Thursday, March 28, AD 2024 10:10am

Religion and Happiness

atheism

 

Ha!  The Washington Post runs a story admitting the obvious, and their readership goes berserk:

 

 A new study suggests that joining a religious group could do more for someone’s “sustained happiness” than other forms of social participation, such as volunteering, playing sports or taking a class.

A study in the American Journal of Epidemiology by researchers at the London School of Economics and Erasmus University Medical Center in the Netherlands found that the secret to sustained happiness lies in participation in religion.

“The church appears to play a very important social role in keeping depression at bay and also as a coping mechanism during periods of illness in later life,” Mauricio Avendano, an epidemiologist at LSE and an author of the study, said in a statement. “It is not clear to us how much this is about religion per se, or whether it may be about the sense of belonging and not being socially isolated.”

Researchers looked at four areas: 1) volunteering or working with a charity; 2) taking educational courses; 3) participating in religious organizations; 4) participating in a political or community organization. Of the four, participating in a religious organization was the only social activity associated with sustained happiness, researchers found.

Go here to read the rest.

Then their leftie, atheist readers do what they normally do when reality conflicts with their beliefs:  attack reality!

 

-Wok-
8/16/2015 7:31 PM CDT
 
 
 
 
Sorry but I’m not interested in false consolation.more
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jeglackin
8/16/2015 6:45 PM CDT
 
 
 
 
“Religious Faith” sustains.We learned that long ago in Japan. We are being hammered by it in the Middle East.
Afghanistan gave the Russians AND us a lesson.

Do you have a point? One beyond fanatics are eager to die ?

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rcarliii
8/16/2015 6:17 PM CDT
 
 
 
 
An opium addict might be happy too. I have never seen evidence of a benevolent deity. I could argue for the existence of a malovent one though.more
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Rhea1
8/16/2015 5:32 PM CDT
 
 
 
 
The fact that a believer is happier than a skeptic is no more to the point than the fact that a drunken man is happier than a sober one. The happiness of credulity is a cheap and dangerous quality of happiness, and by no means a necessity of life. — George Bernard Shawmore
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Russell Vaughan
8/16/2015 5:30 PM CDT
 
 
 
 
I got nuthin’ to loose with this comment. I used to sneak Hamburgers on Fridays and I was told I am going straight to Hell, so my die is cast! You will notice where most all the mega-churches are in the country, down South. You’ll notice where Jerry Springer gets most of his guests, down South. You’ll notice where the the lowest wages and most impoverished people come from, down South. You’ll notice who has the poorest health in the country, down South. You’ll notice where the least bright people in the country live, down South. There is a definite correlation between not being too bright and being overly religious. These mega-church pastors rake in millions from the hopeful and dumb. Look at the Muslim suicide bombers , they blow them selves up thinking they are going to live in eternity with 39 (or so) virgins. They’re not dumb anymore! Did anyone play a game in grade school? The teacher told a phrase to the first kid and by the time the story got the the last kid it was unrecognizable. Think the printing press wasn’t in use in any numbers until 1500. All these stories of Jesus were passed down for 1500 years mouth to mouth until finally printed Does anyone seriously think the stories are accurate? Now think back just 320 years to Salem. People were burned at the stake for being witches. If that was the state of mind in relatively recent times, what was it like five times that duration in the past. In the Universe we are a speck of sand in the Sahara, yet all this life flourishes in only one place? The truth is believers are afraid. Afraid to just be dead for eternity. So if your given the delusion that you will live on in spirit and you’re stupid enough to believe it, you’re going to jump at it. The trick is to go ahead and enjoy life! Commit all the sins (not crimes) you want ! When the sun burns out and engulfs the planet, my ashes are going to be right next to yours !!more
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Ah, atheists and agnostics, by and large the bitterest and most unhappy group that I have encountered during my 58 years of making my way through this Vale of Tears.  As for religion being a source of consolation during time of grief, from my personal experience that is resoundingly true.  When my son died two years ago I pulled myself out of the pit of grief in which I had fallen only by the Grace of God and my hope in seeing my boy again.  Of all the terrible things that can happen to us in this world, the most terrible thing is when we lose hope.  The believer in Christ never can have that hope taken away, because our hope is not limited to the things of this world.  In the times of our darkest despair we still rejoice with Saint Paul:

