Does God intercede

[Miss tery]

in human affairs? And if so to what degree?

[WilliamJ]

in human affairs? And if so to what degree?
he can and might and i'm sure has. why would you think he couldn't or wouldn't?

[Miss tery]

Just wondering how much His Hand is on the mouse pad.

[VOR]

Just wondering how much His Hand is on the mouse pad.


AHHHHH but how do you not know it's not his finger on your G-spot?

[Miss tery]

Dolt. Please do not siderail the issue.

[vpkozel]

He could and it is possible that He has. But in general, I believe that He does not.

He wants us to suceed or fail based on OUR merits. It is a lot like a parent and a child, IMO.

I get more pleasure out of helping my child and watching him grow, than I would out of just doing it myself.

[Honeygirl]

No, I don't believe he does. Not on a day-to-day basis. I personally believe in each of us having a spiritual mentor/guide - who assists us keeping track of the reasons why we are living this particular life. I believe that if serious enough, they would intervene (as would God).

[voyer]

God helps those who help themselves. or so my father always used to say.

i believe He is there but it is up to us to make the right choices. humans mess up all the time there is no way He could possibly be there to fix all of our mistakes.

He is our not our guardian nor is He responsible for all the wrongs we commit.

[VOR]

Dolt. Please do not siderail the issue.

Just as I thought an athiest everywhere but in the bedroom.

[voyer]

Just as I thought an athiest everywhere but in the bedroom.


'Oh God Yes!'


what does an athiest yell out during orgasm?

(oh Vor, Yes?)

[hasbeen99]

in human affairs? And if so to what degree?

Historically, I think He's 'reserved the right' to intercede, but as a general rule I think He lets us inmates run the assylum. :)

[Miss tery]

Howcum it's a "he" and not an "it"?

[Village Idiot]

Just wondering how much His Hand is on the mouse pad.I love this thought.......One can only guess, but I do believe that He does step in, in some way, some how, either through His word, His Holy Spirit or through Jesus. Not all the time, but through His chosing, that is my belief. He answers the prayers of the faithful. It may not be the answer that we want to hear each time either. It may not be at the snap of a finger like we would sometimes wish. Many have questioned "why" or "why not" about many events, great and small, down through time. We may find out the true answer in Heaven, maybe not. It's up to God to decide that. Its all about His will, not ours.

[Hyme Lipshitz]

I always wonder how preachers and faith healers can say God heals people who are sick with cancer ect,, they put hands on,, healing oils,, prayer circles,,ect,, but you never ever see an amputee healed ,, ever,, why is it God can heal cancer, fix limps and cure anything the eye can't see?,, the healing revivals and churches are full of crutches and canes just like Lourdes(which has hundreds of crutches and canes lined up to show how God healed the crippled) but no where to be found are artificial arms, legs or eyeballs,, ever heard of in history of God healing a terribly burned victum to look normal again?,, but these wacko healers will tell you God even cures headaches but can't or won't grow another limb or eyeball for someone?,,, I agree with most on here God sets up the laws of nature and sits back and sees how we cope with the life given,, if he was going to heal people he would have kept the Nazis from killing 6 million jews,, JMHO,,,,,

[hasbeen99]

Howcum it's a "he" and not an "it"?

Probably because of His role more than His being. He is always portrayed as the father figure of mankind. Most religions I've seen that acknowledge a mother figure usually associate her with nature (i.e. Wicca, some forms of ancient paganism, etc.).

[hasbeen99]

I always wonder how preachers and faith healers can say God heals people who are sick with cancer ect,, they put hands on,, healing oils,, prayer circles,,ect,, but you never ever see an amputee healed ,, ever,, why is it God can heal cancer, fix limps and cure anything the eye can't see?

That's a good question. I wish we could see more of that kind of thing. The Bible talks about it all the time, especially with Jesus. He cured physical disfigurements and horrible diseases that were very visable, like leprosy. Why we don't see that in modern history, I have no idea. But just because we don't see it on CNN or Fox news doesn't mean it's not happening somewhere.


I agree with most on here God sets up the laws of nature and sits back and sees how we cope with the life given,, if he was going to heal people he would have kept the Nazis from killing 6 million jews,, JMHO,,,,,

Interesting point. The only thing I would counter that with would be purpose in the pain, because that principle could be applied a lot wider than the Jewish Holocaust.

[LadyJane]

The only thing I would counter that with would be purpose in the pain, because that principle could be applied a lot wider than the Jewish Holocaust.

