Anonymous wrote:We know a family who recently had a child die of cancer. The kid went from healthy and happy to dead at 16 in 11 months. It was vicious and horrible and involved all kinds of anguish and suffering. The child's mother created a Caring Bridge site and she detailed the abominable suffering her child had gone through the night before. Some fool commented on the description by saying "God doesn't give anyone more than they can handle". It was a prime example of how trite religious sayings spew forth from well intentioned people yet have awful consequences. I just can't imagine being a big enough jackass to dare say something like that. It was completely emotionally tone deaf to a frightening degree.
A merciful God wouldn't do that to a child. He also wouldn't let kids starve or anyone get ALS or whatever.

So, the alternative is to believe that the child's suffering was random and pointless. Is that better? But I agree the message was awful.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The flip side is, what do atheist believe about such suffering? If you don't believe in God, then it is all just random and meaningless.

This is incorrect. Very much so. When you understand that we only have evidence for natural forces, and that we have learned so much but still have so much more to learn, you accept that whether it is cancer or black holes the universe does not behave in a way that is optimal for humans. Exactly the opposite of intelligent design.

In fact, people of faith like to use the human eye's complexity as their "evidence" of design, when in fact only natural methods could have developed something that works so damned poorly!

For people who are deeply affected by suffering (and not everyone is), they either end up religious or they become depressed.

This is also completely incorrect, is pretty offensive, and you just made this up. Accepting the realities of existence is much more liberating than believing in some deity and wondering why they choose to inflict pain and suffering.

Right, so it is all just random and meaningless. The universe is going to do what it is going to do. You are a speck and worthless. Feel better?

If you feel liberated, great for you. But know that religious people don't believe in a god that inflicts pain and suffering for the sake of it. That is what atheists believe, the straw man they made up.

Hahaha. How can you say atheists have come up with a straw man? EVery organized religion is the embodiment of a logical fallacy, that's why religious beliefs are faith based- there is no evidence at all behind them. Facing the possibility of a finite existence that just ends is not fun, but that doesn't mean you throw money and accolades at a branded belief system. I have never met a Christian who, when facing death, says "Well, it was a good run and now I get to go to heaven". If anyone REALLY believed that, they would not be afraid to die. It's better to use your head and come to terms with life and enjoy it for me. If it ends and that's it, so be it. If it continues- BONUS. BUT, I am not going to sell out intellectually because some goon in a get up is taking my money and telling me how to live on the basis of being rewarded after I croak.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The flip side is, what do atheist believe about such suffering? If you don't believe in God, then it is all just random and meaningless.

This is incorrect. Very much so. When you understand that we only have evidence for natural forces, and that we have learned so much but still have so much more to learn, you accept that whether it is cancer or black holes the universe does not behave in a way that is optimal for humans. Exactly the opposite of intelligent design.

In fact, people of faith like to use the human eye's complexity as their "evidence" of design, when in fact only natural methods could have developed something that works so damned poorly!

For people who are deeply affected by suffering (and not everyone is), they either end up religious or they become depressed.

This is also completely incorrect, is pretty offensive, and you just made this up. Accepting the realities of existence is much more liberating than believing in some deity and wondering why they choose to inflict pain and suffering.

Right, so it is all just random and meaningless. The universe is going to do what it is going to do. You are a speck and worthless. Feel better?

If you feel liberated, great for you. But know that religious people don't believe in a god that inflicts pain and suffering for the sake of it. That is what atheists believe, the straw man they made up.

This is true whether you believe in god or not. The universe is still going to keep doing what it's doing. You are still a speck. Idk if I'd say anyone is worthless, but I like to think we can all contribute something to society during our time. Personally I believe science is a much larger contribution than religion, but a contribution none the less.

Anonymous wrote:The flip side is, what do atheist believe about such suffering? If you don't believe in God, then it is all just random and meaningless. For people who are deeply affected by suffering (and not everyone is), they either end up religious or they become depressed.

Hardly. You really think there are only two options, and the only other option besides depression is to find religion? You are so out of touch.

My childhood pastor told us that the bad things that happen to children was God's way of weeding out the bad seeds.

And what was even crazier to me is that parents in the congregation who'd lost children to terrible childhood diseases were all there nodding and saying amen.

