It's been roughly a month since I wrote here, and that would be for various good reasons. Well, I finally have a sliver of time and will to delve into another topic of personal significance. This is a topic so saturated in our culture that it goes, by the vast majority of the population, completely unquestioned - a truth attained at one time, and from that point on forever a truth. I hold almost nothing to that standard as I consider it lazy, idiotic, one dimensional, and in some cases, unethical, dangerous, and shocking. Anyway, the point isn't to attack this style of thought, but rather to express a disconnect between two subcultures of thought.
Here is the issue: Many people believe in God; I'm not here to argue the existence of God. However, I am interested in the two subcultures of thought that surround the belief in God - surprisingly, the vast majority of people don't even realize there are two subcultures of thought. So, let us take a popular, plausible instance in which one group (Group A) believe in God, and another group also believes in God (Group B). While both groups are currently congruent, the distinction lies in how they see God.
Group A - Pray to God as a sign of devotion, speak with God.
Group B - God has a plan for everyone's life.
Now, I would continue the analogy, but in all honesty, I already think it is wrong. While there should be two styles of thought on the subject of God, there is a heavy cross over between the two groups, so much so that the two groups basically do not exist. So, what is wrong with that?
There are two groups of thought, but people don't realize it. I suspect they don't realize it due to various reasons, but I expect people have stopped thinking the moment they were handed their ideas on God. Anyway, before I rant on that, let me clear up my point.
Hypothetical Group A - Free Will
Hypothetical Group B - Predetermination
It is logically impossible to have both at the same time, yet people do it all the time. Now, does it matter to them? Probably not - and are there consequences? Not really. However, when I hear someone mixing the two, it implies to me that they don't understand what they are saying, because they haven't much thought into it. Chances of them convincing me one way or another is not likely due to this very observation.
To clear this up further; prayer implies God can do something for you or to you or for someone else, because of your prayer. This implies that God does not have a plan for you and He makes it up as he goes. Meanwhile, saying God has a plan for everyone implies that he has predetermined your life, by which belief, prayer is pointless, because your prayer can not sway his decision one way or another, because that would imply He can change his mind, which implies indecision, which implies possible impurity.
So, saying "I'll pray for you" is, by your real belief, useless (other than sentimental value) in terms of making a difference if you have ever said, "It is God's plan, he will reveal himself soon enough."
By the same token, the reverse is also true.
Strictly from a logic point of view, you must choose one or the other and stick to it - no way to use both mentalities simultaneously.
Listening to: Kanye West, "Mercy"
