ridiculous column in my local paper

[susangail]

I saw the teaser headline on the front page (Does God Like You Best?) and I had to read the column for some reason. I know it's the personal opinion of the writer, but they wouldn't have put a religious-type column in the paper unless it was pro-Christianity. My town is too conservative (They have signs like "God loves you" in the malls here. I just saw one the other day, not that that has anything to do with the article...)

i]The Bakersfield Californian[/i]"]Ah, the eternal questions: Is God a Democrat or a Republican? Male or female? A warrior or a peacenik? A Yankees or a Mets fan? Does God say “to-may-to” or “to-mah-to”? If God created us in his/her image, what could God possibly look like? And since I pray to the Judeo-Christian God, does that mean that the God of the Hindus or the Muslims or the Buddhists is out to get me?

We all like to think that God is on our side. We also like to feel that we are on God’s good side. But if God is our cheerleader, that must mean that God is booing those who oppose us. After all, God can’t be on everyone’s side. That would not make sense.

In our righteousness, we proclaim that God’s opinions jibe with ours. We are certain that God is of the same political bent as ourselves, and we sift through the Bible for nuggets that justify our claim to God’s favor. In the process, we present a vision of God that is fragmented, partisan, divided. We divvy up God in little divine pieces among us.

And just about every group is guilty. On the left, the actress Sharon Stone recently surmised that China’s May 12 earthquake was due to bad karma.

“I’m not happy about the way the Chinese are treating the Tibetans,” she said, “ … and then I thought, is that karma? When you’re not nice that the bad things happen to you?”

If Stone is right about God being anti-oppressive-governments, why didn’t God send an earthquake to the Third Reich? To the Khmer Rouge? Or, for that matter, to the occupying Romans of 33 A.D.?

On the right, as San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom officiated at a same-sex wedding, a protester predicted, “God is going to destroy this nation, not just … California.” And of course we have heard from Pastor John Hagee that Hurricane Katrina was God’s punishment for a gay pride parade, and from Jerry Falwell that the attacks of Sept. 11 were God’s payback for abortion, feminism, the ACLU and general godlessness.

I don’t know whose side God is on. Like every other human, I have no insight into the mind of God.

I do believe that while God calls us into an intimate, personal relationship, that does not mean that random natural disasters or other cataclysmic events are an indication, or a vindication, that we are God’s favorite. I also believe that we only begin to act according to God’s will when we follow the path outlined in the Gospels, which is pretty much the way of every religion: Treat others with dignity and respect, as you would want to be treated. Honor God, your elders, your children, the earth. Use your gifts for good. Be kind, fruitful, faithful, humble, and just. Love without judgment. Forsake violence. And be careful in assuming that God likes you best.

Opinions expressed are those of Valerie Schultz, not The Californian.

This was in the "Eye Street" section (not the "Faith" section we have once or twice a week).  
This post is probably just a vent, but thanks for reading.

[Atheist Mother]

That's amazingly small minded, but I am guessing that nothing will show up in the Opinions section in the coming week.  I live in a small mountain town outside of Fresno, so I understand what you are talking about as far as conservative and "Christian" these valley areas are.  That could have been printed in any number of papers in this area.  

We all like to think that God is on our side. We also like to feel that we are on God’s good side. But if God is our cheerleader, that must mean that God is booing those who oppose us. After all, God can’t be on everyone’s side. That would not make sense.  

You are right Valerie, it would not make sense.   What a silly notion that "we" are on god's good side.  

I think that a letter to the editor, though it won't get printed, is in order.

[afreethinker30]

Sounds to me like she is trying to assure herself that the God she believes in is on her side.I think it's rather sad.

[Asmodean]

We all like to think that God is on our side. We also like to feel that we are on God’s good side. But if God is our cheerleader, that must mean that God is booing those who oppose us. After all, God can’t be on everyone’s side. That would not make sense.  

You are right Valerie, it would not make sense.   What a silly notion that "we" are on god's good side.  

I think that a letter to the editor, though it won't get printed, is in order.

I'd say that "We like to think" is the key phrase here. There are those who do like to think that, and in the process they assume that there are only two sides to a coin. What if their god is on his own side or what if it is completely impartial..?