 

 

 

 

[31] What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who is against us? [32] He that spared not even his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how hath he not also, with him, given us all things? [33] Who shall accuse against the elect of God? God that justifieth. [34] Who is he that shall condemn? Christ Jesus that died, yea that is risen also again; who is at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. [35] Who then shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation? or distress? or famine? or nakedness? or danger? or persecution? or the sword?

[36] (As it is written: For thy sake we are put to death all the day long. We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.) [37] But in all these things we overcome, because of him that hath loved us. [38] For I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor might, [39] Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 

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Paul W Primavera
Monday, August 17, AD 2015 7:09am

What is really ironic in all this is that God doesn’t care if your happy in this life so long as you can be with Him forever in the next, yet it is that very fact which provides the consolation so necessary for happiness in this life. Indeed, all the things which I thought made me happy in my youth – booze, drugs, prostitutes, etc – God took away, sending me into the hell of heroine withdrawal. Who would have thought that that was the way to happiness.

Mary De Voe
Mary De Voe
Monday, August 17, AD 2015 7:56am

“[31] What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who is against us? [32] He that spared not even his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how hath he not also, with him, given us all things? [33] Who shall accuse against the elect of God? God that justifieth. [34]Who is he that shall condemn? Christ Jesus that died, yea that is risen also again; who is at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. [35] Who then shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation? or distress? or famine? or nakedness? or danger? or persecution? or the sword? [36] (As it is written: For thy sake we are put to death all the day long. We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.) [37] But in all these things we overcome, because of him that hath loved us. [38] For I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor might, [39] Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

The translation of the Holy Scripture by atheists and agnostics is debilitating. WHO is God? God is a sovereign Person in Whose image all sovereign persons are created. “We, hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal…and endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these rights are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” (“Creator” is capitalized in the Declaration of Independence because it is the office of the Person of God).
“Who” denotes and defines the Person of God, in Whose image man is created, and the person of man. Man is not a thing to be addressed as “that”, or “which”. Jesus Christ is not a thing to be addressed as “that” and the Person of God may never be addressed as “that” which is blasphemy. The Infinite Beatific Vision is three Persons in One God Who is Life and Who lives, Who is Love, and Who loves, Who is Existence and Who exists.

“[31] What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who is against us? [32] He WHO spared not even his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how hath he not also, with him, given us all things? [33] Who shall accuse against the elect of God? God WHO justifieth. [34]Who is he WHO shall condemn? Christ Jesus WHO died, yea WHO is risen also again; who is at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. [35] Who then shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation? or distress? or famine? or nakedness? or danger? or persecution? or the sword? [36] (As it is written: For thy sake we are put to death all the day long. We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.) [37] But in all these things we overcome, because of him WHO hath loved us. [38] For I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor might, [39] Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, WHO (the Holy Spirit) is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

(The above is my correction.)

Mary De Voe
Mary De Voe
Monday, August 17, AD 2015 8:09am

Paul : Isn’t it wonderful to be free of all addiction and live your own life to the fullest. One must make the commitment of “Live free or die” Our Founding Fathers realized that living free is a prerequisite to FREEDOM.

Don L
Don L
Monday, August 17, AD 2015 8:52am

Ah, happiness. that elusive conglomerate.
At a wake recently, a rather fun-filled man commented that happiness was Sunday morning riding his Harley, until the darn (modified for publishing reasons) church-goers came out and clogged the roads.
I pointed to the casket and asked him if he thinks he’ll feel as unhappy about churchgoing when his body is laying there. No answer.

