Was Covid a Part of God’s Plan?

[sharkman]

So this might be a little bit controversial, but I’m sure it’s crossed the mind of more than a few.  Since Covid was more than likely man made, and with gain of function, one might ask how the hell would that be in God’s plan?

But if something, let’s say used for evil, is not part of God’s plan for the world, then is God really in control?

What say you?

Edited March 10, 2022 by sharkman

[Moonlight Graham]

COVID is just a small blip in natural selection, whether it was made from a lab or came from a food market.

It's quite possible God is smoking a heavenly reefer right now and doesn't give a hoot about COVID.  If were a God and created an ant-farm the size of the universe I probably would only have a passing care only some of the time.

[BubberMiley]

If halfwits are used for evil by people who are smarter than them, are they evil in the eyes of the Lord? Or does he recognize their inferior brains and forgive their evil because they know not what they do? 

I imagine he gets a little old testament when their stupidity results in innocent people dying.

[sharkman]

So perhaps Covid was God's judgement, or going all old testament on the earth due to stupidity related deaths?  

[TreeBeard]

On 3/10/2022 at 10:11 AM, sharkman said:

So perhaps Covid was God's judgement, or going all old testament on the earth due to stupidity related deaths?  

Which god?

[Faramir]

Well, every thing is part of His plan.  But it definitely was not on biblical proportions. 

[OftenWrong]

God has a plan?  

 

On 3/9/2022 at 9:35 PM, Moonlight Graham said:

It's quite possible God is smoking a heavenly reefer right now and doesn't give a hoot about COVID.

Was thinking similar.
Whatever the OP was smoking when he posted this question.

[SkyHigh]

Well being that god doesn't exist the answer is no.

Now if we're to look at Christian doctrine the answer is a resounding yes, everything that happens is part of gods "redemptive plan" every evil, every war, every natural disaster, every starving child, every pedophile and rapist and of course every illness, disorder, disease, virus, etc, etc, etc.....

Edited March 20, 2022 by SkyHigh

[sharkman]

To the question, was Covid a part of god‘s plan, I suppose the unspoken assumption is made that God is in control of the world and its events that transpire.  And God was, or was not surprised by Covid.

As I’m a Christian, you are going to be a little puzzled to hear me say that God is not in control of world events, and didn’t unleash Covid.  

Its because of free will, and God’s design for His creation to either love and accept His gift, or reject it all and say He doesn’t exist.  If God forced His creation to love Him, that isn’t really love, is it?  Kind of like how people in North Korea “love” their dictators.

The evil that exists in the world is because of those that choose to chase after things that destroy them.  I could really go off on a lot of rabbit trails at this point, but I’ll refrain to focus, at least for the time being, on Covid.

Covid was designed in a lab and not by God.  I view it as evil to mess with viruses, to “add function”, which makes a virus spread more easily.  Evil organizations and people, doing things that would have disastrous results if their Frankenstein gets loose.  And then whipping up vaccines to profit off the calamity.  Disgusting.

I’ll try to add more later on, as this post may generate more questions than answers…

Edited March 29, 2022 by sharkman

[Dowell]

On 3/20/2022 at 6:45 AM, SkyHigh said:

Now if we're to look at Christian doctrine the answer is a resounding yes, everything that happens is part of gods "redemptive plan" every evil, every war, every natural disaster, every starving child, every pedophile and rapist and of course every illness, disorder, disease, virus, etc, etc, etc.....

You  think that God micro manages life on earth. You are wrong. You think that the evil things that happen in life are part of God’s plan. You are wrong. Bad things happen because man rejected God’s plan, not because of it.  It is the separation of God and man that lets evil people to do evil things. Man chose the knowledge of good and evil  over obedience and innocence, of course knowledge means choices, with choices comes consequences, consequences result in judgement.

Jesus explained it in this parable:

Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field.  But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away.  When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared.

“The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’

“‘An enemy did this,’ he replied.

