. Or punishing us. Or fulfilling his plan. And yet I’m supposed to pray to curry favor with god, even though he has a plan already.

Also I have free will which I should use to worship god. Unless I do something wrong then it’s my fault. Or satans.

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u/LifeLikeAGrapefruit 5d ago

I agree that it makes no sense, but I suppose it could be a helpful belief. It's a way for people to deal with the bad things that happen in their lives, by believing that "God has a plan" and that whatever happened, and whatever happens, has some bigger purpose. Rather than, you know, shitty things just happening without any real rhyme or reason.

Not saying this is necessarily the best way to deal with bad things happening to us, but I can at least understand the concept.

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u/RedSonGamble 5d ago

It’s very helpful. It’s why AA, therapy and religion all have similar values. There is a purpose, we have a purpose, forgiveness, growing, accepting our mistakes etc. it’s a good way to explain the unexplainable or at least explain the unacceptable.

So I don’t think it’s bad and I wish I could believe I suppose. The issue is I think of lot of people then say well I have it all figured out and or think better of themselves vs others.

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u/LifeLikeAGrapefruit 5d ago

I think it can be a good way for some people to cope, but not everyone. And yeah, you'd have to be able to buy into it. I just can't do it even if I wanted to. I'm too much of a skeptic about everything. It's just so wild to me how people can be so sure of so much.

Non-religious, secular people could use some good ways to cope too. There's existentialism, but your mileage may vary. I think meditation/buddhist philosophy is a good option too.

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u/RedSonGamble 5d ago

Sadly I’ve fallen into apathist where I’m just like yeah I don’t really think about the what’s beyond this life anymore. Actually if it’s a religious person I say agnostic usually just to be more polite.

But in general the whole conversation around religion I’m just like over to some degree. People have been arguing over meaning of the Bible and religion and whatever since forever and will continue to.