Christians: Do you believe in coincidence?

Question

I believe that everything that religious people call a “miracle” or God’s answer to prayers is merely coincidence. In an indirect way, you can say that the Creator has performed miracles due to the fact that there is life and it has placed resources on earth that allow us to do great things. However, I do not believe that there is any God that intervenes in human affairs. I know that you will tell me about the time you almost died and you prayed to God and a “miracle” happened and you lived happily ever after. But I must ask how you explain all of the prayers by good people who die horrible deaths and suffer great pain that go unanswered. Christians usually respond to these questions by saying “God had a different plan for the person” or “God has a reason for everything.” Why is it that when good things happen and “prayers are answered”, Christians can explain exactly what God wanted to happen, but when something bad happens, Christians give these “Plead the 5th” answers or they say it was the devil. Of course, if you believe that the devil is capable of preventing God from answering prayers, wouldn’t that mean that the devil is more powerful than God? Your thoughts?

Answer 1

I do believe in coincidence. I also believe sometimes someone else's 'free agency' messes up my choices. I don't think that is God's fault. (ie: some guy driving drunk...) Sometimes it's hard to see the forest for the trees and vice-versa.

I also have had experiences where a prayer was answered, and it was not what I had wanted to 'hear' at all! I like this saying - 'life isn't fair because you are good. the bull will still charge even if you are a vegetarian.'

Answer 2

Everything that happens is part of God's plan. I don't believe in coincidences because then I would have to believe that God doesn't have a plan. I have a question for you. Isn't heaven better than earth? I believe it is. And, even if a person dies a horrible death, heaven makes up for it. Besides, in the Bible it says that Christians will be persecuted. It is part of God's plan. Out of the 12 original apostles their is only one that we don't for sure how he died. But all of the others suffered horrible deaths and persecutions. This were men that walked with God. And all of them looked forward to death because then they would see Jesus again. God can use even the most vile person to further His plan. Like, in China, Christians are not even allowed to speak out about their beliefs, yet that country the amount of Christians is growing more that any other country (at least to my knowledge). People see other people standing up for their beliefs and they see them unjustly murdered. This creates interest because people see that Christians have something they don't. They have a reason to live and to die. A really great book that deals with such things is called Safely Home by Randy Alcorn. I would recommend reading it. It deals with faith as well as the idea of chance. I think it goes into a far greater dept that I ever could.

Answer 3

I'm skeptical, but I do believe in miracles. a coincidence happens when two things that are not part of the same chain of reaction meet. for example, you're down on your luck, you've never worked a day you wish you had a million bucks and you find a penny. most coincidences are ironic

however, not everything can be coincidental. for example, most of the miracles I've observed were medicinal. I know there's no correlation between their lifestyles (eating, perscriptions, excersize) and their abnormally fast recovery, but it happens. even with an unknowing reciever. I'm skeptical. I try to find out things.

I see people healed on prayer all the time, whether they believe or not. you can't tell me it's their own mind over matter.

a mircale is when God enters the chain reaction. you pray, He intervenes. it's not irony.

Answer 4

You're positing opposite extremes. i beleive in miracles,divine intervention and pre-destination - but not the last as an absolute. Many things are left up to circumstance by God. Plus,the human brian is subjective and often projects order where it isn't. Hence the coincidence can seem disturbing.

Answer 5

It's easy to look at one act of God and think it is a coincidence. But once you establish a relationship with God and a prayer life you begin to see an incredible pattern of "coincidences" which is simply too well ordered, too well connected to prayer, and too frequent to be due to mere coincidence. "Whatsoever you shall ask for in My name, it will be done unto you".

Answer 6

Things do happen by coincidence if you mean by coincidence, by chance or it just so happened that or two persons answering the exact same questions identically.

Answer 7

yes but we can tell the difference....ive prayed for men of certain signs and they would show up!!! other things that would be too big of a coincidence also....i have a big list!!