"God had plans for him." I hate it when people say things like that.

[raccoon]

The thread about the 12 year old being shot accidentally by an uncle while hunting made me think of this.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022097499

I guess God's plans were for the boy to take a dirt nap before he became a teenager.

[man4allcats]

1. Who is this God you speak of,

and why would he (or she) harbor such lethal plans? - Just Another Atheist Wondering Why

[Buzz Clik]

2. You hit the nail on the head. For those who believe in God, ...

... casting your fate into God's hands is just what you do. Take it on faith and move on.

[cbayer]

4. Broad brush generalization without anything to back it up.

While there are some theists who take the approach you describe, it is by no means all.

[Buzz Clik]

6. Ok.

[cbayer]

3. Said by a grieving family member.

If that brings him some measure of comfort, where is the problem?

[Buzz Clik]

7. Agreed.

This all seems highly personal.

[Demo_Chris]

5. Equally bad: "They are in heaven now!" (nt)

[Swede Atlanta]

8. The statement is so condescending......

I believe in God but I also believe that God gives each of us life. What we do with that life is not God-directed but rather something we make for ourselves.

So to the extent we follow the "golden rule" of helping others, are kind and considerate, etc. we express love for one another.

But I don't think God has specific plans for anyone. He sets things in motion and what happens, happens.

[cbayer]

9. How is perceiving god differently condescending?

[northoftheborder]

11. i agree with your viewpoint

[tularetom]

10. God had the same plan for him as he does for the rest of us.

Worm food.

[dimbear]

12. Charles Baudelaire had a more colorful take on it:

http://fleursdumal.org/poem/225


(French and English)

[Laochtine]

13. There used to be an old commercial

You pay me now or you pay me later, I think it might have been Fram air filters.