Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth." Ecclesiastes 7:4

in other words, crying is better than laughing?

Not that they're needed, but in other words, there is more wisdom to be gained in difficult times than in easy ones. The PP above who said it's "sick" that God allows tragedies to help us grow is kidding himself. We all know that we gain in understanding, compassion, empathy, etc., by having to go through difficult times.

Sure, but there are lots of ways to grow that don't require suffering, financial reversal and even death -- yours or a loved one's. Also, people can learn from good things happening, too and even from stories of other people's travails.

This all sounds very glib to me. Yay, I read about how to be a better person and then it happened. Yay, I got a promotion and that made me a better person. And what’s that about learning from others’ travails, as if the bad things should happen to your friends but not to you?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For Catholics (and thinking Christians), see discussion in Amoris Laetitia.

Catholics are Christians.

Yes I know that. What I meant was that open minded (non catholic) Christians willing to consult a catholic source might find it productive/helpful.

Sorry for confusion.

Anonymous wrote:For Catholics (and thinking Christians), see discussion in Amoris Laetitia.

Catholics are Christians.

For Catholics (and thinking Christians), see discussion in Amoris Laetitia.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth." Ecclesiastes 7:4

in other words, crying is better than laughing?

Not that they're needed, but in other words, there is more wisdom to be gained in difficult times than in easy ones. The PP above who said it's "sick" that God allows tragedies to help us grow is kidding himself. We all know that we gain in understanding, compassion, empathy, etc., by having to go through difficult times.

Sure, but there are lots of ways to grow that don't require suffering, financial reversal and even death -- yours or a loved one's. Also, people can learn from good things happening, too and even from stories of other people's travails.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth." Ecclesiastes 7:4

in other words, crying is better than laughing?

Not that they're needed, but in other words, there is more wisdom to be gained in difficult times than in easy ones. The PP above who said it's "sick" that God allows tragedies to help us grow is kidding himself. We all know that we gain in understanding, compassion, empathy, etc., by having to go through difficult times.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've been thinking about the existence of God and whether there is a plan for each of us ever since my friend's sweet little three-year-old boy was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer with a poor prognosis. Why do some people have to suffer so much more than others? Why do some people seemingly live a charmed life with very few problems and others must endure trial after trial? Is there a form of life after death? What is the purpose of this life? I would love to hear more of other people's thoughts regarding this topic.

Lots of people have lots of thoughts on this subject, but that doesn't mean any of them are right. Lots of people are taught to believe there is a god who has a plan for everyone, but that doesn't mean it's true. It's just stuff people like to think about or believe.

I agree. So if 250 people die in a plane crash, it was the plan for each them to be on that aircraft and lose their life?

If so, God was working overtime, coordinating all that, with some people making plans at the last minute, others making reservations far in advance. some traveling with family members who also die, others alone or with business colleagues. Some going on a long planned vacation, others headed to a funeral or on a boring business trip they tried to get out of.

Here's a link https://www.thewrap.com/snl-will-ferrell-plays-nihilistic-flight-attendant-video/ to a skit done on last Saturday's SNL with Will Farrell, rapping an airplane safety message.

Some of the lines: “Be sure to stay seated or you’ll bump your head,” “And God’s not real, when you die you’re dead”