Could you explain this to me please, HB--specifically "purpose in the pain"?

[vpkozel]

Could you explain this to me please, HB--specifically "purpose in the pain"?

I know you didn't ask me, but let's be honest, when did that ever stop me before....

To me, what this means is that the suffering was allowed to happen because it would lead to a bigger benefit for mankind overall. Think of it as radical surgery or amputation. No one willingly signs up for that - but when the other option is death or suffering, then it becomes more palatable.

So, in this case - maybe God felt that the continued suffering that the Jews had been under for the previous 1000 years or so, maybe the fact that He wanted them to have Israel again, or His deisre to to finally let man see how horrible we could be was worth those 6 million Jewish lives (10 million overall).

[hasbeen99]

VP summed it up well. Basically, God allows things to happen to people when He can bring a greater good out of it, either for that person, for other people, or both.

In the question of the holocaust, perhaps God knew it would take 6 million Jewish lives to 'buy' enough outrage worldwide to motivate the nations to obliterate Nazism. That's oversimplifying it, but that's the general idea.

[spud]

That's a good question. I wish we could see more of that kind of thing. The Bible talks about it all the time, especially with Jesus. He cured physical disfigurements and horrible diseases that were very visable, like leprosy. Why we don't see that in modern history, I have no idea. But just because we don't see it on CNN or Fox news doesn't mean it's not happening somewhere.


:applause:
I have heard of such healings, but indirectly.

[Miss tery]

I had a nasty zit that cleared up pretty quickly last week.

[hasbeen99]

I had a nasty zit that cleared up pretty quickly last week.

Did you offer thanks to Clearasil?

[VOR]

I had a nasty zit that cleared up pretty quickly last week.

And whose name did you scream while engaging in the actvity which cleared your skin? hmmmmmmmm. coincidence; I think not.

[muff_spelunker]

I've mostly heard of him interceding when things go well. When something bad happens, people usually question why he didn't intercede.

My mother was getting ready to wash dishes at my grandmother's house one day, took her watch off and placed it on the windowsill above the sink. She forgot to pick it up when she was done and left without it. A couple of weeks later, she noticed her watch on my aunt's wrist. She mentioned it and my aunt told my mother that her watch had broken and she thought God had provided her with a new one. :rolleyes: Since my aunt is a devote Christian zealot, this is proof that God intercedes.

It's also proof that religion replaces brains.

[Miss tery]

And whose name did you scream while engaging in the actvity which cleared your skin? hmmmmmmmm. coincidence; I think not.
All my clever responses would be considered too offensive for this venue. Ask me somewhere else.

[Hurricane]

I think yall are thinking too hard about this....going too deep.

You have to look at the little, simple everyday things that happen to you and THEN ask yourself this question.

[VOR]

All my clever responses would be considered too offensive for this venue. Ask me somewhere else.

awww gee wish I could reach out and tweak your cheek now.

[ECILAM]

You have a little girl who is the light and sunshine of your world. Smart and beautiful, she is full of life and loved by all. Your heart swells with love each night as you watch her say her bedtime prayers. You thank God for the blessing of her in your life every night yourself.

Your daughter vanishes one Saturday without a trace. After calling the police comes days of anguish and tears. The family pulls together in fervent prayer, supported by the local churches. An Amber Alert is issued, drawing media attention. But amongst all the commotion, your only wish is to hold your little girl safe in your arms again.

A) The phone rings in the wee hours one morning. Your daughter is in the hospital, tired and scared, but OK. She wandered away into some local woods and got lost. An elderly couple spotted her near a highway and called the police.

You and your family weep with joy, praising God and comforting your daughter as best you can. When she is well there is a great celebration at church, where you deliver your witness of faith in God's love even in times of trial.

B) The phone rings in the wee hours one morning. The police have found the mutilated body of a murdered child near a set of railroad tracks. The body is that of your daughter. The killer was a sexual predator, and unfortunately there are no suspects or leads at this time.

Time loses meaning. The world seems to be crumbling at the seams, as consoling faces pass before you with words of condolence. Your religious leader visits you at your home, citing Bible verses pertaining to the "mysterious ways" of God's Will.
---------

Bible passages such as Psalm 91 promise us -- in no uncertain terms -- a fairy God-father who protects the good and punishes the wicked. Then we have the lessons of Christ that list all manner of reasons why our prayers aren't answered. In other words, we can't expect God to be there all the time.

