Last night I asked a question which apparently provoked some reconsideration of conduct by a Christian user here. (I am not going to go into detail because my purpose here is not to call out or complain about this user, but merely to examine the differences in thinking.)
She emailed me this morning and the following is a quote from the email - "God uses all people, my friend and whether you believe or not God used you yesterday".
I found that quote really interesting in an academic sense because I, of course, think that God had no part in my question and that I came up with it on my own. If somebody had asked a question that causing me to deeply reflect on my conduct or my views, I would have thanked them for asking such an insightful question.
Again, I am not complaining. I don't need a thank you and it matters little to me whether any *credit* for my question is attributed to me or God. But from an academic standpoint, I find the whole thing interesting.
What are your thoughts?
2007-02-16 06:51:14 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Fruitcake, I did not take it as insensitive and I read the comment in the spirit in which it was given -- as a compliment. It is just striking to me that the thought patterns are so different.
2007-02-16 07:09:06 · update #1
Oh Great Man of the Fish (just kidding):
Your question is actually psychological in nature and not religious. Now...if you had said something to me that made me think about what I had been doing or gave me a new perspective IN REGARD TO GOD, I would see yes, that God used you, even you who does not believe in him, to help me. And yes, this has happened to me.
Now...if I had some magic words that when you thought of them as you went to sleep made you suddenly realize that you had been wrong about God...you might think the same way.
But...if I had said...you know that avatar looks so silly it makes people not take you seriously (no, no, I do not think that, I love your avatar because its "different"...I am just using it as an example) and you thought...well she is so right, that is why people do not listen to me, you would probably say thank you to me as a person, but not see it as a work of God.
If you and I were discussing...the best place to buy a steak and you made a good suggestion...I would thank you and not see it as a work of God.
Okay...hopefully, you can make some sense of all that, rotflmbo.
PEG
2007-02-16 07:00:14 · answer #1 · answered by Dust in the Wind 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Being raised a christian I was taught that all we do is because of God's will. So you become conditioned to think as such and you no longer have an original thought or inspiration. I left because I do not believe in being a 'tool'. I believe people are intelligent and come up with ideas on their own, that they should be recognized for their HUMAN inspiration when they do.
2007-02-16 06:58:35 · answer #2 · answered by genaddt 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
God moves in mysterious ways. If she found something thought provoking in your question/answers, maybe God was speaking to her thru someone (you). Even tho you came up with it on your own it could touch her much in the same way a book or article could. Maybe it was insensitive of her to 'push it in you face' like that, but if it affected her for the better I thinkyou should compliment yourself.
Added: Well, Mullah, Christians look for God's 'voice' in ordinary daily things. We believe that is often how He speaks to us. I thinks atheists overlook the minute things God has a hand in.
That's just my point of view as a Christian.
2007-02-16 07:03:36 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
The bible does teach that God uses all things to the good of those who love him. So God uses the actions of everyone including unbelievers to work good in believers. So your though provoking question must have made her really think about things including her own faith. Apparently in the end she came out with a stronger faith thanks to your question.
So in a way she is thanking you for helping her faith to grow. It is also a subtle invitation to see all that God can also turn all things to your good if you believe in him.
I would be interested in hearing such a thought provoking question.
2007-02-16 07:02:52 · answer #4 · answered by kclark747 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think you could say it is a point of view. Your point of view sees that insights come from the intellect--perhaps you view it as a function of the brain, though science hasn't yet discovered what chemicals and interactions cause creativity to happen.
In the Christian's point of view, the creativity involved came from God. It is just the way she views the world--you may attribute the creative insight to brain chemistry-she calls it God.
Both of you are commenting and reflecting on the same phenonmenom--you are just using terminology from your own points of view.
2007-02-16 06:58:34 · answer #5 · answered by KCBA 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
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2016-12-04 06:30:51 · answer #6 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is a reasonable example. You have to realize that Christian believe that God causes all things to work for the good of those who believe.
The message can come from a preacher, or an atheist. It can come from a scholar or a child. If we listen sometimes we can hear from God through the people around us. You speak, but God causes your harsh words and your inspiring words to penetrate my heart.
Incidentially,decades ago I first began to attend church, after my debates with a friend, whom I did not know was atheists. He asked me one day, if I believed in God, to which I replied Yes. We began to debate this issue nearly everyday. I argued from science, math, philosophy, human nature, etc. Then I decided to argue from the Bible, which caused me to actually read it more. Neither of us actually "won" those debates, but as a result of going to the Bible, I became ignited for God. So I owe my rekindled interest in God to an atheist friend.
2007-02-16 07:03:02 · answer #7 · answered by ignoramus_the_great 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I think God can take anything and use it for his good. He might not have inspired you to ask the question you did, but he could have used your question to cause a reaction in her. Just because you are not wanting to take "credit" for that doesn't mean God didn't use your question for someone else's benefit. He can take wicked and use it for good. He is like that.
2007-02-16 06:57:56 · answer #8 · answered by Miss Momma 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
All the same, I can tell you that a Peanut M&M made you post the question.
As valid as the God theory.
2007-02-16 06:54:27 · answer #9 · answered by malcolm knoxville 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
That's not deep, that's stupid.
If I get an overwhelming desire to murder someone and I act on that do I just avoid responsibility by saying "God was using me".
2007-02-16 07:04:35 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