For the "thoughts and prayers" only crowd. .why is it that you pray to your "god"

[niyad]

AFTER every tragedy, every shooting, every earthquake, every fire, etc., etc. but not BEFORE? If your "god" is so caring, so loving, so understanding, so ALL-POWERFUL, why does he allow/create these situations in the first place? "Thank you for sparing my life, even though my town, my home, my friends, were all destroyed" does not seem reasonable to me. I do not understand the failure to connect the dots.

[TheProle]

1. Dyed-in-the-wool atheist here, but it's common in Christianity to ask for blessings in advance

as well as lamenting suffering after the fact. I mean, the Lords Prayer and 23rd Psalm are sort of preventative praying.

It's a universal truism that deities are fickle entities, indeed.

[multigraincracker]

2. Inner Locus of Control.

The world is random. Like a deck of cards is shuffled. I have no control over it.
The only control I have is how I play the cards that are dealt to me.

[3catwoman3]

3. "...why does he allow/create these situations in the first place? "

A damn good question that never gets a good answer. The usual BS "answers" are that Gawd works in mysterious ways and that we aren't meant to understand.

It always irritates the hell out of me when those who are offering thoughts and prayers after a mass shooting ask Gawd to bless the families of the victims. If whatever Gawd there might be were really blessing the, their beloved family members wouldn't have been slaughtered.

A few years ago, a neighbor dropped dead frpm a heart attack while owing his lawn. I joined with some women from the neighborhood to help organize things for the memorial service. I think I was the only one who was not a member of a mainstream church (happily questioning agnostic UU here). During the planning session, as it was drawing to a close, one of the women said, "We've got this, ladies. God's got this."

I had to resist with all my might not to retort, "If God's got this, why did Dave die while mowing his lawn?"

[Traildogbob]

4. He is way too busy.

Choosing athletes he prefers to win events around the world. Now with football ready to go all in, he will have no time for children being slaughtered or hurricane casualties. Joe Quarterback needs a win before he can praise his help.
Track and Field Worlds and Soccer Worlds with football and baseball playoffs……what do we expect from God, he can’t be everywhere………….(She could, women are the best multi taskers)

[niyad]

6. Ah, thank you for that clear explanation. And for your last sentence.

[madinmaryland]

8. I hear God is a WNBA fan. He's going to be busy as the playoffs will be starting soon.

[Traildogbob]

9. I know

Track, Field, Baseball, Football, WNBA, Soccer, Wiffle Ball, Quadball, Bull Shooter Invitational, Turf War Kickball, Tennis, Belt Sander Races, Highland Games, Swarm Fling Golf, Table Hockey, Timber Sports, Corgi Races, Footgolf World Cup, Wisconsin Auctioneers Championship, Omega Ball Men’s Championship, Roofball, Ultimate Disc, eScooter Championship, Nobelville Bed Races, Adult Big Wheel Races, Air Guitar Championship and many more.
These are ALL real sports events this weekend.
Gonna be a busy God.
Plus, gotta be NASCAR.
AND is in Trump’s ear 24/7. (The good ear, not the one blown off as Eric described)

[EmmaLee E]

5. BE THE HELP YOU PRAY FOR!

(My word to the thoughts and prayers crowd.)

God works through people, and we must use our hands, our minds, our actions.
When people are in distress - those that enter the fray and help them are the Godly Ones.
Those who see trouble on a grand scale and offer legislation (see gun control) are the Godly Ones.

Look to the Helpers - they are the Godly Ones.
Be the help you pray for.

[pwb]

7. People pray to their God for comfort.

It is humankind that creates the grief and is more deserving of the ridicule. IMO.

[writerJT]

10. Profound

[niyad]

15. Thank you.

[writerJT]

16. No. Thank YOU!

Your post has given me a whole new way to see the world. It’s so original, so revolutionary. A real life-changing experience.

[MorbidButterflyTat]

11. I thought

the "'thoughts and prayers' only crowd," would refer to MAGAt Republicans. Haven't seen any of them around DU.

[niyad]

13. Well, let's see. We had maybelline couchhumper explaining "thoughts

and prayers" here earlier. And there are such things as rhetorical questions, which are actually allowed here on DU.

[Intractable]

12. Why do infinitely powerful beings need to be worshipped?

Is it an ego thing?

Seems to me, if one is truly powerful and wise, one doesn't need the reassurances of others.

[niyad]

14. Never undeerstood that myself. .like a sign I saw on the back of a car here

in fundieville recently, "america bless god". Assuming a belief in an omnipotent deity, that sign struck me as extreme hubris.

[3catwoman3]

17. One of many ways God is made in man's image...

…rather than the oft-said reverse.

[niyad]

22. What slogan would that be?

[Jack Valentino]

19. I DID pray before the tragedies, but the son of a bitch

lingers on.....

[niyad]

21. Those prayers are, sadly, NOT being answered.

[Skittles]

20. because it is a bunch of fucking nonsense

and they know it

[Tommy Carcetti]

23. I'm shy to discuss my own beliefs, but...

…when I do pray, I pray not only for what has happened but also for the betterment of society, humanity and knowledge.