Vent—I hate it when people give God credit for modern medicine

[Anonymous]

Oh don't even get me started on the "God gives his toughest battles to his strongest soldiers". When my family was going through a traumatic event soooo many fellow church goers would say this phrase. I was a teenager and remember thinking what a messed up saying it was. I'm pretty sure that was the start of what made me really start questioning my faith.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Agree Op. God has zero to do with it but living in a country with skilled medical care dies. If God were really helping why are so many African children starving to death?

They don't pray hard enough. Duh.

[Anonymous]

I'm a Christian and it bothers me, too. Christians do recognize that "every good and perfect gift comes from God" (Epistle of James). But Jesus also said that God sends the sun to shine and the rain to fall on both the righteous and the unrighteous.

Recently, I was visiting my sister and went to church with her. A friend of hers said something complimentary about my family, and I responded that I was "very lucky". She corrected me, saying that I was "blessed" to which I said nothing.

Christ himself uses the language of "chance" in the parable of the Good Samaritan: "Now by chance a priest was going down that road...", with "chance" having its ordinary meaning; that is, "for no reason apparent to us".

I agree that singling oneself out as extraordinarily blessed is usually the worst kind of humblebrag.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When I was a church goer I hated it when people said god chose these children for us, or these children chose us because of our belief etc. Meanwhile, people struggling with infertility are receiving the message that children would rather live with a meth head or in a war zone than with them.

I can’t imagine what those poor women were feeling hearing that kind of crap. Awful.

[Anonymous]

I was in church years ago when someone, during the public prayer time, thanked God for something that was completely science-based, which I knew all about because of what I was working on at the time.

I prayed publicly too, thanking all the scientists, etc, etc, and after church lots of people came up and thanked me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When I was a church goer I hated it when people said god chose these children for us, or these children chose us because of our belief etc. Meanwhile, people struggling with infertility are receiving the message that children would rather live with a meth head or in a war zone than with them.

I can’t imagine what those poor women were feeling hearing that kind of crap. Awful.

My sister got similar messages when she adopted her baby. That God chose that baby for her and she was meant to be with her and stuff along those lines. And these women also knew my sister had a stillbirth and as a result couldn't have children anymore. She got what they were going for, but it was this weird "your first baby died because God had this baby planned for you" sentiment.

[Anonymous]

God gave them a brain and opportunities and resources so modern medicine happened.

1 million+ Americans died of COVID despite having modern medicine because God said "Let Karma get America".

[Anonymous]

This is one of my biggest pet peeves. I hear you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When I was a church goer I hated it when people said god chose these children for us, or these children chose us because of our belief etc. Meanwhile, people struggling with infertility are receiving the message that children would rather live with a meth head or in a war zone than with them.

Logical thinking at its best right? I can only surmise that most Christians don’t really ever think about that aspect? I don’t know how they can stand it if they did actually think about it. Arrogant and mildly narcissistic and hugely selfish

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a Christian and it bothers me, too. Christians do recognize that "every good and perfect gift comes from God" (Epistle of James). But Jesus also said that God sends the sun to shine and the rain to fall on both the righteous and the unrighteous.

Recently, I was visiting my sister and went to church with her. A friend of hers said something complimentary about my family, and I responded that I was "very lucky". She corrected me, saying that I was "blessed" to which I said nothing.

Christ himself uses the language of "chance" in the parable of the Good Samaritan: "Now by chance a priest was going down that road...", with "chance" having its ordinary meaning; that is, "for no reason apparent to us".

I agree that singling oneself out as extraordinarily blessed is usually the worst kind of humblebrag.

As an atheist I appreciate it when a religious believer reflects on things like this. I do have a question though. You said that “every gift comes from god”. Do you actually believe he’s up there making things go one way or another? By the way I do know people that think that and it’s extraordinarily insane to me

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a Christian and it bothers me, too. Christians do recognize that "every good and perfect gift comes from God" (Epistle of James). But Jesus also said that God sends the sun to shine and the rain to fall on both the righteous and the unrighteous.

Recently, I was visiting my sister and went to church with her. A friend of hers said something complimentary about my family, and I responded that I was "very lucky". She corrected me, saying that I was "blessed" to which I said nothing.

Christ himself uses the language of "chance" in the parable of the Good Samaritan: "Now by chance a priest was going down that road...", with "chance" having its ordinary meaning; that is, "for no reason apparent to us".

I agree that singling oneself out as extraordinarily blessed is usually the worst kind of humblebrag.

As an atheist I appreciate it when a religious believer reflects on things like this. I do have a question though. You said that “every gift comes from god”. Do you actually believe he’s up there making things go one way or another? By the way I do know people that think that and it’s extraordinarily insane to me

PP. Yes, I do. That doesn't mean I think there is some kind of slam-dunk explanation for the problem of evil. But the traditional Christian belief is that God is sovereign over all things that come to pass.

When I was an atheist, it seemed insane to me, too. Now it seems insane that it wouldn't be true. Such is the nature of the thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a Christian and it bothers me, too. Christians do recognize that "every good and perfect gift comes from God" (Epistle of James). But Jesus also said that God sends the sun to shine and the rain to fall on both the righteous and the unrighteous.

Recently, I was visiting my sister and went to church with her. A friend of hers said something complimentary about my family, and I responded that I was "very lucky". She corrected me, saying that I was "blessed" to which I said nothing.

Christ himself uses the language of "chance" in the parable of the Good Samaritan: "Now by chance a priest was going down that road...", with "chance" having its ordinary meaning; that is, "for no reason apparent to us".

I agree that singling oneself out as extraordinarily blessed is usually the worst kind of humblebrag.

