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With Thanksgiving coming up in a couple of days, it is time to think about all the good things inour lives.

I am thankful to my parents for raising me right. I am thankful to my teachers for inspiring me to learn. I am thankful to my friends for always being there for me.

There are other things I am thankful for that can't be attributed to any person.

I am thankful that I was born in this country instead of someplace like Haiti, where there is little to no opportunity for anyone. I am thankful that I was born with a fairly high IQ. I am thankful that I was born with musical talent. There are SO MANY things like that, that I have to thank God for. I can't take any credit for it. I can't even give the credit to another person.

So what do atheists do about those things? Do they just consider it blind luck and not be thankful at all? I mean, sure, you can thank yourself for anything you have accomplished, but what about things that have just fallen in your lap? Just curious.

Co-winner of the "Likable Liberal" award who asks, "Can't we all get along?"

1 Corinthians 1:18-24 (CEV)
18 The message about the cross doesn't make any sense to lost people. But for those of us who are being saved, it is God's power at work.

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quote:
So what do atheists do about those things? Do they just consider it blind luck and not be thankful at all? I mean, sure, you can thank yourself for anything you have accomplished, but what about things that have just fallen in your lap? Just curious.

Depends on your definition of thankfulness. I think it's luck, so I guess you can say I'm glad for any lucky thing that happens. I've been very lucky too. I'm lucky to have my husband, children, the rest of my family, our health, home etc. But I also think people make most of their luck, good or bad, by the decisions they make, and it's pretty rare that things just "fall in your lap" although it does happen sometimes. The term "Thank your lucky stars" comes to mind.
Hi O,

Good discussion! I thank God for my wife, for my children, and my grandchildren. I am especially thankful that we all are in good health. But, most of all I thank Him that all my immediate family, including those in Alabama, who are old enough to know Jesus Christ -- are all Christian believers.

I thank Him that all my loved ones will be with me in heaven. One day we will have a glorious Family Reunion -- and the Host and Grand Marshall will be Jesus Christ Himself.

I thank God for giving me a writing ministry through which I can reach out and tell folks around the world about Jesus Christ. I can tell them that, if they do not yet know Jesus Christ -- He is waiting with open arms to bring them into the Family of God.

I can tell them that all they have to do, by the grace of God, through faith in Jesus Christ -- is to sincerely believe and receive His "free gift" of eternal life.

Yes, I have so much for which I am thankful -- but, mostly I am thankful because He is my personal Lord and Savior -- and I have His personal promise that I will spend eternity in His presence.

Who could ask for more?

Thank you Lord God for sending Your Son to die in my place -- that I, and all my family, may spend eternity with You.

And, finally, I thank God for all my Forum Friends -- even those who disagree with me.

I pray that you all will have a fantastic, God blessed and Happy Thanksgiving. And, don't forget to thank Him before jumping into all that good food He has provided.

God bless, have a wonderful, blessed Thanksgiving,

Bill

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........St. O No

"With Thanksgiving coming up in a couple of days, it is time to think about all the good things inour lives.

I am thankful to my parents for raising me right. I am thankful to my teachers for inspiring me to learn. I am thankful to my friends for always being there for me.

There are other things I am thankful for that can't be attributed to any person.

I am thankful that I was born in this country instead of someplace like Haiti, where there is little to no opportunity for anyone. I am thankful that I was born with a fairly high IQ. I am thankful that I was born with musical talent. There are SO MANY things like that, that I have to thank God for. I can't take any credit for it. I can't even give the credit to another person.

So what do atheists do about those things? Do they just consider it blind luck and not be thankful at all? I mean, sure, you can thank yourself for anything you have accomplished, but what about things that have just fallen in your lap? Just curious"


The Book of Brick.
quote:
Originally posted by Jennifer:
quote:
I am thankful that I was born with a fairly high IQ. I am thankful that I was born with musical talent. There are SO MANY things like that, that I have to thank God for. I can't take any credit for it. I can't even give the credit to another person


Don't forget your humbleness.


Did you notice I said I can't take any credit for these things? And why shouldn't I be thankful that I wasn't born with a low IQ? And as for musical talent, I LOVE music, and I feel very thankful that I wasn't born with a tin ear or a timing "disability". Being able to play music and write songs is one of my greatest joys in life.
I am thankful Jennifer is not my wife. Big Grin
I am thankful some of you aren't my neighbors. Wink
I am thankful I can simply log off and you are all gone.
I am thankful rocky doesn't know who I am or where I live.