“The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’

“‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’”

The garden is growing wild, but just until the harvest.

[Michael Hardner]

On 3/14/2022 at 8:33 PM, OftenWrong said:

God has a plan?  

I never hear the pope or evangelists winning the lottery, so it seems like God is sending them bad numbers, or maybe doesn't have a clue.

[Dowell]

6 hours ago, Michael Hardner said:

I never hear the pope or evangelists winning the lottery, so it seems like God is sending them bad numbers, or maybe doesn't have a clue.

 

16 hours ago, Dowell said:

You  think that God micro manages life on earth.

Maybe you didn't understand the implications of this. Rigging the lottery is not part of His plan. Either you didn't get this, or I might have been mistaken in assuming English is your first language.

[Michael Hardner]

1 minute ago, Dowell said:

1. Either you didn't get this, or I might have been mistaken in assuming English is your first language.

1. Why do you think it's NOT ridiculous to come to a political forum and bring up a topic that is unprovable and is built upon absolutes ?

Where is the politics in such a stupid question as begins this thread ?

If you believe in God, what is the point of trying to out-think him/her ?

Do you not read the bible ?  He nuked whole cities, right ?

[Dowell]

3 hours ago, Michael Hardner said:

1. Why do you think it's NOT ridiculous to come to a political forum and bring up a topic that is unprovable and is built upon absolutes ?

Of course it is human nature to avoid an idea that challenges what you want to believe. History is full of examples people who rigidly hold on to commonly held beliefs, and shun any contrary ideas. They take comfort in the belief that everybody knows  these beliefs to be true, and there is no need to support them.  Unfortunately this is just an excuse for bad behavior, and to disrespect others.

[Michael Hardner]

1 hour ago, Dowell said:

1. Of course it is human nature to avoid an idea that challenges what you want to believe.
2. History is full of examples people who rigidly hold on to commonly held beliefs, and shun any contrary ideas.
3. They take comfort in the belief that everybody knows  these beliefs to be true, and there is no need to support them. 
4. Unfortunately this is just an excuse for bad behavior, and to disrespect others.

1. 2. 3. Yes, I agree that this applies to both of us.
4. Every poster here will affirm that I am the most Moral person they know and especially that I never lie or exaggerate 

[OftenWrong]

11 hours ago, Michael Hardner said:

I never hear the pope or evangelists winning the lottery, so it seems like God is sending them bad numbers, or maybe doesn't have a clue.

Speaking of numbers, I was at the casino the other day playing craps, which is aptly named. I knew the odds were against me but I played anyway. 

We assume these games are based on random numbers, though I wonder sometimes.

I remember from computer programming class that weirdly, random numbers are hard for a computer to make. There are different mathematical algorithms, some better than others.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Random_number_generation

 

“Most computer generated random numbers use PRNGs which are algorithms that can automatically create long runs of numbers with good random properties but eventually the sequence repeats (or the memory usage grows without bound). ”

[Dowell]

18 hours ago, Michael Hardner said:

1. Why do you think it's NOT ridiculous to come to a political forum and bring up a topic that is unprovable and is built upon absolutes ?

I don’t know if you mistakenly think that I introduced this topic. I was simply responding to a post by SkyHigh. I don’t know if I am mistaken in assuming he has never read the bible, but his post seems to resemble the rantings of narrow minded people who cast aspersions on God’s plan and the christian faith while being entirely ignorant of the word of God.

 

13 hours ago, Michael Hardner said:

Every poster here will affirm that I am the most Moral person they know and especially that I never lie or exaggerate 

I can't comment on your morality, what I took issue with was your arrogance, and lack of respect.

[Dowell]

13 hours ago, OftenWrong said:

“Most computer generated random numbers use PRNGs which are algorithms that can automatically create long runs of numbers with good random properties but eventually the sequence repeats (or the memory usage grows without bound). ”

Of course algorithms are based on patterns that can be replicated. To obtain a truly random number you need to use a quantum random number generator, based on electron quantum tunneling. 

