God watching??

Sometimes it's just a saying and sometimes they believe it.  It's "God's Will" if something tragic happens, too.  

These phrases drive me nuts, especially when there was another person who didn't get dealt the winning hand. God lets science do what science is going to do. I just can't believe he is up there micromanaging earth as a routine course of business.

I think some people of faith truly believe what they are saying. It makes 100% sense for them. To me, it is the same saying I am blessed. Yes, things are working out for you, but what about the other person who is struggling who has faith? Are they not blessed? Are they less deserving?

I guess if you exchange the word blessed with lucky, it makes more sense to non believers.

It also reminds me of the people interviewed on tv that say they won the Super Bowl, golf tournament (insert whatever sport) and say God wanted it to happen. Their prayers were answered etc. What about the other team that was praying? My very favorite line from MASH was when Father Mulcahy said God answers all prayers. Sometimes he just says no. So many thoughts about human nature, beliefs, and how we think and believe.

Yes, some definitely believe that. Some also believe that anything good is from god and anything bad is from humans' free will. And some believe that they wouldn't have any way to know what's good or bad without religion to guide them. All of those are very troubling to me.

Religious smugness at its finest.

I used to believe the above in a weird way. Like if somebody had to handle this situation, I guess it was better that it was me. And a lot of people actually believe something to this effect. Maybe not with an all knowing hardcore Christian faith, but I cannot tell you the number of times I have been told that I was specifically chosen to be my kids' mom due to the fact that I could totally understand all facets of their mental illness in the way another parent might not have been able to. I just nod and change the subject. But sometimes internally I'm thinking, who is this God who not only would make my own brain so difficult to work with, but also give me two kids who have the same issues. Why not give them to a parent who doesn't have to fight with their own mind too? I just shrug it all off because it is really genetics. Genetics I didn't understand until after my kids were even born. My dad, my brother, me, my two kids. This is a hereditary illness. It's science.



This is where it trips me up too. I have always been a spiritual person, not Christian, but I believed in God. And after Esther died, well, the idea of there being some kind of divine plan just got thrown totally out the window for me. There is no divine plan. I still believe in some kind of spirituality, but this idea of an all-powerful God just doesn't jive with me. If he's in control, he's doing a shit job, really.

Does anyone remember the movie, "Oh G-d" w/George Burns? In the movie G-d answers the "why some and not others" question by telling the other character that he gave us the tool box and it's up to us to use it properly. We all have free will and he doesn't intervene. I'm not sure why evil people live long lives, while truly good people suffer w/illness, poverty, abuse and death.

Last year I read the book "When Bad Things Happen to Good People" thinking I would have some epiphany. My take away from that book is "shit happens". It's random and we just have to deal w/it.

I do believe in G-d, but I also question the same things. Why are good, innocent children suffering in a 3rd world country, yet I live well in the USA?   Do my choices make any difference at all? Why do innocent people suffer?

I don't begrudge those people who have strong faith, but I can't process the idea that an omnipotent G-d didn't save one child, yet saved the next child. I also don't think that Satan makes us do anything. If you punch someone in the face, it's because you chose to punch someone in the face or you were too high to know what you doing. Again, you got high, because of your addiction and not because of Satan.

Also, I absolutely don't believe that G-d will help you win your ball game, the lottery or or other mundane requests? We can't ask for stuff.

Then again, what do I know? Maybe the joke's on me.

I’m sure many/most of the sports players point to the sky, to ‘thank their God’ but it’s not the reason for all of them.
A number of years ago a very prominent and much-loved rugby league player here drowned, and the guys from the team still point to the sky after they score a try, to say “this one’s for you, Sonny”. 

It's a really hard question to be honest. I believe in God with all my heart. For instance my mom was just in a tornado, I thanked God that she wasn't hurt and little damage. But then there is the house on the other side of town that got destroyed. The people lived. Do I thank God for what happened to them? I do thank him that those people lived? But why their house is gone and my mom's isn't?

I think well maybe because my mom is older and she wouldn't be able to handle her house being destroyed and God spared her? Maybe the people in the other house is better equipped to handle their house being gone? That all doesn't makes sense to me. But yet, I still have faith that God knows what He is doing. Just because I don't understand it doesn't mean there is something bigger I don't know about.

I wouldn't tell any of that to the people who lost their house though. Or whatever the situation is. I just try to comfort them or support them the best I can. If THEY want to pray or talk about God, I would listen, not preach.

Does any of that make any sense? LOL...

Really? I'm surprised that they almost all do it. I can honestly say that I have never in my lifetime seen a cricket player point to the sky when they hit a six or take a wicket. And the only time I've seen a football player point to the sky after a goal is if a loved one has recently died. In that scenario, it's not a nod to god, it's an acknowledgement of their recently deceased loved one. 

So, lots of professional baseball players in the US are either Hispanic immigrants or Black (or both). Both groups have higher rates of religious belief/affiliations than Americans as a whole. That's why. Lots have crosses tattooed on them somewhere.

It's not to acknowledge a loved one who has died. The players will frequently thank god and talk about how god got them through in interviews. Perhaps I notice it more here - the majority of Houston's team are Hispanic immigrants.

I went out to eat once and when the waitress brought our bill, it only had our drinks, not our meals. Brought it to the register and told them what we ate for dinner and that it wasn’t on the bill and the guy ringing me up said, “god is watching you!” Like god would be proud I was honest. I was so offended. I need god watching me to do the right thing? And in general I find the whole god was watching out or god saved us so self centered. Yeah, Ethel, god found your keys for you, meanwhile there are millions of people being raped and murdered, but you know, the free will of the murderer is central to gods plan 🙄

I always find it funny when people ask how you know right from wrong as a non-believer. IDK, babe, if it hurts or defrauds or oppresses someone else, it's wrong. Seems like you don't need a god to tell you that.