But, at the moment, I am thankful for this 1/2 gallon of RUM I just got...and I thank my wife for paying for it...and my Daughter for taking her to get it! Wink
quote:
Originally posted by CageTheElephant:
I am thankful Jennifer is not my wife. Big Grin
I am thankful some of you aren't my neighbors. Wink
I am thankful I can simply log off and you are all gone.
I am thankful rocky doesn't know who I am or where I live.

But, at the moment, I am thankful for this 1/2 gallon of RUM I just got...and I thank my wife for paying for it...and my Daughter for taking her to get it! Wink

And, Cage,

Make sure your wife has lots of Menudo to bring you down from the RUM -- and TUMS to make your stomach feel more at ease the next day.

God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,

Bill

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quote:
Originally posted by Bill Gray:
quote:
Originally posted by CageTheElephant:
I am thankful Jennifer is not my wife. Big Grin
I am thankful some of you aren't my neighbors. Wink
I am thankful I can simply log off and you are all gone.
I am thankful rocky doesn't know who I am or where I live.

But, at the moment, I am thankful for this 1/2 gallon of RUM I just got...and I thank my wife for paying for it...and my Daughter for taking her to get it! Wink

And, Cage,
Make sure your wife has lots of Menudo to bring you down from the RUM -- and TUMS to make your stomach feel more at ease the next day.


I told you, everytime the gray comes back from dinner late, that dog is dancing.

Brick is taking notes.
quote:
Originally posted by O No!:

So what do atheists do about those things? Do they just consider it blind luck and not be thankful at all? I mean, sure, you can thank yourself for anything you have accomplished, but what about things that have just fallen in your lap? Just curious.


I am thankful to my great great grand parents for finding a way to come to this country, which in turn allowed me to be born here. I am thankful to my Husband for working hard every day to provide a nice home and the comforts that come along with that. I am thankful that my children are good up standing citizens and give me little grief. I am thankful for my ability to reason which gives me peace of mind. I am thankful to my parents for making sure I got an education when I was a child which helped me understand the world around me. I am thankful to my siblings for always being there for me and loving me no matter what. I am thankful to my

I have rarely experienced "blind luck". Most of the things I am thankful for I and my husband worked hard to have. Food, clothes, shelter, good children, decent cars, etc. I have a talent that I am thankful to my grandmother for. That would be art and being able to design or decorate. I spent a lot of time with her and she taught me to see the wonderful textures, and colors of nature.

I hope that clear up some things for you. Smiler
I think we ALL have things that have just fallen in our laps. Our health is a good example. Some people are born sick, or they get cancer. NOT being born sick is certainly not something we get by choice. The families we are born into is another thing. When I think about some poor kid who was born to a crackhead mother and an alcoholic father, I realize that just having ADEQUATE parents is a blessing, and MY parents were much more than adequate.

Some people are born in worse places than Haiti, places where they are more likely to lose their arms and legs to a machete attack than to grow up whole and healthy. Some kids are born with AIDS. I mean, if you think about all the bad things that COULD have happened, you realize how fortunate you are that they didn't. And there is no one you can give credit to, unless you give that credit to God. "Lucky stars?" I guess that is just an expression you use, as I know you don't believe in astrology.

I'm just asking because it is this thankfulness that brought me to God. I found myself so full of joy that it hurt. I knew there HAD to be a God, because I had to thank SOMEBODY. I don't know if I can explain the feeling, but it is overwhelming.

In any case, I wish ALL of you a very happy, healthy, and thought filled Thanksgiving. I wish you all the same intense joy that I feel. Smiler
quote:
Originally posted by Jennifer:
quote:
I am thankful that I was born with a fairly high IQ. I am thankful that I was born with musical talent. There are SO MANY things like that, that I have to thank God for. I can't take any credit for it. I can't even give the credit to another person


Don't forget your humbleness.


Big Grin You said it sister. I was nearly overwhelmed by it.
quote:
Originally posted by Bill Gray:
quote:
Originally posted by Brick:
I told you, everytime the gray comes back from dinner late, that dog is dancing. Brick is taking notes.

YEAH, BRICK - BUT, DOESN'T OLD SNOOPY MAKE YOU FEEL ALL HAPPY INSIDE? - IT IS LIKE WATCHING SMALL CHILDREN AT PLAY, JOY INSIDE!