I was 16 at the time and that was when I really started questioning religion and God. I started doing tons of reading and research on different religions over the next 10 years.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We know a family who recently had a child die of cancer. The kid went from healthy and happy to dead at 16 in 11 months. It was vicious and horrible and involved all kinds of anguish and suffering. The child's mother created a Caring Bridge site and she detailed the abominable suffering her child had gone through the night before. Some fool commented on the description by saying "God doesn't give anyone more than they can handle". It was a prime example of how trite religious sayings spew forth from well intentioned people yet have awful consequences. I just can't imagine being a big enough jackass to dare say something like that. It was completely emotionally tone deaf to a frightening degree.
A merciful God wouldn't do that to a child. He also wouldn't let kids starve or anyone get ALS or whatever.

I agree trite responses like that are awful. But with he rest is your post you again you demonstrate that you don’t know and aren’t interesting in understanding the religious perspective.

You act as though there is something mystical. You are right, I don't understand it. I don't understand the point of letting that happen to a child. Or to allow Ted Bundy to do what he did. You can give me all the standard sayings and it won't work. When I was very young I got kicked out of Sunday school because I disagreed with my priest about the Book of Job. He was trying to say it was evidence of a just God. I thought then and think now that it was a horrible thing to do, and that if God did that he was mean. Also, the devil wouldn't bet with God because he would know God is all knowing and can't lose a bet.
I don't have an issue with whatever you believe. If it works for you and yours awesome. I actually wish I did believe, but I dont

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We know a family who recently had a child die of cancer. The kid went from healthy and happy to dead at 16 in 11 months. It was vicious and horrible and involved all kinds of anguish and suffering. The child's mother created a Caring Bridge site and she detailed the abominable suffering her child had gone through the night before. Some fool commented on the description by saying "God doesn't give anyone more than they can handle". It was a prime example of how trite religious sayings spew forth from well intentioned people yet have awful consequences. I just can't imagine being a big enough jackass to dare say something like that. It was completely emotionally tone deaf to a frightening degree.
A merciful God wouldn't do that to a child. He also wouldn't let kids starve or anyone get ALS or whatever.

I agree trite responses like that are awful. But with he rest is your post you again you demonstrate that you don’t know and aren’t interesting in understanding the religious perspective.

DP - Please don’t ignore the possibility that the position you have put forth is both understood and rejected as illogical

Anonymous wrote:We know a family who recently had a child die of cancer. The kid went from healthy and happy to dead at 16 in 11 months. It was vicious and horrible and involved all kinds of anguish and suffering. The child's mother created a Caring Bridge site and she detailed the abominable suffering her child had gone through the night before. Some fool commented on the description by saying "God doesn't give anyone more than they can handle". It was a prime example of how trite religious sayings spew forth from well intentioned people yet have awful consequences. I just can't imagine being a big enough jackass to dare say something like that. It was completely emotionally tone deaf to a frightening degree.
A merciful God wouldn't do that to a child. He also wouldn't let kids starve or anyone get ALS or whatever.

I agree trite responses like that are awful. But with he rest is your post you again you demonstrate that you don’t know and aren’t interesting in understanding the religious perspective.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So is OP also the absolutely batshit paranoid poster in the Website Feedback thread?

Apparently. “Paranoid” doesn’t begin to describe it, “massively confused” and “very ignorant about IT and social media basics” are also necessary. It’s an amusing thread if you have a chance to read it.

PS, look for the Website Feedback thread called “People going off topic within minutes.”

We know a family who recently had a child die of cancer. The kid went from healthy and happy to dead at 16 in 11 months. It was vicious and horrible and involved all kinds of anguish and suffering. The child's mother created a Caring Bridge site and she detailed the abominable suffering her child had gone through the night before. Some fool commented on the description by saying "God doesn't give anyone more than they can handle". It was a prime example of how trite religious sayings spew forth from well intentioned people yet have awful consequences. I just can't imagine being a big enough jackass to dare say something like that. It was completely emotionally tone deaf to a frightening degree.
A merciful God wouldn't do that to a child. He also wouldn't let kids starve or anyone get ALS or whatever.

Anonymous wrote:So is OP also the absolutely batshit paranoid poster in the Website Feedback thread?