It seems to me that the doctrine of the Bible is designed to explain away the unexplainable while expecting us to go along with it. Inconsistencies like these are among the several reasons I cancelled my subscription.

[Rob]

In other words, we can't expect God to be there all the time.



Sure we can. I view life from an eternal perspective. What percentage of eternity does out entire life here on earth represent? You would say 100%. I would say its too small to measure. That makes all the difference.

Just because I am not always there to prevent pain in my childs life doesn't mean I love him any less. Even if I could I shouldn't because he has to learn how to deal with it eventually.

[VOR]

Sure we can. I view life from an eternal perspective. What percentage of eternity does out entire life here on earth represent? You would say 100%. I would say its too small to measure. That makes all the difference.

Just because I am not always there to prevent pain in my childs life doesn't mean I love him any less. Even if I could I shouldn't because he has to learn how to deal with it eventually.

Where is there any relevence in this debate. It is faith pure and simple, there is no rational. Those who attempt to infuse a rationale probably ultimately just don't get it. Trying to use the bible in an attempt to infuse a rational is laughable. Read the stories, look at your existance, carry on. your life is your life, how your choose to deal with it is entirely up to you. If you don't have faith well you don't, if you accept the judo/christian philisophy then you do. Comtemplating the number of angels that can be located on the head of a pin is ultimately a stupid activity. As is attempting to be a pharasee while professing not to be one. Perhaps it is more worthwhile to study John Lennon than the bible.

[spud]

I think yall are thinking too hard about this....going too deep.

You have to look at the little, simple everyday things that happen to you and THEN ask yourself this question.

Your right, He intercedes in my life, but He's my Father and I've asked him to.
I think that while God controls all things, Satan is running wild on the earth and right now it's his domain.

[hasbeen99]

Bible passages such as Psalm 91 promise us -- in no uncertain terms -- a fairy God-father who protects the good and punishes the wicked. Then we have the lessons of Christ that list all manner of reasons why our prayers aren't answered. In other words, we can't expect God to be there all the time.

It seems to me that the doctrine of the Bible is designed to explain away the unexplainable while expecting us to go along with it. Inconsistencies like these are among the several reasons I cancelled my subscription.

Seeming contradictions like that confused me for a long time. But what I learned is that God is much more concerned with the state of our eternal souls than He is our physical bodies. And the way I understand promises made like that is that they apply to the eternal, not the temporal. If you try to apply Psalm 91, for example, to our physical being it looks like a bad joke. Heck, even David (who wrote it) spent much of his adult life running from people trying to kill him. And Jesus said flat out, with no uncertainty, that we're going to get hammered in this life.

One of the consistencies between the God's interaction with man in the Old Testament and Jesus' interaction with man in the New Testament is that both are primarily focused on the eternal. Everyday practical living is second, and most all of the promises God has made are rooted in the eternal. It's a different perspective, one that does not come naturally.

[hasbeen99]

From a Christian's point of view, I came up with this answer to the original question:

Imagine the worst-case scenario for daily life. Now imagine it on a global scale. The difference between that picture and what we have right now is the measure of God's influence. Again, from a Christian perspective. :)

[ECILAM]

Just because I am not always there to prevent pain in my childs life doesn't mean I love him any less. Even if I could I shouldn't because he has to learn how to deal with it eventually.

You got that right.

[spud]

From a Christian's point of view, I came up with this answer to the original question:

Imagine the worst-case scenario for daily life. Now imagine it on a global scale. The difference between that picture and what we have right now is the measure of God's influence. Again, from a Christian perspective. :)



:applause:

[Miss tery]

From a Christian's point of view, I came up with this answer to the original question:

Imagine the worst-case scenario for daily life. Now imagine it on a global scale. The difference between that picture and what we have right now is the measure of God's influence. Again, from a Christian perspective. :)
I appreciate your honesty in labeling your religion. There are a lot of them on our planet.

[Miss tery]

Did God kill Dale Earnhardt?

[vpkozel]

Did God kill Dale Earnhardt?

By asking that question I think that it is quite obvious that you have invested neither the time nor effort to read and reflect on what people took the time to write in this thread.

[hasbeen99]

Did God kill Dale Earnhardt?

No, the accident killed him. Did God allow it to happen? Yes, He did.

[VOR]

tonite there were 25 people prayin like mad that we weren't gonna have to hand in protfolios. Indeed the hand of God did soften the heart of the crusty old sage we have a weeks reprieve.

[Miss tery]

Iraq prisoners?

[hasbeen99]

Iraq prisoners?

What about them?