Mary De Voe
Mary De Voe
Monday, August 17, AD 2015 9:29am

Russell Vaughan
No one’s die is cast up until death envelopes the person. Deathbed converts are making their peace with God. If one wants a relationship with the Person of God, which is called religion and is protected by the First Amendment: “or prohibit the free exercise thereof” one must ask God for the gift of Faith and seek the Truth, as you are doing. Atheism is unconstitutional by the First Amendment. The atheist must be tolerated and Religious Freedom must be absolutely guaranteed for when the atheist chooses to embrace the Truth, he has found.
The South never had the Industrial Revolution and is mainly an agrarian culture. They are close to the earth and have blessings that people who work in factories do not have, that is, sunshine, rain on their heads and fresh air. They watch their crops germinate and grow and I am told that the Southern folk are able to see and count the stars at night, because their skies have less, I did not say “none”, but less pollution.
Churches hold all things in trust for our posterity, all future generations. Freedom and Truth are the inheritance of all people.
That is 70 virgins. I often wonder what a soul in Paradise is going to do with seventy virgins, don’t you? Allah has no son to love him and no son to love and Allah does not love persons.)Heaven is the Beatific Vision, seeing God forever and being loved by God forever. Beauty forever. Heaven is JOY, immeasurable, eternal JOY.
Man is fallible. God is infallible. God is Perfect Truth, Perfect Justice, Perfect Love and Perfection, Omniscient, Omnipresent. Do not judge God by man, but ask God to enlighten your mind.

Mary De Voe
Mary De Voe
Monday, August 17, AD 2015 9:30am

All sins are crimes against Truth, Justice and the Person. Lying, perjury, stealing, adultery, betrayal, treason, murder. The only sin that is not a punishable crime is blasphemy against God. The principle of separation of church and state forbids a person to be put to death for blasphemy. In Israel, Jesus was put to death for calling Himself, the Son of God. God, the Father, has adopted all men as his children. Therefore, if Jesus was not God and man in the Hypostatic Union, two natures, Divine and human in one person, Jesus could still call Himself the Son of God. Witches in Salem were put to death for blasphemy, and eating little children: See Hocus Pocus. The Person of God and His Son, Jesus Christ was banished from the public square, a property held in joint and common tenancy by each and every citizen. Jesus Christ, a citizen of the whole world was denied due process of law, without being accused of a crime to His face in a court of law. Man is endowed with a rational, immortal human soul, immortal because his soul will live in eternity in glory or in shame. Free will, the image of God in man, freedom itself, intellect, sovereign personhood, abstract thought, conscience, intuition, premonition, original innocence, perfect legal and moral innocence, the standard of Justice and the compelling interest of the state in preserving and protecting the one-celled individual member of the human species…”Human existence is the criterion for the objective ordering of human rights” …Suarez) and all intangible and metaphysical realities endowed with and through the immortal human soul, who lives eternally, at the procreation of the newly begotten human being. Yes, my ashes will be right next to yours, but I have hope of the Resurrection of the body in Glory through an infinite and Perfect God. Faith is a gift from God for the asking and religion is man’s response to the gift of Faith from God. Hope springs eternal, and Love is the greatest of all virtues, charity.

Michael Dowd
Michael Dowd
Monday, August 17, AD 2015 10:47am

If you want to see real faith in practice go to some AA meetings. The basic premise of AA is that we are powerless over people, places and things and most notably over our addiction. I used to go to AA meeting in a Jesuit retreat house and a few of the Jesuit priests attended. One of the remarkable things they said was that it was in Alcoholics Anonymous that they discovered spirituality for the first time. Religion works. Let go, let God. Really believe God loves you, let God help you reform your life, love God, love others, recognize your progress, and you will find happiness. Most folks in AA will say that being an alcoholic was the best thing that happened to them because they ended up finding God and happiness.