[Michael Hardner]

15 minutes ago, Dowell said:

1. I don’t know if you mistakenly think that I introduced this topic.

2. I can't comment on your morality, what I took issue with was your arrogance, and lack of respect.

1. True
2. Sorry but I just find it ridiculous to have a topic like this, whether you started it or not.  I don't mean to offend.

[Dowell]

48 minutes ago, Michael Hardner said:

1. True
2. Sorry but I just find it ridiculous to have a topic like this, whether you started it or not.  I don't mean to offend.

I can respect that, but I am willing to let Charles Anthony be the judge of that. I was rather harsh and might have more to apologize for than you, so I ask for your pardon. 

[OftenWrong]

6 hours ago, Dowell said:

Of course algorithms are based on patterns that can be replicated. To obtain a truly random number you need to use a quantum random number generator, based on electron quantum tunneling. 

Yes “Of course” they are.

There are lots of easier ways to do it than quantum tunelling. If you read the link carefully you’ll see it mentions various mechanical systems. Even wind speed. No need to make massive particle accelerators. Because in nature the ability to measure a random value seems much easier than the numbers mathematical algorithms produce. Math is too precise. Or as it states, the memory usage increases without bound. I like that statement... The human mind cannot mathematically fathom true randomness. Too much memory to handle. The mind gets discombubberated.

For what is nature if not simply a much bigger database with a much larger memory. Thus it also repeats itself, but on a much longer time scale. So long that we cannot perceive it at our scale. 

Therefore the law of eternal recurrence

All is predestined, and doomed to repeat

There is nothing new under the sun  

Have great day

[Dowell]

44 minutes ago, OftenWrong said:

There are lots of easier ways to do it than quantum tunelling.

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/quantum-emotion-corp-announces-availability-143100091.html

[SkyHigh]

On 4/11/2022 at 12:02 AM, Dowell said:

You  think that God micro manages life on earth. You are wrong. You think that the evil things that happen in life are part of God’s plan. You are wrong. Bad things happen because man rejected God’s plan, not because of it.  It is the separation of God and man that lets evil people to do evil things. Man chose the knowledge of good and evil  over obedience and innocence, of course knowledge means choices, with choices comes consequences, consequences result in judgement.

Jesus explained it in this parable:

Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field.  But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away.  When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared.

“The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’

“‘An enemy did this,’ he replied.

“The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’

“‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’”

The garden is growing wild, but just until the harvest.

Oh apologies I thought you believed in the classical Christian god always described as omnipotent,  omniscient,  omnipresent  and omnibenevolent. 

What god do you believe in? 

As for the Christian god he most certainly is responsible for everything that happens as he willed the world to be, and instead of some random parable that would need heavy interpretation to be considered an answer to this question how about we use the inerrant word of God himself. 

Isaiah 45:7

I form the light,and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: (or calamity,  misery,  distress, whatever your preferred translation) I the LORD do all these things.

There are many others, I  specifically chose this one because it is not open to interpretation. 

 

[SkyHigh]

7 hours ago, Dowell said:

don’t know if you mistakenly think that I introduced this topic. I was simply responding to a post by SkyHigh. I don’t know if I am mistaken in assuming he has never read the bible, but his post seems to resemble the rantings of narrow minded people who cast aspersions on God’s plan and the christian faith while being entirely ignorant of the word of 

First I probably know more about the Bible than you, and second you want to insult me be a man and do it to my face

Aren't you supposed to act Christ like? 

 

Edited April 12, 2022 by SkyHigh

[OftenWrong]

1 hour ago, Dowell said:

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/quantum-emotion-corp-announces-availability-143100091.html

It;s still mechnistic, physical random event. Same as any radioactive decay. You can buy one of those for your entropy maker. Me, I'll just hang my socks out the window.