Apparently. “Paranoid” doesn’t begin to describe it, “massively confused” and “very ignorant about IT and social media basics” are also necessary. It’s an amusing thread if you have a chance to read it.

We know a family who recently had a child die of cancer. The kid went from healthy and happy to dead at 16 in 11 months. It was vicious and horrible and involved all kinds of anguish and suffering. The child's mother created a Caring Bridge site and she detailed the abominable suffering her child had gone through the night before. Some fool commented on the description by saying "God doesn't give anyone more than they can handle". It was a prime example of how trite religious sayings spew forth from well intentioned people yet have awful consequences. I just can't imagine being a big enough jackass to dare say something like that. It was completely emotionally tone deaf to a frightening degree.
A merciful God wouldn't do that to a child. He also wouldn't let kids starve or anyone get ALS or whatever.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The flip side is, what do atheist believe about such suffering? If you don't believe in God, then it is all just random and meaningless.

This is incorrect. Very much so. When you understand that we only have evidence for natural forces, and that we have learned so much but still have so much more to learn, you accept that whether it is cancer or black holes the universe does not behave in a way that is optimal for humans. Exactly the opposite of intelligent design.

In fact, people of faith like to use the human eye's complexity as their "evidence" of design, when in fact only natural methods could have developed something that works so damned poorly!

For people who are deeply affected by suffering (and not everyone is), they either end up religious or they become depressed.

This is also completely incorrect, is pretty offensive, and you just made this up. Accepting the realities of existence is much more liberating than believing in some deity and wondering why they choose to inflict pain and suffering.

Right, so it is all just random and meaningless. The universe is going to do what it is going to do. You are a speck and worthless. Feel better?

If you feel liberated, great for you. But know that religious people don't believe in a god that inflicts pain and suffering for the sake of it. That is what atheists believe, the straw man they made up.

No it is NOT what atheists believe. Atheists don't believe in a god, so to think they believe he inflicts pain and suffering is nonsense.

How could you be this wrong? I don't think you are ignorant, so I can only assume you are misstating things for your benefit. Not cool.

This atheist thinks it is crazy that someone could believe in an all powerful god that created everything and is perpetually involved in our lives but allows pain and suffering to exist when he could stop it in a minute. To many of us, that is the best evidence there likely IS NO GOD.

You get all this, right? You get the difference, and why what you posted is false?

I am saying that religious people do not believe in what atheists think they believe.

Then why was’t that what you typed? Why did you spend most of your posts with straw man about what you think atheists believe?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The flip side is, what do atheist believe about such suffering? If you don't believe in God, then it is all just random and meaningless.

This is incorrect. Very much so. When you understand that we only have evidence for natural forces, and that we have learned so much but still have so much more to learn, you accept that whether it is cancer or black holes the universe does not behave in a way that is optimal for humans. Exactly the opposite of intelligent design.

In fact, people of faith like to use the human eye's complexity as their "evidence" of design, when in fact only natural methods could have developed something that works so damned poorly!

For people who are deeply affected by suffering (and not everyone is), they either end up religious or they become depressed.

This is also completely incorrect, is pretty offensive, and you just made this up. Accepting the realities of existence is much more liberating than believing in some deity and wondering why they choose to inflict pain and suffering.

Right, so it is all just random and meaningless. The universe is going to do what it is going to do. You are a speck and worthless. Feel better?

If you feel liberated, great for you. But know that religious people don't believe in a god that inflicts pain and suffering for the sake of it. That is what atheists believe, the straw man they made up.

No it is NOT what atheists believe. Atheists don't believe in a god, so to think they believe he inflicts pain and suffering is nonsense.

How could you be this wrong? I don't think you are ignorant, so I can only assume you are misstating things for your benefit. Not cool.

This atheist thinks it is crazy that someone could believe in an all powerful god that created everything and is perpetually involved in our lives but allows pain and suffering to exist when he could stop it in a minute. To many of us, that is the best evidence there likely IS NO GOD.

You get all this, right? You get the difference, and why what you posted is false?

I am saying that religious people do not believe in what atheists think they believe.

So is OP also the absolutely batshit paranoid poster in the Website Feedback thread?