T. Shaw
T. Shaw
Monday, August 17, AD 2015 1:35pm

I don’t read inane crap as represented in such comments. Years ago, I completed exhaustive field work for my post-doctoral degree in mass stupidity.
.
And, if I self-flagellated reading such nonsense (ears so deaf and eyes so blind) for two reasons. One, God will judge them in the end. And, two, do not cast pearls before monkeys and pigs.

Anzlyne
Anzlyne
Monday, August 17, AD 2015 6:06pm

Proverb 18:2 A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing personal opinion

Sadly, people just don’t know what they don’t know. That makes our task and call all the more clear. Good example Mary DeVoe

.

Penguin Fan
Penguin Fan
Monday, August 17, AD 2015 6:13pm

Ah, the Washington Compost readership…The Potomac Pravda readers do not seek information, but rather an echo chamber. I left D.C. 21 years ago, and had a nasty day-long headache the day I left. Modern Atheism oozes arrogance, ignorance and hatred from every orifice. Oh, one day that bunch will believe in God – Judgment Day.

Ernst Schreiber
Ernst Schreiber
Monday, August 17, AD 2015 9:48pm

One of the remarkable things they said was that it was in Alcoholics Anonymous that they discovered spirituality for the first time. Religion works. Let go, let God. Really believe God loves you, let God help you reform your life, love God, love others, recognize your progress, and you will find happiness. Most folks in AA will say that being an alcoholic was the best thing that happened to them because they ended up finding God and happiness.

We must go to the same church, because you just described my Pastor. A man I really respect and admire, btw, for the manner in which he carries out his vocation and shepherds his flock.

Barbara Gordon
Barbara Gordon
Monday, August 17, AD 2015 10:49pm

“God took away, sending me into the hell of heroine withdrawal”

With all due respect, don’t blame God for anyone’s heroine withdrawals. It was the person’s own decision to take the heroine (apart from babies born to addicted moms, etc.) that is responsible for their suffering. The addict’s choices is the cause of their own suffering. Don’t blame God when you reap the natural consequences of your own sinful choices.

Barbara Gordon
Barbara Gordon
Monday, August 17, AD 2015 10:56pm

“The South never had the Industrial Revolution and is mainly an agrarian culture. They are close to the earth and have blessings that people who work in factories do not have, that is, sunshine, rain on their heads and fresh air. They watch their crops germinate and grow and I am told that the Southern folk are able to see and count the stars at night, because their skies have less, I did not say ‘none,’ but less pollution.”

The rest of the country sure enjoys the benefits of the labors & skills of us stupid “Southerners.”

trackback
Monday, August 17, AD 2015 11:02pm

[…] Epic Pew Pro-Life Movement Gains a New App-titude – Peter Jesserer Smith, The Register Washington Post Atheists Mad Over Religion Makes People Happy Article – D. McClarey JD Justice Kennedy Creates Same-Sex ‘Marriage’ Ex Nihilo – […]

Ezabelle
Ezabelle
Tuesday, August 18, AD 2015 4:33am

“With all due respect, don’t blame God for anyone’s heroine withdrawals.”

Really harsh.

Who is blaming God Barbara?

God wills all. Even suffering as a consequence of sin. Because it is God who is in charge. Suffering as a consequence of heroine withdrawal is from God, and in Paul’s case his hard path back to God. God allows suffering. No good Christian blames God for this. I understood the gratitude in Paul’s comment that suffering led him back to God.

Growing up I always wandered why my mother would always end her answers to me with “if God wills it”. It even annoyed me that planning an event always had her remark, “if God wills”. As an adult I find myself using it to my own children. Because I realise how fragile each day is- and how our own plans and ideas don’t eventuate our way, when God is in charge. As He always is.

Paul W Primavera
Tuesday, August 18, AD 2015 5:38am

Thank you, Ezabelle. And thanks be to God for those withdrawals – ever a reminder of what great “fun” it is out there to wallow in the sin and filth of self-will run riot.

