Religious Beliefs

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  • hedonist
    hedonist Posts: 24,524
    Hugh Freaking Dillon wrote:
    hedonist wrote:
    The friend tells of her own mother dying of cancer at a young age, and a priest or family member telling her, "God never gives us more than we can handle."

    The friend says, "So I asked, if I were a weaker person, would my mother still be alive?"

    I have actually used that same response to someone who said that to me. I wonder if I stole it from Thirty Something? I used to watch that show all the time with my parents.

    My other response to that is "I guess all the people of Africa are the strongest people on the planet".
    Such a...meaty...show, no? All facets so well done.

    And, I like your other response.

    (sidenote, at this moment, I would pay a hefty sum to be hand-delivered an Egg McMuffin)
  • Jeanwah
    Jeanwah Posts: 6,363
    redrock wrote:
    hedonist wrote:
    "God never gives us more than we can handle."

    The friend says, "So I asked, if I were a weaker person, would my mother still be alive?"

    Can't stand that expression. I have been told that so many times (obviously by those who don't know me well!). How people who say this can think it's reassuring/encouraging/inspiring is beyond me. Someone said that to my sister in law and my two nephews about a month ago as she put her husband to rest. Then went to repeat it to my mother and father in law who had just lost their son... Pfft. :roll:

    Love the friend's answer......

    I can't stand that expression either and hear it all the time. People who say it obviously have it quite easy or are terrible at articulating empathy.
    Hugh Freaking Dillon wrote:
    My other response to that is "I guess all the people of Africa are the strongest people on the planet".

    Another good one.
  • pandora
    pandora Posts: 21,855
    hedonist wrote:
    pandora wrote:
    Be God or let God...

    letting go of insistence...
    of the attitude that says in effect that I can only be happy if life responds
    in no other way than I determine

    that is my opinion of that quote it is 'author unknown' not mine
    hmmm.

    If that was in response my earlier post, I don't think insistence even plays a part. More like an effort to understand and make sense of that which makes no sense...whether they're experiences or words.
    No that was not directed at you or anyone just a quote I really like... my belief

    everything makes sense when one looks at us as all connected...
    the big picture of here and beyond
    in my opinion

    I quote people when I direct my words only to them like you just did to me
  • pandora
    pandora Posts: 21,855
    It is from the worse in life that the strongest bonds form

    bonding and loving is what we are here for

    I believe that saying sums up the after trauma ... the human will is strong
    if you are inclined to trust in God you know you have the strength to get through anything.

    In trauma....

    "I know God will not give me anything I can't handle.
    I just wish that He didn't trust me so much."

    ~Mother Teresa
  • hedonist
    hedonist Posts: 24,524
    pandora wrote:
    It is from the worse in life that the strongest bonds form

    I believe that saying sums up the after trauma ... the human will is strong
    if you are inclined to trust in God you know you have the strength to get through anything.
    As to your first part, true - though I think some of the strongest bonds are also born from the best in life.

    The second, I could replace god with "myself" (and often do, though not in a narcissistic way :D ) - but that makes more sense to me. Trust in myself, and the strength that comes from it, and using it.
  • Hugh Freaking Dillon
    Hugh Freaking Dillon Posts: 14,010
    so when people quote the words "god's plan" and say stuff like "god wouldn't give us....", etc, does that mean that those people don't believe in free will? that everything is mapped out for us by some almighty? I've always been confused by this idea, because then none of us are responsible for our actions. Charles Manson and Jeffery Dahmer were just doing god's work. Same with Ghandi, George Bush, Hitler, Mother Teresa, etc.
    Gimli 1993
    Fargo 2003
    Winnipeg 2005
    Winnipeg 2011
    St. Paul 2014
  • redrock
    redrock Posts: 18,341
    hedonist wrote:
    As to your first part, true - though I think some of the strongest bonds are also born from the best in life.