As an atheist I appreciate it when a religious believer reflects on things like this. I do have a question though. You said that “every gift comes from god”. Do you actually believe he’s up there making things go one way or another? By the way I do know people that think that and it’s extraordinarily insane to me

PP. Yes, I do. That doesn't mean I think there is some kind of slam-dunk explanation for the problem of evil. But the traditional Christian belief is that God is sovereign over all things that come to pass.

When I was an atheist, it seemed insane to me, too. Now it seems insane that it wouldn't be true. Such is the nature of the thing.

Thanks for answering . But wow. So you think, for example, a 5 year old girl getting raped is “God’s sovereignty”? Just curious how you square that circle.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a Christian and it bothers me, too. Christians do recognize that "every good and perfect gift comes from God" (Epistle of James). But Jesus also said that God sends the sun to shine and the rain to fall on both the righteous and the unrighteous.

Recently, I was visiting my sister and went to church with her. A friend of hers said something complimentary about my family, and I responded that I was "very lucky". She corrected me, saying that I was "blessed" to which I said nothing.

Christ himself uses the language of "chance" in the parable of the Good Samaritan: "Now by chance a priest was going down that road...", with "chance" having its ordinary meaning; that is, "for no reason apparent to us".

I agree that singling oneself out as extraordinarily blessed is usually the worst kind of humblebrag.

As an atheist I appreciate it when a religious believer reflects on things like this. I do have a question though. You said that “every gift comes from god”. Do you actually believe he’s up there making things go one way or another? By the way I do know people that think that and it’s extraordinarily insane to me

PP. Yes, I do. That doesn't mean I think there is some kind of slam-dunk explanation for the problem of evil. But the traditional Christian belief is that God is sovereign over all things that come to pass.

When I was an atheist, it seemed insane to me, too. Now it seems insane that it wouldn't be true. Such is the nature of the thing.

If a priest rapes an alter boy, God had sovereignty over that? Or, the sadistic torture and murder of a nun in a non-christian country?

If that's your god, I'm glad I don't believe in those myths.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a Christian and it bothers me, too. Christians do recognize that "every good and perfect gift comes from God" (Epistle of James). But Jesus also said that God sends the sun to shine and the rain to fall on both the righteous and the unrighteous.

Recently, I was visiting my sister and went to church with her. A friend of hers said something complimentary about my family, and I responded that I was "very lucky". She corrected me, saying that I was "blessed" to which I said nothing.

Christ himself uses the language of "chance" in the parable of the Good Samaritan: "Now by chance a priest was going down that road...", with "chance" having its ordinary meaning; that is, "for no reason apparent to us".

I agree that singling oneself out as extraordinarily blessed is usually the worst kind of humblebrag.

As an atheist I appreciate it when a religious believer reflects on things like this. I do have a question though. You said that “every gift comes from god”. Do you actually believe he’s up there making things go one way or another? By the way I do know people that think that and it’s extraordinarily insane to me

PP. Yes, I do. That doesn't mean I think there is some kind of slam-dunk explanation for the problem of evil. But the traditional Christian belief is that God is sovereign over all things that come to pass.

When I was an atheist, it seemed insane to me, too. Now it seems insane that it wouldn't be true. Such is the nature of the thing.

Thanks for answering . But wow. So you think, for example, a 5 year old girl getting raped is “God’s sovereignty”? Just curious how you square that circle.

We agree that it is evil. And I do not think it is the action of God. For instance, in Job we see all kind of evil things done by Satan to Job. Those things were not acts of God; they were acts of Satan. But they were indeed all performed under the sovereignty of God, with Satan having to seek God's permission to afflict Job. God could have stopped Satan.

As I said, I don't have an answer or explanation for the problem of evil. Some Christians try to use "free will" as the scapegoat or reason that evil "must" exist. But I don't think God's hands are so tied that he is beholden to some concept of "free will" that exists outside and above Himself.

So, as Job said, "Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a Christian and it bothers me, too. Christians do recognize that "every good and perfect gift comes from God" (Epistle of James). But Jesus also said that God sends the sun to shine and the rain to fall on both the righteous and the unrighteous.

Recently, I was visiting my sister and went to church with her. A friend of hers said something complimentary about my family, and I responded that I was "very lucky". She corrected me, saying that I was "blessed" to which I said nothing.

Christ himself uses the language of "chance" in the parable of the Good Samaritan: "Now by chance a priest was going down that road...", with "chance" having its ordinary meaning; that is, "for no reason apparent to us".

I agree that singling oneself out as extraordinarily blessed is usually the worst kind of humblebrag.

As an atheist I appreciate it when a religious believer reflects on things like this. I do have a question though. You said that “every gift comes from god”. Do you actually believe he’s up there making things go one way or another? By the way I do know people that think that and it’s extraordinarily insane to me

PP. Yes, I do. That doesn't mean I think there is some kind of slam-dunk explanation for the problem of evil. But the traditional Christian belief is that God is sovereign over all things that come to pass.

When I was an atheist, it seemed insane to me, too. Now it seems insane that it wouldn't be true. Such is the nature of the thing.

Thanks for answering . But wow. So you think, for example, a 5 year old girl getting raped is “God’s sovereignty”? Just curious how you square that circle.

We agree that it is evil. And I do not think it is the action of God. For instance, in Job we see all kind of evil things done by Satan to Job. Those things were not acts of God; they were acts of Satan. But they were indeed all performed under the sovereignty of God, with Satan having to seek God's permission to afflict Job. God could have stopped Satan.

As I said, I don't have an answer or explanation for the problem of evil. Some Christians try to use "free will" as the scapegoat or reason that evil "must" exist. But I don't think God's hands are so tied that he is beholden to some concept of "free will" that exists outside and above Himself.

So, as Job said, "Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him."

TLDR summary, God allowed it happen.