Is it a sign of punishment when bad things happen?

Mr. Ed

Mr. Ed

Be what you is not what you what you ain’t
Location
Central NY
There are examples of God’s anger and retribution in the Bible. Various religions depict the wrath various godly figures toward mankind because they can.

However, the question remains, when bad things happen do you blame God? How do you know that God is to blame? What if no one is to blame, but just an unexplainable act of life? Do we need someone or something to blame for life’s bumpy road.

What I choose to hang on to in my lifetime is my choice. Therefore, if anyone is to blame it is me.
 

No, I don't blame God for anything. The Americans say on their coinage, "In God We Trust." Every nation that goes to war says that "God is on their side." The crusaders went to war against the Infidel because "God Was On Their Side." The Muslims went to war because Allah was on their side. Big contradiction there. If you ask me; its the fat politicians who cause the wars and send the young men to die. It certainly isn't God unless you picture God as a terrible, mean war loving madman/woman who loves to see people die. I don't think so!

Things like floods, earthquakes, hurricanes, war, plane crashes and forest fires, etc. happen because there is nature and there are too many people on this planet. You might pray for peace but there never has been peace on earth and there probably never will be! Using God as a scapegoat isn't fair. People need someone to blame for natural things and often they blame God as they are pretty sure he isn't going to sue them for this in a court of law. If you believe in God; don't blame him because you maxed out on all your credit cards. Blame Yourself!
 

Some time ago, i realized the immensity of God.
Like the man that said, 'Theology made me crazy'.

As a toddler cannot understand his parent's motives, so are we-
as we try to understand one who rules the universe.

(there is a desire to respond to this thread, but i know my responses can only be limited) ,
 
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I have a tendency to blame God in certain instances although I've been taught not to do so.
I'm not particularly religious and more of an agnostic. I have many more questions than answers, My mom is probably turning over in her grave as I write this.
I have no problem accepting responsibility for my poor judgement or any situation that me or anyone I know could have handled differently with a better outcome.
But because God made this earth I would think he would have the ability to control events that we can't which has killed many innocent people.
We are responsible for wars, global warming, and a host of other issues that plague us but I think @Knight had a very valid post, Only God could control a situation involving terrible birth defects and other issues out of our control.

And being the age I am I also think about the agony suffered by my loved ones for weeks and sometimes years before they died.
In these instances people pray. Sometimes they pray for someone to recover, When it happens they praise God. When the person doesn't recover they praise God for taking the person so he or she is no longer suffering.
Seems like God gets a free pass for most everything.
I haven't studied the Bible in depth and maybe there are answers for all this.
It is just my perception of life as I have lived it for the past 76 years.
I am happy that many have found comfort in there religion, I'm just not there yet.
 
Mr. Ed said:
However, the question remains, when bad things happen do you blame God? How do you know that God is to blame? What if no one is to blame, but just an unexplainable act of life? Do we need someone or something to blame for life’s bumpy road.
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There is no god.
 
I don't blame God but I sometimes question why. We of faith also tend to believe that things happen for a reason, even if we don't understand why at the time. That's a part of having faith. I've had discussions about children who are born (eg) disabled or into abusive families in which it's been said that we choose to come back into the bodies we inhabit. I believe @feywon can explain that concept better than I can. @Knight

Mr. Ed, if (God forbid) your home gets damaged by a natural disaster or you're involved in, say a three car collision while you are driving perfectly safely...the blame wouldn't be on you. Bad things do happen to good people. Is it Karma for something they did in the past, or a past life...I don't know.
 
OneEyedDiva said:
I don't blame God but I sometimes question why. We of faith also tend to believe that things happen for a reason, even if we don't understand why at the time. That's a part of having faith. I've had discussions about children who are born (eg) disabled or into abusive families in which it's been said that we choose to come back into the bodies we inhabit. I believe @feywon can explain that concept better than I can. @Knight

Mr. Ed, if (God forbid) your home gets damaged by a natural disaster or you're involved in, say a three car collision while you are driving perfectly safely...the blame wouldn't be on you. Bad things do happen to good people. Is it Karma for something they did in the past, or a past life...I don't know.
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Where to start?

Bad things happen to good people for a variety of reasons, most often because we live in overpopulated interactive world where someone else's bad choices can cause damage to our lives. (Think drunk driver--all too often they hit people who could not possibly have anticipated crossing paths with them).

Probably second most common reason is that because most people tend to project and think others are like them, good people tend to expect decent behavior (civil, considerate at least if not compassionate) from others. Pathological liars think everyone lies as much as they do; cheaters are usually very suspicious of their partners/spouses.) So good people can make bad choices because they don't realize what kind of people they're dealing with.