Philip
Philip
Tuesday, August 18, AD 2015 6:21am

A very Holy and wise man stated that; “There are no coincidence’s in life, however there is providence.”

Prior to my conversion I would of shrugged the words of St. Pope JP II off, but ever since my return to the Faith I clearly see the difference. A connection with God’s family.
This sight and understanding has brought a peace and joy that surpasses all material gains and worldly pleasures. It’s a filling of a void that can never satisfied by the world, and it’s available to All.

This new life is happy in service to others because others, because the wellspring of love to serve them is from God, not from us.
This is the difference between volunteer and service in God. This service is sanctifying grace, a sharing in God’s work.

Happiness is found every day in the Nursing Home. The effects of this grace bestowed upon the sick and dying is transformational.
For the recipient and the giver. A distinguishable change occurs, and love is the agent. Love that is from God.

Happiness is seeing with new sight the treasurers that surround us, and bringing dignity to many whom the world rejects as being unimportant or unproductive.

Without God I would be as blind as some of the atheist.

Philip
Philip
Tuesday, August 18, AD 2015 6:26am

Please pardon my typos.
On phone WITHOUT my magnifier’s.
New sight, heart…old eyes not so great.

Mary De Voe
Mary De Voe
Tuesday, August 18, AD 2015 8:31am

God love you, Anzlyne

Barbara Gordon
Barbara Gordon
Tuesday, August 18, AD 2015 2:14pm

“God wills all. Even suffering as a consequence of sin. Because it is God who is in charge. Suffering as a consequence of heroine withdrawal is from God, and in Paul’s case his hard path back to God. God allows suffering. No good Christian blames God for this. I understood the gratitude in Paul’s comment that suffering led him back to God.”

The truth often seems harsh. Death being the penalty for sin is VERY harsh.

Re: God willing all in the sense that (I think) you mean it:

James 1:13
When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone;

Re: your understanding of the isolated & somewhat controversial passage re: St. Paul. That IS your understanding because it is not spelled out as such, clearly in the scripture itself. It is not my complete understanding of the portent of that passage.

Barbara Gordon
Barbara Gordon
Tuesday, August 18, AD 2015 2:39pm

“Thank you, Ezabelle. And thanks be to God for those withdrawals – ever a reminder of what great “fun” it is out there to wallow in the sin and filth of self-will run riot.”

Deuteronomy 30:19 “This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live”

John 10:10
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

I have a great deal of respect for PWP.

It is God’s mercy that allows some of us to benefit from the suffering that is the direct result of our sinful choices. Some die because of their singul choices & never have an opportunity to learn anything that will alter their path in this body. God is able to use good things to teach us. I think that, if we were not so hard hearted, (I FULLY include myself in this) that we would not have to learn things the hard way as a result of suffering due to our evil choices.

Ezabelle
Ezabelle
Tuesday, August 18, AD 2015 2:51pm

Compassion should be our attitude for those that are struggling with the sin of addiction who are trying to overcome their addiction. Even if they fall a hundred times. God knows each persons heart. There is no point in telling an addict it is their fault, when they already know this. The unbearable pain of their withdrawal is enough punishment.

It is far more useful to encourage their trust in God. Gods strength and their Hope is all they have. If they loose hope, they might as well be already damned on earth.

Drug addiction is a horrible burden. I don’t wish it on anyone. I pray our children’s generation are safe and clear of it. The allure of its pleasure is frightening.

The “me” generation. The selfish allure of the world. The instant gratification can trick anyone, if our characters are not strong in following God. That’s where our free will needs to follow Gods Will.

Barbara Gordon
Barbara Gordon
Tuesday, August 18, AD 2015 9:30pm

“Compassion should be our attitude for those that are struggling with the sin of addiction who are trying to overcome their addiction. Even if they fall a hundred times. God knows each persons heart. There is no point in telling an addict it is their fault, when they already know this. The unbearable pain of their withdrawal is enough punishment.

