Thanking God

I think it's mostly just an expression like omg or lol like was stated earlier, but I also think it isn't disrespectful because while it was the efforts of the individual that did help that thing to happen it is healthy to acknowledge that a large part of it was circumstances, and that while we should be proud of ourselves and our accomplishments that we are a tiny thread in the tapestry of the universe.

So I like to think when we say " Thank God" the forces of the Universe, or God in this sense, is saying, "And thank you."

It would be vain to say, "Man, I'm sure glad I was here to do this." But you're right that no part took up 100% of the efforts. God needed us to do our part. He could have done it himself, but we would've lost out on the opportunity to grow. And we needed some circumstantial things in our favor.

Also, I think people would think you crazy if you said, "Thanks universe." Although they shouldn't. Gratitude in any form should be held as healthy. People should think more about it before just saying it though. That I agree.

csmith wrote: It seems to make light of the work and effort put into learning and completing a task by the individual. At least to me it borders on disrespectful.

Oh, I didn't get your meaning I guess. Yeah, in certain situations it really does bug me. Basically when there's any intent behind it, as if god were actually standing there doing the work. In the context of everyday life I don't find it a big deal, or if it's just an exclamation. Someone starts to slip off the side of a cliff, I catch them an pull them back and they say "thank God" it would really depend on their intent with the phrase whether or not it bugged me, but I'd still be glad I saved them (probably). I've met a lot of people who use it like a battering ram though: "Look at me, look at me, I believe in God and so should you!"

So in the end it just depends on what the person means. I'd see it as disrespectful if the person just saved by the doctor didn't recognize the fact that another human just saved them, but simply uttering the words "thank god" doesn't guarantee that they don't.

But, how about the sports athlete who takes a knew, or crosses himself?

It is his acknowledgement of god to have given him the ability....

Never mind the hours he spent in the gym, or the reptition of mindless practice...

He thanked god...

Because it is who he felt deserved the thanks...

That's a different, personal, matter. My position is that even in the middle of ten thousand people someone could cross himself and not have it be offensive. If it's solely for his/her own gratification - why would I have any issue with it? But if that same person demanded attention to their beliefs... for instance by saying on TV "It was God that made the race possible!" then I might have an issue with it... it really depends (on their attitude and what mood I was in at the time! lol). It's all about perspective m'thinks.

I had teacher who kept saying "and god knows that [...]". In like, every sentence she'd make. And I kept thinking "no shit, omniscient beings know stuff" It did get on my nerves.

Thank whoever I am a Jedi who is full of religious, ethnic, sexual preference, age, and whatever, RESPECT for all others, no matter what their beliefs!

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No not really.