Don't Assume

Never would I say, when someone had something bad happen to them "I guess that praying thing didn't work out for you", or point out that, since there was no God, they brought whatever bad thing happened on themselves. I would never assume that whatever spiritual solace someone was seeking in a death, or an economic downturn, or an injury was the same as mine, and that I should impose my worldview on them. So I get a bit peeved when someone assumes that when I lose a friend or family member to death that what I believe is that "God took them", or "they're in a better place"; or when I lose my job or wreck my car or break a bone that "God has a plan", or "the universe has something better in store for you" or, worst of all "everything happens for a reason".

Well, my response is: God should have shared his plan with me before dragging me into it, the universe can consult me before deciding what is better for me, and really, what precisely is the the reason that everything happens for?

My current view, based not a theology, philosophy or wishful thinking, is that the available evidence does not support any entity, whether God, or angels, or the universe, or the damn tooth fairy intervening in our lives due to our prayers, incense burning, or just because we think that they ought to. You want to believe otherwise? Have at it. I'm not going to try to talk you out of it. It's not my job to stick a needle in the balloon of whatever gets you through the night, but it's also not your job to try to "comfort" me by proclaiming that my broken toe is part of a cosmic blueprint that I should just shut up and accept, or that you're praying for my toe to miraculously heal (then, a few weeks later when it does what it has evolved to do - self-heal - this "proves" that prayer works).

Don't assume that I think like you.

Consider yourself invited to ask, and we'll have a discussion.