No Bill, none of that, but if your happy and the dog doesn't mind, I still
think something is going on here.

The Brick is watching you
"I have a talent that I am thankful to my grandmother for. That would be art and being able to design or decorate. I spent a lot of time with her and she taught me to see the wonderful textures, and colors of nature."

Come on Jank! What is the difference between you thanking your grandmother for YOUR talent, and me thanking God for mine? Are YOU "not humble" because you claim to have a talent?!
quote:
Originally posted by Jennifer:
quote:
I am thankful Jennifer is not my wife.


Back atcha. Something we can agree on.


Jen,

Don't worry about cage, theres a lot of guys that would like to marry you.

Or an occasional side saddle, or a Boomerang, but I digress, I don't know

what digress means, but I'll try anything two or three times.


Brick with a plan.
quote:
Originally posted by O No!:
"I have a talent that I am thankful to my grandmother for. That would be art and being able to design or decorate. I spent a lot of time with her and she taught me to see the wonderful textures, and colors of nature."

Come on Jank! What is the difference between you thanking your grandmother for YOUR talent, and me thanking God for mine? Are YOU "not humble" because you claim to have a talent?!


Ok O No neither of us are humble. Big Grin
My goodness Ono,

There are so many things that have not happened to me and my loved ones.

I am thankful that God has spared me a broken heart. That is not the case for so many.

I guess if it does happen I’ve got the better of the deal so far and shouldn’t complain.


As for the atheist candidates; I’m sure they feel lucky and thankful to have stayed one jump ahead of the devil but they are not as swift as when they were seeing themselves as flying in the face of better judgment.

The novelty of ackin da foo is hardly a virtue.
quote:
Originally posted by O No!:
Some people are born sick, or they get cancer. NOT being born sick is certainly not something we get by choice. some poor kid who was born to a crackhead mother and an alcoholic father,

Some people are born in worse places than Haiti, places where they are more likely to lose their arms and legs to a machete attack than to grow up whole and healthy. Some kids are born with AIDS.


You give credit to God for the good things he's given you. He also provided those bad things. Shouldn't you give God credit for those?
Semi, the way I look at it, God created the universe, he used what we call science to do so, and once it was up and working, he let the laws of science do the "running of things." The laws of science dictate that some will be born with genetic defects that lead to mental disabilities, cancer, and a host of other ills. I have been one of the lucky ones who didn't get those things (so far.)

Being born here instead of in a third world country is one of those things that is "the luck of the draw". I COULD have been. Being born to good and loving parents instead of abusive ones, same thing - the "luck of the draw."

So why do I thank God and not blame him? Because He has seen fit to have me be one of the "lucky ones." He doesn't CAUSE the bad stuff. It just is. That's the way the universe is set up. Good stuff, bad stuff, and everything in between.

There HAVE been some pretty bad things that have happened to me. When I was young, I was sexually assaulted by someone who broke into my house in the middle of the night. (Wow. I haven't told many people about that and here I am telling the whole world!) I lost the love of my life to cancer. That hurt even worse. I could go on, but I think you get the idea.

I CHOOSE to look at the good things. The creep who assaulted me had a knife. He could have killed or maimed me, but he didn't. My sweet husband died, but I had the chance to know him and to find out what true love is. I thank God that in a random world, I have had SO MANY good things.

Like I said, I CHOOSE to concentrate on the good things and that has brought me so much joy, there HAS to be a God, because I have to thank Him. Thanking "luck" would not satisfy. I need to thank someONE, and there is no one TO thank except God.
quote:
Originally posted by O No!:
Semi, the way I look at it, God created the universe, he used what we call science to do so, and once it was up and working, he let the laws of science do the "running of things." The laws of science dictate that some will be born with genetic defects that lead to mental disabilities, cancer, and a host of other ills. I have been one of the lucky ones who didn't get those things (so far.)

Being born here instead of in a third world country is one of those things that is "the luck of the draw". I COULD have been. Being born to good and loving parents instead of abusive ones, same thing - the "luck of the draw."

So why do I thank God and not blame him? Because He has seen fit to have me be one of the "lucky ones." He doesn't CAUSE the bad stuff. It just is. That's the way the universe is set up. Good stuff, bad stuff, and everything in between.

There HAVE been some pretty bad things that have happened to me. When I was young, I was sexually assaulted by someone who broke into my house in the middle of the night. (Wow. I haven't told many people about that and here I am telling the whole world!) I lost the love of my life to cancer. That hurt even worse. I could go on, but I think you get the idea.

