Is Bill Gates more powerful than God?

[styley]

Now, admittedly I didn't see the programme but apparently Bill Gates is going to use $24billion of his own money towards good causes. Say, for example, two people get an almost incurable disease ie, a lot of money will pay for an operation to cure it. Now, one person prays to God and the second writes a letter to Bill, and receives the amount of money for the operation. Who do you feel would survive and would you take any comfort from it?

[WaldoMcFroog]

"So the gist of the Q is that the non-believers would bow and pander to the accumulation of wealth and self-centred curing, rather than to any spiritual sense of well being and sharing?"

Are you a Labour spin doctor, Octavius? That's a rather 'jazz' interpretation of what the question is saying.

[Octavius]

�one person prays to God and the second writes a letter to Bill, and receives �. money for the operation�

Seems quite clear.

[WaldoMcFroog]

Uh huh. Whatever you say, Mr Mandelson.

[styley]

Octavius its not about belief or not, but which option will get the job done?

[naomi24]

Well, I think I'll stick to my guns and plump for Bill. A very remote chance is better than no chance at all.

[Octavius]

Are you questioning then whether it could be possible that God can cure an almost incurable disease styley by the process of prayer?

Of course it can happen. Miracles it would seem, do happen. Many people believe this. If it is �almost incurable� then there might be a slim chance.

So then are you asking whether praying and waiting for a miracle is better than coveting some cold hard cash from Bill Gates?

Probably not. But then I�m guessing you knew that already. Having money means you can buy things and that gives you an extent of power. It doesn�t really compare with the power of spirit. But those that pray and believe in God can also ask Bill for a handout.

[keyplus90]

Octavius � brother these people will never understand. If only money could save and cure people then rich people would never have died over the history and until the day of judgment.

If Bill will ask me to deny God to get help from him, I will never do that. Because God can arrange something else better for me and all Bill has is money which can turn into unwanted papers within days. I myself was stung by 11 hornets when I was about 10 because I was playing near their nest. My aunt recited few verses of Quran and blew where the stings were. I did not get any swelling at all and was OK within hrs. What was that, belief in God. That is a minor example. World is full of miracles. God gives people knowledge and they can cure people. That knowledge could be about medicines (Dr, Herbalists etc) or spiritual. Jesus (pbuh) cured blinds, lepers, and even dead with the will of God. End of the day nothing can happen without the consent of God.

[WaldoMcFroog]

Ah, so God is responsible for everything, including evil and there is no free will. Good to have that cleared it.

P.S. It's God's fault I'm so antagonistic.

[Octavius]

I very much suspect that is the case Waldo. But sometimes antagonism can be directed towards those exemplifying intolerance and hate.

[WaldoMcFroog]

Good-oh. I'm delighted.

[keyplus90]

You do have a free will within a certain limit. But God knows what you would chose. Like parents can easily predict which cereal their Son or daughter would chose.

Same way only God can predict who would find right path and who would not. That does not mean he made you do that.

In your case Waldo, story is not finished yet. God has given you a good brain you can use it to find the right path instead of finding the path you like. You never know. When the time came the most lost ones found their way so you are not that far. I will pray for you that may Allah show you the right way.

[MrBounty]

So, where is the proof of "God's" existence?

[WaldoMcFroog]

So you think I believe things according to whether I like them? Interesting.

But wrong, both in terms of why I believe things (evidence) and your own religion's holy book which clearly puts the blame on Allah:

As for the Disbelievers, Whether thou warn them or thou warn them not it is all one for them; they believe not. Allah hath sealed their hearing and their hearts, and on their eyes there is a covering. 2:6-7
We have placed upon their hearts veils, lest they should understand, and in their ears a deafness. 6:25

As for him whom He sendeth astray, for them thou wilt find no protecting friends beside Him, and We shall assemble them on the Day of Resurrection on their faces, blind, dumb and deaf; their habitation will be hell; whenever it abateth, We increase the flame for them. That is their reward because they disbelieved Our revelations. 17:97-98

Lo! on their hearts We have placed coverings so that they understand not, and in their ears a deafness. And though thou call them to the guidance, in that case they can never be led aright. 18:57

He [Iblis aka Satan] said: Now, because Thou [Allah aka God] hast sent me astray, verily I shall lurk in ambush for them on Thy Right Path. ... He said: Go forth from hence, degraded, banished. As for such of them as follow thee, surely I will fill hell with all of you. 7:16-18

I [Iblis] verily shall adorn the path of error for them in the earth, and shall mislead them every one, Save such of them as are Thy perfectly devoted slaves. ...for all such, hell will be the promised place. 15:39-43

[keyplus90]

So out of this I would say only one thing. Do you believe Allah has put seal on your heart as well. How do you know. However if you presume it is the case then these are the warnings.

Any way these verses were in favor of few of Muhammad (pbuh) old relatives specially his uncle who brought him up but never reverted to Islam for the fear of his other relatives branding him coward. And Muhammad (pbuh) was worried about him and tried every thing. So these verses revealed to tell that Allah knew hat Muhammad (pbuh) did not. So Allah asked him not to worry about that as it is not in his (Muhammed�s ) hands that who accepts his message and who does not.

So in other words again Allah told him what he did not know and now you go back and read my previous post where I said that Allah predicted that who would chose what, In your case still no one knows. Something may change your mind. You still have time to think until you are dead. Who can predict that there is seal on you heart. Even you can not say that to be sure.

[naomi24]

Keyplus, If I get stung by wasps, I have very little reaction and the area doesn't swell. It doesn't mean God is looking out for me though - it means I'm not allergic to wasp stings.

[bag.lady]

"Is Bill Gates more powerful than God?"

he holds the keys to the Pearly Gates. lol

[keyplus90]

When I talked about wasps then the common sense was that I used to get swelling where it stung and it did not happen at the particular time. Otherwise I know few people and have seen with my own eyes, that if they got stung by wasp or hornet then almost instantly the insect itself died. What would be your philosophy about that.

[WaldoMcFroog]

Any wasp that stings me immediately dies too, little b____ds.

[Octavius]

I don't get stung by wasps.

It must be because I pray.

[naomi24]

I don't have a philosophy about that. Wasps don't die when they sting people - unless they sting people like Waldo. :o)