It is far more useful to encourage their trust in God. Gods strength and their Hope is all they have. If they loose hope, they might as well be already damned on earth.”
————-

Compassion must be balanced with truth. Period. Compassion will only take one so far toward freedom. Compassion combined with truth is what sets people free. Compassion apart from truth is enablement. It is an incredible mistake to equate truth telling as a lack of compassion or as false judgement. I am simply sick and tired of folks blaming God for their own sinful choices & their suffering as a result of their sinful choices-that God had nothing to do with. I grew up in the Baptist church–& I’m telling you the truth (again) when I say that some of those folks blame God when they break a fingernail or stub their toe.

see Galatians 3:24

Re: a scriptural connection between sinful choices & the consequences we bring on ourselves specifically:

KJV says: “Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.”

NAS says: “Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith.”

ERV says: “So that the law hath been our tutor to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.”
—————-
Re: general scriptures connecting the consequences of sin:

“Your own conduct and actions have brought this upon you. This is your punishment. How bitter it is! How it pierces to the heart!” (Jeremiah 4:18)

There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil. (Romans 2:9)

“There is no peace,” says my God, “for the wicked.”
(Isaiah 57:21)

He who digs a hole and scoops it out falls into the pit he has made. The trouble he causes recoils on himself; his violence comes down on his own head. ( Psalm 7:15-16)
The evil deeds of a wicked man ensnare him; the cords of his sin hold him fast. (Proverbs 5:22)

If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. (Hebrews 10:26-27)

But because of your stubbornness and you unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. (Romans 2:5)

The evil man has no future hope, and the lamp of the wicked will be snuffed out. (Proverbs 24:20)

The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men. (Romans 1:18)

—————–

PWP and I have communicated back & forth on this site for 2 years now (? maybe longer?). Unless there is something I don’t know, he repented of & left that sinful life style LONG ago & is living a life as faithful as he knows how. So there is no need (to my knowledge) to fear that he will continue in a sinful, drug addicted life style due to my comments on this blog.

Ezabelle
Ezabelle
Tuesday, August 18, AD 2015 9:58pm

Barbara- It is not your job to bring God His justice on earth.

You don’t know where people have come from, nor what motivates their bad choices.

St Monica could have gone blue in the face slamming the truth down her sons throat. But, being the wise woman that she was, she bore his bad choices patiently and kept praying. God worked out St Augustines heart- no one else, not even his own mother could.

The truth must be told with love, not frustration and anger.

If you feel frustrated at the shunning of God by many on this earth, imagine how Christ felt.

Yet, he still allows us to choose good or evil freely.

God does not need you to defend Him.

That is not your job.

Your job is to live how He asks us to live.

To be an example to others by your life.

To live his truths patiently. Not in frustration and anger.

To pray for others.

To discern when and how you help others.

God works out the rest.

Sin will exist till the end of time.

Barbara Gordon
Barbara Gordon
Tuesday, August 18, AD 2015 11:09pm

“Barbara- It is not your job to bring God His justice on earth.”

“You don’t know where people have come from, nor what motivates their bad choices.”

“God does not need you to defend Him.”

“That is not your job.

Your job is to live how He asks us to live.

To be an example to others by your life.

To live his truths patiently. Not in frustration and anger.

To pray for others.

To discern when and how you help others.”
———–
Whew. Ezabelle, I am bot accepting the false condemnation that you are trying to send my direction in telking me how to be compassionate to others. You might want to try to apply the things you are attempting to preach to me to your interactions with me online.

Please read what I have actually written, & not simply listen to your own emotional response to them.

Wow. What false judgement & condemnation & attempted imputation of motivation you are sending my way while accusing me of doing the same.

Ezabelle
Ezabelle
Tuesday, August 18, AD 2015 11:31pm

No Barbara, Everything I wrote I apply to myself first and foremost. All of which I struggle with also. It seems I have struck a chord with you and you dismiss me at judging you. Rather than responding to a comment. I’m not sure why..

