The Secret

[CoffeeCanuck]

Truth is truth... there is no "according to this or that" It is an absolute. I don't claim to have a corner on it... But if you believe in God, He is the author of it. No need to mock.

I agree ned. It always amazes me when people come into a discussion to only offer up a sarcastic retort or to mock someones opinion.

I think that if a person can find something that assists them in making positive changes in their lives, whether it's this book The Secret, religion, whatever, it's a good thing. What strikes a cord with one person may not with another.

~D

[warden]

Who was sarcastic or mocking?

Has this now become an area where those who don't buy into your god or your version of god are no longer welcome?

[Nebula]

A religious friend once commented about the movie "The Secret" saying that she didn't believe in The Secret because it suggested that you have control of your destiny and her destiny was in God's hands. I thought that strange at the time, and yet I've seen a number of posts recently to that effect. Do you control your destiny or is it in God's hands?

Excellent subject. Nevermind The Secret, the basis of your post is something that has baffled me since I was young and I have never been able to make sense of it.

When I was 11-years-old, I went to my first funeral, my father's. The priest said yada yada this and yada yada that and my dad's death being part of God's plan. From that day, I have wrestled with that statement and what it represents.

[eyepop]

we had (or lost) the parents we did,

so we know what children need.

[bdbnkr]

A religious friend once commented about the movie "The Secret" saying that she didn't believe in The Secret because it suggested that you have control of your destiny and her destiny was in God's hands. I thought that strange at the time, and yet I've seen a number of posts recently to that effect. Do you control your destiny or is it in God's hands?

Excellent subject. Nevermind The Secret, the basis of your post is something that has baffled me since I was young and I have never been able to make sense of it.

When I was 11-years-old, I went to my first funeral, my father's. The priest said yada yada this and yada yada that and my dad's death being part of God's plan. From that day, I have wrestled with that statement and what it represents.

I agree it is not an easything to understand. We have "free will", yet it is "His plan".
I will not try to explain it as I do not think I could do it justice... I think I will just watch this one from the sidelines.

[Nebula]

A most gracious bowing out, bdbnkr.

[bdbnkr]

A most gracious bowing out, bdbnkr.

a man's gotta know his limitations

[Amor vincit omnia]

I think that if a person can find something that assists them in making positive changes in their lives, whether it's this book The Secret, religion, whatever, it's a good thing. What strikes a cord with one person may not with another.

Well said.

[Big ned]

It's really not that difficult.

It is God's plan that we be sent here to earth to see if we will use our "free will" for good or evil. Will we follow that feeling inside us that tells what we are doing is right or wrong? His plan IS that we have free will here on earth.

[Nebula]

Big ned, see I can grasp that concept. What you're saying is our time here on Earth is completely up to us to spend as we choose. We screrw up, we live with the consequences. That all makes perfect sense.

What doesn't make sense is when something happens and a religious person says,"I know it's hard to understand, but it's all part of God's plan."

[Big ned]

Well, that could mean several things.. couldn't it? Since we are all existing here on earth as a part of God's plan, everything that happens is part of God's plan. I don't think that means there is specifically any deep meaning etc. to what just happened. I guess you would have to ask the religious person that said that.

I wouldn't pretend to know God's will for each individual, so to have any deeper meaning than simply "Here we are in God's plan" would be presumptuous. I do believe we are entitled to personal revelation and some people may have a specific insight into why something happened pertaining to God's plan, but that I would say is fairly rare.

[eyepop]

when both teams dedicate and pray to (the same) god before a game,
how does he decide who wins?

like, what's HIS game plan?

[Boda]

when both teams dedicate and pray to (the same) god before a game,
how does he decide who wins?

like, what's HIS game plan?

May the best prayer win.

[Big ned]

That always cracks me up when sports teams pray to win a game. I don't think God cares who wins a basketball game (unless it is BYU... kidding of course). I can see praying that you can play to the best of you ability or for sportsmanship, but praying to win is silly.

[zzontar]

when both teams dedicate and pray to (the same) god before a game,
how does he decide who wins?

like, what's HIS game plan?

May the best prayer win.

good one!