God given gifts?

[ninerbuff]

So many christians always refer to talented people as having god given "gifts". So I guess those of us who suck at talent weren't "favored" to have gifts. And those that are mentally, physically, or genetically challenged weren't favored at all.
If god is responsible for "gifting" people, then god is certainly responsible for the maladies, death, deformation, and other anomolies. Or else who is to blame? Can't be the devil since he ain't in charge of the "gift of life".

 

[ninerbuff]

Lol, what no reply? No explanation as to why some individuals are this way?

 

[bowingtoGod]

Well I think if you were born with mental disabilities you were certainly favored over most people (if you believe in certain religions) for they get a free pass into heaven! For all the disasters God is to blame (I suppose) but there is always good in evil. What seems to be evil can lead to much good. For example, Aids seems to be evil. But look at how everyone comes together to fight it, and it led gays in the spotlight and because of that, at first there was discrimination, but then finally it was tolerance and acceptance in many parts of the world. And those that suffered because of Aids became heroes.

 

[Kilgore Trout]

So many christians always refer to talented people as having god given "gifts".

These people must be unaware of genetics and the benefits of study and practice.

 

[Atomist]

Well I think if you were born with mental disabilities you were certainly favored over most people (if you believe in certain religions) for they get a free pass into heaven!

What if a mentally disabled person commits suicide because they don't want to live that way anymore?

For all the disasters God is to blame (I suppose) but there is always good in evil. What seems to be evil can lead to much good. For example, Aids seems to be evil. But look at how everyone comes together to fight it, and it led gays in the spotlight and because of that, at first there was discrimination, but then finally it was tolerance and acceptance in many parts of the world. And those that suffered because of Aids became heroes.

By that reasoning, if I kill the president I should be praised because it'll bring people closer together.

Also no... people that died of aids are not considered heroes...

 

[bowingtoGod]

What if a mentally disabled person commits suicide because they don't want to live that way anymore?


By that reasoning, if I kill the president I should be praised because it'll bring people closer together.

Also no... people that died of aids are not considered heroes...

The mentally disabled still goes to paradise (well in Islam anyways. Don't know the stance with other religions)
See the thing is evil should still be avoided although it can lead to good. Because the good that is there is sufficient. Whereas evil can lead to good, it is still evil. And justice needs to be served. Or IDk my philosophy of this sucks

 

[ninerbuff]

Well I think if you were born with mental disabilities you were certainly favored over most people (if you believe in certain religions) for they get a free pass into heaven! For all the disasters God is to blame (I suppose) but there is always good in evil. What seems to be evil can lead to much good. For example, Aids seems to be evil. But look at how everyone comes together to fight it, and it led gays in the spotlight and because of that, at first there was discrimination, but then finally it was tolerance and acceptance in many parts of the world. And those that suffered because of Aids became heroes.

Glad you're optimistic, but facts are that death that is caused by murder, starvation or lack of health insurance doesn't seem to have any good coming about it.

 

[ChristineES]

Even mentally challenged people have gifts. My autistic son Elijah has the capacity to make people laugh. He can also arrange things perfectly. He also has a terrific memory.

 

[Nerthus]

No one sucks at everything. I am better at some things than a friend, and she is better at other things. If people believe their talent comes from God, that's fine with me. Why not?

 

[fnord]

Lol, what no reply? No explanation as to why some individuals are this way?

You missed out on the gift of patience, god given or otherwise.

It's just figurative language and not meant to stand up in a court of law.

 

[ninerbuff]

Even mentally challenged people have gifts. My autistic son Elijah has the capacity to make people laugh. He can also arrange things perfectly. He also has a terrific memory.

Those are great attributes, but many "average" humans have those qualities. I'm talking things like running a 4.2 40, composing music like Mozart, or dancing like Anna Pavlova.

 

[Politesse]

Oh, everyone has their gifts. but I think that whether a thing is a gift or a curse depends more on one's perspective than God's intention. The universe is generous, and all things were probably intended as gifts, even the horrors. But the final verdict on whether something was a good gift is really the call of the recipient, I should think.

 

[ChristineES]

Those are great attributes, but many "average" humans have those qualities. I'm talking things like running a 4.2 40, composing music like Mozart, or dancing like Anna Pavlova.

That kind of genius is rare. There was an author (a teacher who wrote of her experiences)who called that kind of genius brain damage in reverse. I love Mozart's music and I doubt classical would be totally the same with Mozart and the other geniuses of music. I don't watch dancing as much, but that the same would be true as the music.
Not everyone can be Einstein. Most people are average in most things.

 

[ninerbuff]

That kind of genius is rare. There was an author (a teacher who wrote of her experiences)who called that kind of genius brain damage in reverse. I love Mozart's music and I doubt classical would be totally the same with Mozart and the other geniuses of music. I don't watch dancing as much, but that the same would be true as the music.
Not everyone can be Einstein. Most people are average in most things.

Which was my point about god choosing individuals to have these "gifts". That would mean that god doesn't think of us as equal and others are more deserving than some. Question is why?

 

[Shadow Wolf]

I would say that people are born with talents that will allow them to be very good at something, will suck at some other things, and will be about average on everything else. And unless God is heavily manipulating our genetic code, they probably happen over the same reason that gives us our hair color.

 

[Atomist]

I would say that people are born with talents that will allow them to be very good at something, will suck at some other things, and will be about average on everything else. And unless God is heavily manipulating our genetic code, they probably happen over the same reason that gives us our hair color.

so... you're saying "god given gifts" is another name for traits where god has no influence on? I'm confused..

 

[Penumbra]

Well I think if you were born with mental disabilities you were certainly favored over most people (if you believe in certain religions) for they get a free pass into heaven! For all the disasters God is to blame (I suppose) but there is always good in evil. What seems to be evil can lead to much good. For example, Aids seems to be evil. But look at how everyone comes together to fight it, and it led gays in the spotlight and because of that, at first there was discrimination, but then finally it was tolerance and acceptance in many parts of the world. And those that suffered because of Aids became heroes.

The mentally disabled still goes to paradise (well in Islam anyways. Don't know the stance with other religions)
See the thing is evil should still be avoided although it can lead to good. Because the good that is there is sufficient. Whereas evil can lead to good, it is still evil. And justice needs to be served. Or IDk my philosophy of this sucks

This free pass thing is kind of inconsistent.

In Islam, I've often seen life described by Muslims as a test. If it's a test, why not test everyone equally? If Allah can make people and then put them into paradise, why not do that for everyone?

In Christianity, it's often described to be a fallen state. But in some doctrines babies and children or disabled people are given free pass. Why not everyone? How does that fit within the doctrine?

Gifts are explained by biology but seemingly difficult to explain with theology, unless God loves some people and not others, as he does in some religions.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

so... you're saying "god given gifts" is another name for traits where god has no influence on? I'm confused..

I'm saying it just depends on how you look at it. If you believe that they are gifts from God, then you believe God is manipulating your genetic code to produce the traits needed to excel in your given talent. If you don't believe the God part, then you just see it just being a source of genetics.

 

[Atomist]

I'm saying it just depends on how you look at it. If you believe that they are gifts from God, then you believe God is manipulating your genetic code to produce the traits needed to excel in your given talent. If you don't believe the God part, then you just see it just being a source of genetics.

so god micromanages? I find that amusing god thinking to himself "oh look we have this steve guy... what sort of random gifts should I give him"

 

[Shadow Wolf]

so god micromanages? I find that amusing god thinking to himself "oh look we have this steve guy... what sort of random gifts should I give him"

I really doubt it. But if there is a God that does get so heavily involved in our lives, he would be doing it by manipulating our DNA.