I CHOOSE to look at the good things. The creep who assaulted me had a knife. He could have killed or maimed me, but he didn't. My sweet husband died, but I had the chance to know him and to find out what true love is. I thank God that in a random world, I have had SO MANY good things.

Like I said, I CHOOSE to concentrate on the good things and that has brought me so much joy, there HAS to be a God, because I have to thank Him. Thanking "luck" would not satisfy. I need to thank someONE, and there is no one TO thank except God.


O No,

Very well said, never lose yourself.

Kraven.
I'm late to this thread, so let me address the thesis question.

I'm thankful for the veterans who make modern American life possible. Thanks, y'all.

I'm thankful for the Founders of our country who were wise enough to establish freedom as a basic condition. I'm not so thankful for the modern nanny-statists who despise them.

I'm thankful for the shoe shop that repairs my shoes.

I'm thankful for GreenPeace for resisting the murder of whales.

I'm thankful for dogs and cats, and their special, symbiotic relationships with us. Thanks, Mr. Darwin.

I'm thankful for everyone who has taught me anything. That includes some of y'all right here.

I'm thankful to the people whose curiosity made the Internet possible. I'm thankful for Cheese-Its. Thanks, Sunshine Bakery.

I'm thankful to Grarck and Umphgrb for inventing shoes 20,000 years ago, or so.

We live in a wonderful time. We are witnessing both the violence that results from ancient superstitions conflicting with our exponentially increasing technological abilities, and the exchange of information (not least of which is philosophical) between diverse people at a level unheard of even within my rather brief lifetime. In the infancy of such informational exchange, we have not yet learned to gauge the quality of such information, and have slipped into a nihilistic Multi-culturalism. But we will improve. Not all philosophies are equal, and we will learn as much as we teach. I am thankful for the possibility that we might become a planetary society, with the ability to understand, if not embrace, others' thoughts.

I'm thankful for y'all. I enjoy my time here. Have a great Turkey Day!

nsns
quote:
Originally posted by O No!:
"I have a talent that I am thankful to my grandmother for. That would be art and being able to design or decorate. I spent a lot of time with her and she taught me to see the wonderful textures, and colors of nature."

Come on Jank! What is the difference between you thanking your grandmother for YOUR talent, and me thanking God for mine? Are YOU "not humble" because you claim to have a talent?!


The difference is she is thankful to someone whom she knew and that actually existed while you were giving thanks to a myth. BIG DIFFERENCE!
O No, I'm sorry that happened to you & I hope the jerk paid dearly for it.
I think we've all lost someone to cancer & it's a horrible thing to have to deal with.

I don't really understand your logic. God created the universe, & he let the laws of science do the "running of things"?

You thank Him for the blessings you have but he's not responsible for the bad things? He's supposedly the Almighty, but He doesn't have the power to stop the bad things or He doesn't cause them?
I'm sorry but that makes no sense to me.
quote:
Originally posted by A. Robustus:
quote:
Originally posted by O No!:
...there HAS to be a God, because I have to thank Him. Thanking "luck" would not satisfy. I need to thank someONE, and there is no one TO thank except God.


This line bears repeating. It explains why Ono! is a believer. It is also a very fine example of circular reasoning.


Adot,

You have to be this tall_______________to interpret post like slim. lol
Semi, think of "creation" as a computer program. The programmer decides what he wants the program to do, then types it in and starts it running. That's the way I look at God's creation. He set it up to run on its own. There are certain things that can't be done in this universe because they weren't programmed in. Time travel for instance, can never be possible because it would go against the laws of physics. I think the laws of physics are part of the way God set this whole thing up.

So you're "playing" this computer game, and there are things you can do, and some that you can't. But at the beginning of the game, you are given all the tools you need to win, IF you know how to use them correctly. When you push start, you have no idea where in the field of this game you will be. You might start in a wealthy family or you might start in a poor one. You might start in a healthy body or in a sick one. But you are given all the tools you need to find happiness. The wealthy person may not use the tools correctly and wind up unhappy. The poor one may use the tools correctly and find happiness in spite of poverty.

I believe that prayer won't change the programming, but it WILL, if we listen, point us toward the tools that are lying around, or help us learn to use these tools properly.

I know this isn't the best analogy, but do you understand what I'm getting at?

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