    The second, I could replace god with "myself" (and often do, though not in a narcissistic way :D ) - but that makes more sense to me. Trust in myself, and the strength that comes from it, and using it.

    As you, I believe the strongest bonds are bornfrom the best in life, not the worse. The worse can make or break a bond. A break often seen after a trauma.

    Ah yes... the strength within.. the only one!
  • PJ_Soul
    PJ_Soul Vancouver, BC Posts: 50,673
    hedonist wrote:
    pandora wrote:
    It is from the worse in life that the strongest bonds form

    I believe that saying sums up the after trauma ... the human will is strong
    if you are inclined to trust in God you know you have the strength to get through anything.
    As to your first part, true - though I think some of the strongest bonds are also born from the best in life.

    The second, I could replace god with "myself" (and often do, though not in a narcissistic way :D ) - but that makes more sense to me. Trust in myself, and the strength that comes from it, and using it.

    Ditto. Perhaps unbeknownst to those who think God is necessary to true inner strength, empowerment, and connection with the world, those of us who don't believe in God still have this strength and connection. That's why I compared belief in God an addiction. It seems like some people don't know that everything they feel they get out of God can be had without God. It reminds me of the old "high on life" saying. It's like Atheists are the ones high on life, while believers are high on God.
    With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy. ~ Desiderata
  • hedonist
    hedonist Posts: 24,524
    PJ_Soul3388 wrote:
    It seems like some people don't know that everything they feel they get out of God can be had without God. It reminds me of the old "high on life" saying. It's like Atheists are the ones high on life, while believers are high on God.
    I like this, though I'd say can be had with OR without...both (and other paths) I respect, when walked with the same respect expected to be given.

    (hope that makes sense)

    In the end, I think it's what works best for each, and not "bestowing" one's will or beliefs on another.
  • pandora
    pandora Posts: 21,855
    hedonist wrote:
    pandora wrote:
    It is from the worse in life that the strongest bonds form

    I believe that saying sums up the after trauma ... the human will is strong
    if you are inclined to trust in God you know you have the strength to get through anything.
    As to your first part, true - though I think some of the strongest bonds are also born from the best in life.

    The second, I could replace god with "myself" (and often do, though not in a narcissistic way :D ) - but that makes more sense to me. Trust in myself, and the strength that comes from it, and using it.
    I liken it to this

    our marriage bond is very strong, I thought the strongest until my injury
    and then JB cared for me when I was bedridden and thought I would never walk again.

    Those were dark hours and the bond that came from that
    is more than we ever would have known if not that had happened.
    This is true throughout life, loss of our loved ones, tragedies, this our true growth
    and bond... when tested. Love is easy when life is easy ...
  • pandora
    pandora Posts: 21,855
    edited March 2012
    Having been an atheist I get the strength from within
    I lived my life just as this ... until the age of 40.

    What some don't realize ...
    that does not change at all ...inner strength.

    Some think this because they do not understand God and view God as a crutch
    and now addiction :lol: instead of a creator. This they believe because they must find fault
    or rationalize why God is not in their lives, why they do not choose to believe.
    These individuals think they are not needing because they are strong.
    And think others are not so they need God.This of course is incorrect.

    God is knowledge

    When actually what it is is the addition of the knowledge of God and our path
    from here to the beyond ... this brings clarity to the meaning of life and an
    understanding to why things happen as they do.... even the tragedies and terrible losses.

    It is knowing life continues, that our energy continues, that we are one with God the creator.

    It matters not our beliefs as I said we are connected whether we believe the same or not...
    it is not my mission to bestow... I'll leave that to God ;)
    Post edited by pandora on
  • hedonist
    hedonist Posts: 24,524
    pandora wrote:
    Some think this because they do not understand God and view God as a crutch
    and now addiction

    our marriage bond is very strong, I thought the strongest until my injury
    and then JB cared for me when I was bedridden and thought I would never walk again.

