Bill's story got me thinking.  I just don't understand alot of things that go on in this world.  And maybe I'm not supposed to, but why all the hate, illness/suffering, war, etc.?  Is it for a purpose?   :-/

My first question will be..."How do you decide how someone will die?"

My first will be ..."why do innocent people like children...have to suffer through no fault of their own or their parents"   (Cancer, catastrophic illness etc.)

I honestly don't have any questions for God.  I have a question for those that have already crossed over instead.

I am no theological scholar but here are the best answers I have heard:

1.  As for hate/illness/suffering.... without it could we experience love/good health/joy?  Seems to me that the ability to posses or experience something goes hand in hand with the ability to experience the opposite.  I know that I have greater joy in my PF days because I have had CH.  It doesn't answer question #3 (see below) but I think we need to have the bad to have the good.

2.  Deciding how someone will die assumes that God controls everything vs God overseeing everything.  Most religions believe that God determines the afterlife and CAN intercede on Earth but that people have free will and actually determine the course of events for the most part.

3.  Why do children (or really anyone) suffer through no fault of their own?  This has been best explained to me that these people tend to have greater rewards in heaven/afterlife.  If only the difference between a joyous existence in heaven and their on Earth suffering but maybe also that they might have even greater joys in the afterlife.  This is a tough answer to believe if you don't believe in an afterlife, but without it I haven't heard a good answer.

Just the best I have got..   Sorry.

I believe that most illness like cancer, etc., that children and adults suffer are a result of our own actions...pollution, things in our food and water, lead poisioning that we aren't aware of, etc.

Then again, since we are asking God, the answer might be that Satan is working very hard to make it look like God has abandoned us or is causing our pain so that we turn against Him.  Many men and women have become non-believers and have turned to hate, with no tolerence for good-will, love and understanding.

We offer each other prayers and He listens.  If we don't ask anything of Him, that's what we'll get....nothing.

If we are near the End Times, this would be when Satan would be most active.

That Sunami that hit So East Asia killed a LOT of people.   How was that from anyone's choices?   Or Katrina.

Linda_Howell wrote on Nov 1^st, 2008 at 8:36pm:

That Sunami that hit So East Asia killed a LOT of people.   How was that from anyone's choices?   Or Katrina.

 Global warming caused by all the choices of all us humans,  not that the victoms had a choice.

Linda_Howell wrote on Nov 1^st, 2008 at 8:36pm:

That Sunami that hit So East Asia killed a LOT of people.   How was that from anyone's choices?   Or Katrina.

I guess the answer there is that sometimes the little choices (like where we live or what we decide to do on a given day) can determine life/death even indirectly.

Have you read the "Left Behind" series of books?  There are about 7 books, fiction but written by Bible scholars (Tim Lahaye and a co-author) about Revelations.  They make reference to chapters and verses in the Bible.  This book makes reference to the plagues that the earth will suffer near the End Times...such as sunami's, shortages of food, illnesses, and Satans involvement, etc.  

All in all, it's an interesting read, even if you don't believe everything written, because it is written as a story, not a study book.


Edited for spelling error

When I get a satisfactory answer as to why there are mosquitoes, I'll be be willing to listen.

Charlie

Donna,

And many non-believers continue to turn to love, and foster good-will and are giving, loving individuals.

And many devout Christans are the meanest, hate-filled bigots I know.

Personally I don't think it is any of my business what God is doing - how he works. I need to focus on why Superhawk does what he does and how he works and everything will be fine. God can take care of himself.

Why ask why?

Just live your life and love the ones around you!

Cant do much more than that, that I know of. :-?

wrote on Nov 2^nd, 2008 at 2:48am:

Why ask why? Just live your life and love the ones around you! Cant do much more than that, that I know of. :-?

That's about a good an answer as there is....

And from one of the other threads:

"The Answer my friend is Blowing in the Wind....."

Hugs BD

BarbaraD wrote on Nov 2^nd, 2008 at 3:20am:

"The Answer my friend is Blowing in the Wind....."

Along with Barb's thread bare bloomers ...

ClusterChuck wrote on Nov 2^nd, 2008 at 4:17am:

BarbaraD wrote on Nov 2nd, 2008 at 3:20am: "The Answer my friend is Blowing in the Wind....." Along with Barb's thread bare bloomers ...

Speaking of bloomers, Chuck.....

Well, let's just say, I'll spare folk's eyes... ;)

wrote on Nov 2^nd, 2008 at 2:48am:

Why ask why? Just live your life and love the ones around you! Cant do much more than that, that I know of. :-?

Exactly. That's what I do. It's all I can do.

superhawk2300 wrote on Nov 2^nd, 2008 at 2:06am:

Donna, And many non-believers continue to turn to love, and foster good-will and are giving, loving individuals. And many devout Christans are the meanest, hate-filled bigots I know. Personally I don't think it is any of my business what God is doing - how he works. I need to focus on why Superhawk does what he does and how he works and everything will be fine. God can take care of himself.

If I sounded like I was implying that non-believers are hateful or anything negative, that was not my intention and I apologize. I should have said " Many men and women have become non-believers and have turned to hate, with no tolerence for good-will, love and understanding because of suffering unexplainable or multiple losses".

A true christian cannot be hateful, mean hearted or not filled with love.  A person who calls himself "a Devout Christian" and doesn't live like one doesn't really know what it means to be a devout Christian.

My own sister is an example of the above.  She has almost always been a Christian. She lost her 27 year old son due to an unexplained virus in less than 48 hours. She lost a son and a grandson due to murder-suicide.  They were 34 and 13 years old.  She lost her husband at age 59.  One year after her husband (also a Christian) died, she layed her wedding band at the alter and turned her life over to Christ.  Today she is Director of Christian Education of her large church, Director of Grief Ministries and a missionary to Haiti.  She is one little ball of love, all 5 feet of her. I call her Mother Theresa Jr. in fun.

Was Satan testing her?  I think so.  

Can everyone do this?....no and certainly not me.  I have the desire but I am lazy and weak.  I know this and pray to be touched by Spirit.

I agree that many non-believers or those who question God's existance, are wonderful, love-filled, generous people.  I have a son in that catagory.  He is one of the kindest and most giving people I know.   

I do not judge other people's actions or beliefs.  That's Gods' job.

I'm off the soapbox now.  If you read all of this, don't blame me. :P

 

A question?

Why beetles?

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;)  

Best,

George

read The Journey of Souls by Dr. Michael Newton  it just may speak to you

wrote on Nov 2^nd, 2008 at 2:48am:

Just live your life and love the ones around you!

Words to live by  ;)