is god asleep on the job?

Question

i had previously asked 'if god is on our side then god is a joker asleep at the wheel while his children fall over'which was actually just a reference to a song
'everybody's gone to war' by nerina pallot(great video by the way)
however some of the answers made me think .People saying we are in charge of our own destiny ,we are the ones driving.
I went to a roman catholic school, and attend church almost daily, although these days churches are only for weedings and funerals and i am pretty sure of a greater being. However what about children being hurt/abused,murdered who is in charge of their destiny?Doe's god think it's ok for them to suffer?I don't want to piss the big guy off but why does he allow needless suffering all over the world by the innocents.Saw a program last night on feral children why big man, why?????

Answer 1

well the good old priests would have us believe that god is omnipotent, therefore he is by definition all things to all people at all times, so as well as being eternal life and happiness he is eternal death and damnation, also according to the teachings of the church god created everything, this has to include by definition, plague, famine, pestilence, war and cruelty.
Like you i used to be a practicing catholic, but i failed when i saw how priests lived, (my mum was a cleaner for the local priests in their house), there they were telling everyone about the wickedness of booze and smoking etc. and whats the first thing i saw when i went in there with my mum one day, a box of cigars on the desk with an ashtray full of stubs and a wall lined with optics of all the spirits you can imagine, ( and the holy spirit wasn;t to be seen). that put the first doubts in my head, if they didnt believe what they were saying, why should i? so i gradually turned to a more humanist way of life, while still trying to stick to the ten commandments, which i dont always succeed at, but i try, because basically they are a good guide on how to be nice to others, and i've always believed you get what you give, so im nice hoping i'll get nice in return, if not it's an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth lol. as to god, well a nice thought, but i doubt it, i rather think its a story made up to make us toe the line, and its a common story among all faiths funnily enough, no matter how muslims and christians try to deny common denominators, for instance in the bible their is one god and he sent his son to earth as a man to be his prophet and he was called jesus, in the koran it says their is one god, and he sent his son mohammed to the earth as a man to be his prophet, so go figure huh? but basically like bill and ted said "be excellent to each other"

Answer 2

My friend, I also asked myself this question for many years, until I finally got to talk to the right people and to read the right books.
We certainly are in charge of our destiny, which means we have a free will and conscience. God cannot, or rather will not violate man's freedom. Otherwise we won't be what we are, but some sort of biological robots.
However, on a larger scale, everything fits together. Things could be much worse if we weren't under God's protection. About those who die very young, it is said they die when they are innocent, and God knows that upon growing up they would have lost this innocence. About suffering, there are three things I have read about: people suffer for their own spiritual maturity, like Job, they suffer in order to have an impulse for repentance, and they suffer in order to be protected from greater harm (e.g. by being sick at home when a bomb explodes someplace else). But who can fathom God's judgement?
And of course, when you see things like that, your pain of heart is considered as a prayer.
I hope this helps.
NB, if you, I quote, "don't want to piss the big guy off", you might want to start by using more respectful words :)

Answer 3

Allow me to reference to Gen 15:13-16.

It was the setting of God talking to Abraham. God told him that his decendence will be destroying the people in Cannan in the 4th generation, or some 400 yrs later. "For the sin has not reach it's full measures"

People in canan, the Amorites are a sinful lots. Historian understand that the people in Acient Near East (that same group of people in middle east. But not Arab for Arabs are also children of Arabham) actually perform child sacrifices. Temple prositute are rampent, both male and female prositute.

Sin, immorality is everywhere. Why God don't act? Yes He will, but as God had says. . "the sin has yet to reach it full measures".

God is gracious, and is giving the people chance to repent. In the Bible, Ezekiel 33, it says that if the wicked repend and do good, the Lord will forgive them.

In Psalm, the poet says, 'what is good in dead man? Can a dead man praise and honor God?" Surely God does not want us to die.

But when they, the Amorites, those people staying in Cannan, refused, they were all killed by Joshua. However, not all are killed, and the Philistine were spared, as the Israelite were too lazy to complete the job, thus causing them the problem untill today.

Again, talkiing about killing all the tribes, some were says that God is merciless. Well. . . .He is not. He is love. But in speaking of love, it is not soft and weak. He is love, and also just, meaning, those who did wrong shall be punish.

But God had his timing. We as human may judge him, but that can't change his way of doing things. Why? He is God.

I know, and I believe in all my heart, that the Lord will deal with them. It is not for my eyes to see, if He will it that way.

Pal, if you have seen those suffering. what are you as fellow human do about it?

For me, if I am given the chance to witness, if it is within my capacity, I will put in my hands to help. If it is not, I will plase to pray. I know I am not God, nor can I play God's role. However, I understnad that it is for a specific purpose that we witness such things. Lease I can do is pray. Perhaps you may do like wise.

Cheers,

Answer 4

The Hindus speak of Karma. My thinking tends to lean that way when faced with a question like yours.

All you can really do is be responsible for your own life. Your own existence. Your own reality. How you conduct yourself is of primary importance. Do your best to be kind, helpful and compassionate but don't do so at the expense of your own spiritual development. To do so is it's own torment and you might end up finding yourself at the negative end of the Karma equation. In short...

Never be afraid to create your own reality.

Answer 5

Im suffering and tribulation....we become stronger. In trials, we become keen to the mistakes that brought us to trial. In faith...and salvation...we may break free from all and make a difference for someone who is in the dark.

Answer 6

I don't think we're in charge of our own destiny, I was definately not in charge of mine! Depends what evil bastards we meet on the way!

Answer 7

the real answer will probably annoy u more then a theological argument. check out richard dawkings he will tell u it straight. basically this, is he good and can he stop is; "is he willing but not capable then he is powerless capable but not willing then he is evil neither capable nor willing then he is not god"

Answer 8

If you choose to be loyal to God, then He is on your side. If you do not choose God, He gives you plenty of opportunity to change your mind, but does not force you to choose Him. If you do not choose God, you remain the devil's plaything.

Answer 9

Oh dear ! This God of ours is `dammed` if he does and`dammed` if he doesn`t.

Answer 10

certainly seems to be sleeping on the job.