Birth defects, illnesses are a facet of this physical reality. Westerners tend to have misconceptions about Karma and reincarnation. Too much to explain here. But in Eastern traditions people conceive of a between life 'place' (not a physical place as we think of our reality, another plane or dimension) where in consultation with guides one lays out a rough lesson plan of what one needs/wants to learn to foster spiritual growth.

This plan is more about what we need to learn than how we will learn it. Because we don't retain full (few retain any) memory of making the plan, sometimes it has to be presented releatedly in varios ways before we actually 'get it'. This can result in patterns within individual incarnations of increasingly unpleasant opportunities to learn it.

Often souls are linked thru various lifetimes. Both Edgar Cayce and the "Seth" material (as channeled thru Jane Roberts) talk extensively about that for anyone interested.

For myself, i don't think too much in terms of punishment/reward but rather of making progress on my path. So it may seem odd that even when going thru hard times i stay alert to things to feel grateful for, things to appreciate along the way. I have so often been in the right place/time to help someone else because of 'setbacks' or delays to my plan for a day that instead of getting upset about such things i remind myself to stay alert to what's going on with strangers around me.
 
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YESSS!!! You make good points and I knew you could explain it better. Also, during the metaphysical course I took, the instructor mentioned that we reincarnate in groups which somewhat mirrors what you said: "Often souls are linked thry various lifetimes." I have also been in situation where I seemed to show up just at the right time to be able to help somebody. Like you, I direct my focus to what's in my life to be grateful for, even during the dark times. Now, more than ever, it's important that we stay alert, for sure.
 
When bad things happen it is often a sign you have fouled up.
Example: Car crash ? It's usually a sign you were not paying attention to your driving, OR a sign someone else was not paying attention to their driving.
 
The Story of the Old Farmer

One morning, a farmer's best horse ran out through the gate and did not return.
The farmer's neighbors all came 'round and said "It's a shame you lost your best horse."
The farmer said, "Maybe."
The following evening, the horse came back, followed by six healthy wild horses.
The farmer's neighbors all came 'round and said, "Isn't it great you have 6 new horses?"
The farmer said, "Maybe."
When the farmer's son rode one of the new horses, to tame it, the horse threw him off, and the farmer's son broke his leg.
The farmer's neighbors all came 'round and said "It's a shame your son has a broken leg."
And the farmer said, "Maybe."
The next day, a conscription officer came to the farm to take the old farmer's son into military service.
But they left him, due to his broken leg.
The farmer's neighbors all came 'round and said, "It's wonderful your son won't have to serve in the military."
And the farmer said, "Maybe."
 
Mr. Ed said:
However, the question remains, when bad things happen do you blame God? How do you know that God is to blame? What if no one is to blame, but just an unexplainable act of life? Do we need someone or something to blame for life’s bumpy road.
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No

Stuff happens on this effed up planet

Matthew 5:45 — The New International Version (NIV)​

....He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
 
Pepper said:
There is no god.
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I disagree upon the premise of interpretation. Perhaps you don't believe in your interpretation, but that doesn't mean God in some form or fashion does not exists to other people. I support your belief as you stated because it is meaningful to you on the hand are you willing to support my belief because it has meaning to me?
 
Everything I learned growing up in church and bible college does not adequately define God or provide and understandable image of God to believe in.

I support the idea of God as that is past, present future and infinity. God is us and we by the depth of understanding. Some are closer to God than others are, and it is always our choice how and what we believe in.
 
First, who says life is supposed to be easy? That's thinking it's never going to rain, and everything will be bright and sunny, forever. Pleasant, and not so pleasant things, are going to happen to us. I believe you are correct in that we are responsible for our own lives, and the choices we make., regardless of "Biblical retribution."
 
If God is related to my previous definition, then God is too big to define.
 
My mother often used to attribute misfortune to "God's way", but she was totally incapable of defending that position. Which brings me to relate an anecdote that I'm sure I told before.....
One year we had a student working in our department. At lunchtime while we strolled into town or had a swift drink, he would sit at his desk and study his bible. He was a nice guy, but a tad irritating with his constant biblical references and cheery nature.
Anyway, one morning he was very gloomy, so I asked him if anything was wrong. He said that his fiancee had broken off their engagement.
I asked if this had shaken his faith. He said yes it had, but then he realised that God must have a reason for this.
At this point a colleague turned round and said, "Yes, he just xxxing well hates you"
 

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