Don't most Christians believe that God had a Divine Plan. That everything happens for a reason? If this is true, could that be why God doesn't answer any prayers...because it would muck up his predestined plan?
2007-10-13 16:43:19 · 8 answers · asked by AuroraDawn 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
...and don't say that he answers everyone's prayers, because I don't know anyone who really got a prayer answered. And the religious folk always say that "sometimes his answer is no". Or that "it's not in his plan". Or "he knows what is best for you".
2007-10-13 16:45:10 · update #1
Where is Sips with a Fist? I'm surprised he hasn't weighed in on this yet. I came across an entry on his blog and left a comment that touchs on this subject. The question you ask is closely tied to the "illusion of free will" his blog entry touches on.
My comments eleborated on the subject, prayer comes into play in the third element I describe. If you haven't seen it, heres Sips with a Fist's blog entry and my comment.
http://ca.blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-3QGyeIA1eLMfwOzMwPvNgYE-?cq=1&p=88#comments
Basically, they pray because they are under the delusion that they are "part of god's plan" when the prayer appears to be answered, and that they have been given "guidance (i.e. let in on) god's plan" when the prayer appears to go unanswered.
It's kinda like watching TV before the creation of TV Guide magazine and TV Guide Channel and you switch the channel to HBO and there's a movie about to come on.
You wish (pray) that the movie will be Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, because that's what your in the mood to see and it's what you really want, but you also have 6 loads of laundry to do that you've been putting off all week.
If you're one of these Christians that thinks prayers (work even with the paradox of a "Divine Plan") then you'll be happy if Harry Potter comes on because ("Yeah") your prayer was answered. So, you getting to watch Harry Potter instead of doing laundry IS PART of the "Devine Plan". On the other hand, if Gigli (with Jennifer Lopez) comes on, your prayer was not answered and you end up doing the laundry. You'd still be like, "yeah" because part of the "Devine Plan" has been especially REVEALED TO YOU...
The "plan" involves you doing laundry... because THE UNIVERSE WOULD HAVE COMPLETELY UNRAVELED if you put it off for another 2 hours!!! =P
2007-10-13 21:52:53 · answer #1 · answered by Rukh 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Divine Plan - you've been watching George, haven't you?
The fundie may be convinced that part of the divine plan for them was to do all the prayer work and they would be rewarded.
It never enters their psyche that starving children probably pray for food a lot but they still die.
The typical fundie thinks the world and xianity only happens in US to USians cos that is the centre of the fundie's known world and therefore “god’s” world as well.
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2007-10-14 09:36:58 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
as poorly worded as primaholic's answer was, it was close to the mark, as I see it. God has a will for us, I think.
there are two extremes of Christian thought---"God the Puppetmaster" who controls everything, and "God the watchmaker" who created everything and is now watching from afar. (btw, I made up God the Puppetmaster, God the Watchmaker is an old expression...)
I believe the truth is somewhere in the middle, but I could be wrong...my belief is that God has a desire for us to do well, wants the best for us, and will intervene occasionally, often in ways we never know, such as bringing certain people into (or out of) our lives. As for prayer, well, you can't go too far wrong with "The Lord's Prayer." do you know it?
2007-10-14 00:04:57 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
The Divine Plan is also called the WILL. There is only the WILL and what is called free-will is but the choice to know the WILL or not. Prayer or other forms of actively seeking to know the WILL, "IS" the WILL!!
2007-10-13 23:49:56 · answer #4 · answered by Premaholic 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
LOL... divine plan calls for a divine planner and that, my dear, is where you'll find the rub. No such being is available and none has ever been. It's all been a big mistake.
http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb62/Randall_Fleck/Sam_Harris__GIF.gif
[][][] r u randy? [][][]
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2007-10-14 01:13:27 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sorry you lost me when you got to that bit about christians and god and stuff.
2007-10-13 23:49:20 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
What a plan, people killing each-other for the misinterpretation of religion.
2007-10-14 12:00:14 · answer #7 · answered by wakemovement 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He answers prayers..........YES.........NO......WAIT
2007-10-13 23:47:26 · answer #8 · answered by K in Him 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