I don’t know you, but am responding to your frustrations at the world. And reminding you to not be frustrated by the world but to carry your cross patiently, like we are all meant to- me first and foremost.

Maybe reread my comment when you feel less frustrated. You will see I have no intention in judging you.

Barbara Gordon
Barbara Gordon
Wednesday, August 19, AD 2015 4:42am

Ezabelle:

Let’s apply your reasoning. You said, “God wills all. Even suffering as a consequence of sin. Because it is God who is in charge.” Well, that means that God wills (what you perceive to be) my errors in thinking & actions (by your reasoning.) Since Gid wills it, why are you trying to change what is God’s will?

William P. Walsh
William P. Walsh
Wednesday, August 19, AD 2015 2:47pm

Being in a state of grace is to have one foot in Heaven. I don’t there’s anything imaginary about having a sense of a joyful spiritual reality. Not being in a state of grace evokes a justified sense of impending doom and utter isolation. Atheism make no sense at all.

Ezabelle
Ezabelle
Wednesday, August 19, AD 2015 3:54pm

Don’t blame God for your own thinking. Lol. Heard that before?

God gave you free will. So yes, God allows you to think as you choose. That’s Gods will that he gave us free will. And for good reason.

Ever heard of divine providence? Want to explain it? I can only to a point- because I can’t claim to know why and how God operates.

God wills all- and to your dismay, you may not always understand Gods way. By All, I mean All.

Don L
Don L
Wednesday, August 19, AD 2015 4:17pm

I might suggest that God’s will includes all that happens in creation–god and evil–in the sense that nothing can happen without His “allowing it.”
This, however, is fundamentally different than His will being what He desires we do, and not oppose Him, or our nature, with our choices.

Let’s not confuse the two.

Ezabelle
Ezabelle
Wednesday, August 19, AD 2015 5:02pm

Thanks Don. Yes! I think that is my point- you worded it better than I tried to.

My point, we understand and trust that God is in charge- allowing and intervening in His own grande way- then this can bring us peace knowing that the Divine Creator has not left this world in its own mess- an Agnostic’s thinking. He is always there. He can bring good from our Evil ways.
We NEED Him. He does not need us.

But rather, He WANTS us because He loves us.

Mary De Voe
Mary De Voe
Wednesday, August 19, AD 2015 5:53pm

William P. Walsh: “Being in a state of grace is to have one foot in Heaven.”
St. Joan of Arc said: “If I am in a state of grace, I thank God. If I am not in a state of grace, I pray God put me there.”

Ezabelle
Ezabelle
Wednesday, August 19, AD 2015 7:39pm

“Some rebel against what happens to them but God does nothing without the salvation of man in mind” (St. Catherine of Siena).

“Nothing can come but that God wills” (St. Thomas More).

“The Lord showed me that all manner of things shall be well” (Julian of Norwich).

Micha Elyi
Micha Elyi
Saturday, August 22, AD 2015 8:12pm

Ayn Rand, so flawed but never lukewarm, once described those like the commenters on the Washington Post web site very well indeed, that “they hate the good for being the good.”

Ann Smith
Wednesday, August 26, AD 2015 7:52pm

The guy who made the comment about the Southerners is perhaps misinformed. Does the article say where the study’s subjects are from? Let’s consider some of the northern states like Massachusetts and Rhode Island. These are the two most Catholic states in the U.S with roughly 40%-45% of the population self-identifying as Catholics. The people in these states hold education in high regard as evidenced by the plethora of fine colleges and universities including Brown and Harvard. The people in these places are also fitter and live longer than those in the southern states. Lastly, the per-capita income is higher than in many southern states.

I would also like to address those who have decided that God is bad because he supposedly makes people suffer: God gave us free will. Evil exists in the world because of Satan. God created Satan and Satan was given free will too. So next time you want to blame God for something, don’t. God is love. Satan is the father of lies and loves you when you post hate speech against God. Without understanding, you will be Satan’s in the end.

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