[afreethinker30]

We all like to think that God is on our side. We also like to feel that we are on God’s good side. But if God is our cheerleader, that must mean that God is booing those who oppose us. After all, God can’t be on everyone’s side. That would not make sense.  

You are right Valerie, it would not make sense.   What a silly notion that "we" are on god's good side.  

I think that a letter to the editor, though it won't get printed, is in order.

I'd say that "We like to think" is the key phrase here. There are those who do like to think that, and in the process they assume that there are only two sides to a coin. What if their god is on his own side or what if it is completely impartial..?

But that would mean if God is on God's side that her prayers and faith are usless.And damn it thinking that way is wrong.Because God   loves us all right?He sent his only son to die for us man!

[Asmodean]

But that would mean if God is on God's side that her prayers and faith are usless.And damn it thinking that way is wrong.Because God   loves us all right?He sent his only son to die for us man!

Nah, god sent his kid here to preach and convert the sinners and bring them to light. And then the sinners crucified his holy bottom. If I were god, I'd be more than mildly upset with that...

[afreethinker30]

But that would mean if God is on God's side that her prayers and faith are usless.And damn it thinking that way is wrong.Because God   loves us all right?He sent his only son to die for us man!

Nah, god sent his kid here to preach and convert the sinners and bring them to light. And then the sinners crucified his holy bottom. If I were god, I'd be more than mildly upset with that...

Yeah where was the lighting,thunder..the earth breaking in two and people falling thru the cracks.

[Tom62]

The article really shows the flaws of theist thinking. Since theists claim that nearly everything that happens is caused by their God there is a lot of explaining to do when something bad happens. In most cases this reasoning is rather silly, stupid or plain dangerous. Everyone who claim to have a direct link with God can get away with it and what is more dangerous there are a lot of people who actually believe in that crap. In many cases these explanations are inconsistent, which  basically means that theists don't have a clue why their God is "misbehaving". Best solution that theists so far have to offer is to blame it on other people. That solution has been around for hundreds of years and have caused so much misery that it makes me sick. Bubonic plagues in the 15th century, well just blame it on the Jews and kill them by the thousands. Katerina, that must have been caused by the fact that we love homosexuals. Just a pity that the law forbid us to kill them. With theist reasoning you can even invent explanations that fundamentalist theists don't like, but which are (according to their own logic ) equally "true". Why wasn't there an earthquake in the Third Reich? Germany was a country under God. Why did Katerina happen? I'm sure that must have been caused by the foreign policies of the US government (probably Allah punished the US, because Bush invaded Iraq). That is the real beauty of theist thinking, isn't it? You don't need a real reason to explain mishaps, any stupid excuse will do and your followers will take it for granted.

[afreethinker30]

That and the Devil are to blame.Much easier to put your faults on someone else then to own up to it.

[Evolved]

God is a gay female independent.  I love watching people debate over nonsense.  It's so much fun.  It's like watching trekkies argue over who was smarter - Kirk or Spock.  Trekkies are more intelligent than churchies on average, but it's hilarious when people quarrel over the make believe.

And just about every group is guilty.

And I can think of only one group who is not guilty...atheists.

[susangail]

Okay good. This is the first time I've read this since I posted it. I was afraid for a bit that since it was an opinion column, I had no right to be pissed (or annoyed maybe). *Whew*

But that would mean if God is on God's side that her prayers and faith are usless.And damn it thinking that way is wrong.Because God   loves us all right?He sent his only son to die for us man!

Nah, god sent his kid here to preach and convert the sinners and bring them to light. And then the sinners crucified his holy bottom. If I were god, I'd be more than mildly upset with that...

Oh but it's in His Plan! He knew His "only begotten Son" would die for all of us. Because He loves us.

[Asmodean]

Okay good. This is the first time I've read this since I posted it. I was afraid for a bit that since it was an opinion column, I had no right to be pissed (or annoyed maybe). *Whew*

But that would mean if God is on God's side that her prayers and faith are usless.And damn it thinking that way is wrong.Because God  

[susangail]

Still, since "He" regards his own kid as expendable, how can we, mere mortals, get a better deal?  :brick: