That sounds like a song I grew up hearing. A LOT. Only when the bad stuff happened there was a LOT of "WHY GOD WHY!??!" crap as well. So I hear you. It's weird and baffling. =(
I hear that a lot in social work, too... The dangerous part about it in the social work circle is that I've had some clients go off their psyche meds because they think it was God, and not therapy, modern medicine or science, that actually cured their mental illness.
As is often the case, the indoctrinated will readily shun modern science, evolutionary biology, etc...until something in the sciences actually sort of supports their creationist viewpoints, then they embrace it.
Of course, I probably don't need to point out that evolutionary biology by it's very nature never supports a creationist viewpoint.
1) In order to make money as a priest/reverend/whatever I have to receive a tithe, since I don't charge for services. 2) The best customers/worshipers are those that feel that they need your service. 3) It is therefore in your best interest to relate all good things that happen in life to God... they will feel like they are getting their monies worth. 4) So you condition your sheep to relate good with your services and bad with themselves.
4) I am babbling... but there is a point hidden in there somewhere.
I think everything you say here is true. As is often the case, the problem is not faith - the problem is religion. But that's a catch-22 as well...I think people have faith in things that hurt them and let them deny responsibility and curiosity (invisible men in the clouds) instead of those things that could advance us as a race (humanism).
I think it's ok to have something to believe in. I have faith and believe in something, I just don't know what. However, I don't think that God cures cancer or makes you lose weight. If that was the case, you wouldn't have to try hard to make yourself better. I work out, watch what I eat, and I've lost 21 pounds in the last 6 months or so. I lost that weight because I did it and busted my own ass. God didn't melt that fat off for me.
Oh I'm not attacking people's choice to believe in God. Just because I lean toward humanism and science doesn't mean I care whether someone has spiritual faith or not. Although I will be so bold as to say that nobody needs religion.
Anyhow, I am turned off by their stubborn inability to accept that THEY have more control over their own lives than God does. Even if I believed in an ultimate creator figure, there is simply too much evidence to the contrary to believe that such a creator would be an interventionist god who took any real interest in our personal lives.
Oh I totally didn't take it as if you were attacking anyone's faith.
I don't claim any religion as my own. I just believe in something, whatever it is. I have been a long way through religion. Living in the buckle of the bible belt, it's been shoved on me my whole life and has left a rather bitter taste in my mouth.
But yeah, there is no god that is going to intervene in our lives and take control of our health, wealth, thoughts, etc...
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THANK YOU. Bah!
Something else I get sick of hearing from Christians is how "god saved little cancer ridden Jimmy".
Oh, yeah. It had nothing to do with chemotherapy and that evil medical science you're always so up in arms about.
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As is often the case, the indoctrinated will readily shun modern science, evolutionary biology, etc...until something in the sciences actually sort of supports their creationist viewpoints, then they embrace it.
Of course, I probably don't need to point out that evolutionary biology by it's very nature never supports a creationist viewpoint.
Anyway. Yep.
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2) The best customers/worshipers are those that feel that they need your service.
3) It is therefore in your best interest to relate all good things that happen in life to God... they will feel like they are getting their monies worth.
4) So you condition your sheep to relate good with your services and bad with themselves.
4) I am babbling... but there is a point hidden in there somewhere.
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Oh I'm not attacking people's choice to believe in God. Just because I lean toward humanism and science doesn't mean I care whether someone has spiritual faith or not. Although I will be so bold as to say that nobody needs religion.
Anyhow, I am turned off by their stubborn inability to accept that THEY have more control over their own lives than God does. Even if I believed in an ultimate creator figure, there is simply too much evidence to the contrary to believe that such a creator would be an interventionist god who took any real interest in our personal lives.
But I'm babbling. Sorry.
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I don't claim any religion as my own. I just believe in something, whatever it is. I have been a long way through religion. Living in the buckle of the bible belt, it's been shoved on me my whole life and has left a rather bitter taste in my mouth.
But yeah, there is no god that is going to intervene in our lives and take control of our health, wealth, thoughts, etc...
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Angel's food cake
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