    Those were dark hours and the bond that came from that
    is more than we ever would have known if not that had happened.
    This is true throughout life, loss of our loved ones, tragedies, this our true growth
    and bond... when tested. Love is easy when life is easy ...
    I don't view god as a crutch, but...I do think we're all - mostly - connected. In some very cool and unexpected ways.

    I attribute it to nature. Some might call nature god, and vice versa. I could call it semantics. I could also say it's more than OK, natural in fact, to just not know.

    For what it's worth, I can empathize with the tests you and yours went through; me and mine have done some treading too.

    Glad you had all that strength around and within you, sincerely.

    I still stand by that both the tough and easy roads test us.
  • Hugh Freaking Dillon
    Hugh Freaking Dillon Posts: 14,010
    so all atheists are strong people. interesting.
    Gimli 1993
    Fargo 2003
    Winnipeg 2005
    Winnipeg 2011
    St. Paul 2014
  • Hugh Freaking Dillon
    Hugh Freaking Dillon Posts: 14,010
    and by the way, this: "They are not needing because they are strong.Others are not so they need God." is the very definition of a crutch. stating that you need something as a result of a weakness is called a crutch.
    Gimli 1993
    Fargo 2003
    Winnipeg 2005
    Winnipeg 2011
    St. Paul 2014
  • PJ_Soul
    PJ_Soul Vancouver, BC Posts: 50,673
    Hugh Freaking Dillon wrote:
    so all atheists are strong people. interesting.

    Nobody said that.
    With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy. ~ Desiderata
  • Hugh Freaking Dillon
    Hugh Freaking Dillon Posts: 14,010
    PJ_Soul3388 wrote:
    Hugh Freaking Dillon wrote:
    so all atheists are strong people. interesting.

    Nobody said that.

    hey, it wasn't a claim I agree with. I think the idea is preposterous. but she said it:
    Pandora wrote:
    They are not needing because they are strong.
    Gimli 1993
    Fargo 2003
    Winnipeg 2005
    Winnipeg 2011
    St. Paul 2014
  • PJ_Soul
    PJ_Soul Vancouver, BC Posts: 50,673
    Hugh Freaking Dillon wrote:
    PJ_Soul3388 wrote:
    Hugh Freaking Dillon wrote:
    so all atheists are strong people. interesting.

    Nobody said that.

    hey, it wasn't a claim I agree with. I think the idea is preposterous. but she said it:
    Pandora wrote:
    They are not needing because they are strong.

    Heh. I think in the end I am not needing because believing in something i find totally illogical and nonsensical the opposite of helpful in getting through life. :)
    With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy. ~ Desiderata
  • pandora
    pandora Posts: 21,855
    PJ_Soul3388 wrote:
    Hugh Freaking Dillon wrote:
    PJ_Soul3388 wrote:
    Nobody said that.

    hey, it wasn't a claim I agree with. I think the idea is preposterous. but she said it:
    Pandora wrote:
    They are not needing because they are strong.

    Heh. I think in the end I am not needing because believing in something i find totally illogical and nonsensical the opposite of helpful in getting through life. :)
    Actually I said we are all strong, with or without God! Human will :D
    (I edited to hopefully make it clearer.)

    And for me my life experiences ... 56 years now and counting
    my knowledge and understanding, the world around, the evidence, my heart,
    comes the common sense that of course God is with us, that we have
    a path and we continue.

    This tells me, I got it right for me! :D
  • USARAY
    USARAY Posts: 517
    “The outer conditions of a person's life will be found to reflect their inner beliefs”
    James Allen

    that's a truism
  • Cosmo
    Cosmo Posts: 12,225
    Tritone wrote:
    “The outer conditions of a person's life will be found to reflect their inner beliefs”
    James Allen

    that's a truism
    ...
    Pretty much says it all.
    ...
    Plus... I just wanted to be the 1,000th message in this thread.
    Allen Fieldhouse, home of the 2008 NCAA men's Basketball Champions! Go Jayhawks!
    Hail, Hail!!!

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