Maybe God made me this way for a reason

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Just throwing this out because I was thinking about it.

My husband and I have been reading "What's so amazing about grace?" by Phillip Yancey. I have only just been diagnosed with AS, and i've been spending the last few weeks under a dark cloud, so confused and angry and disillusioned. But it just occured to me, maybe God made me this way for a reason.

Maybe I don't have a "syndrome". Maybe I'm just special. People have always said that God has special plans for me, and I have just scoffed at them. But maybe it's true...and maybe these special plans that God has for me can only be carried out by someone with my unique way of thinking. AS and everything that has gone with it, a whole childhood of suffering, has made me a very forgiving person. I learned to talk to the outcasts and others who were on the outside because those on the inside ignored me. And plenty of people have said I have a unique perspective on God and his words, and that I have an open ear for what he has to say.

I can see how most people in my situation would blame God for making them the way they are, but I can't blame God for anything. God is not malicious. People are malicious. God sent his Son into the world to save the world, and the world attacked and crucified him. God has created so much beauty in this world, and people destroy it. They pollute the oceans, kill the atmosphere, poach animals. It's people I blame, not God at all. I believe I am a thing of beauty God created, that the intollerance, ignorance and apathy of people has try to kill.

People ask me why God lets people have disabilities. Everytime, I think back to last year's christmas assembly at our local "special" school. We taught the kids how to sing and sign Jesus Loves Me, this I know, for the bible tells me so. Those kids were so happy, the joy in their faces, the total jubillation. People call them ret*ds, and all sorts of derogatory things, and I think a lot of people think of us Aspies like that sometimes too. But I think God has blessed us ret*ds. We have the opportunity to truly change the world.

I dont know if that makes any sense. Tell me what you think. Please, don't reply to this topic if you're going to christian bash. Jesus is all I have at the moment, and I don't need you trying to take him away from me.

If everyone thought the same way about everything all the time, we'd still be monkeys in the trees. Or nomads. Or stuck in Eden etc, depending on your belief system.

Chances are the internet was built/started by aspies with new ideas.

Everyone has their own sets of personality assets and deficits.

Assets for aspies are usually things like being able to maintain long periods of concentration on specific interesting topics. And these topics may not interest anyone else at all, but if somebody has the interest, we (everybody) can use the expertise as a resource to make progress... This especially applies to aspie scientists and engineers.

Aspies often see things from a completely different perspective. They may see "obvious solutions" to problems where other people have gotten completely stuck. Note this also works the other way around.

Aspies are often very good at working on their own, for long periods of time. This may make them especially good at jobs that involve isolation.

Aspies often get along very well with animals. This can make for excellent farmers.

Aspies are often good at learning and following specific instructions even when the world goes into crisis around them. If they have a set of instructions for this situation, then they can deal with it with a cool head while everyone else goes nuts. This often makes aspies excellent emergency workers.

Aspies are not often influenced by mere material things and can be more resistant to things like financial bribes. This can make them valuable in places where corruption might otherwise be a problem. Aspies like to keep things fair and consistent, this makes them good referees, umpires and law enforcement officers. They are less likely to be influenced to go against the rules.

Aspies can be very good at analyzing things from an emotionally detached view point. This makes for more objective results. Some aspies don't mind the occasional repetitive simple task because it calms and soothes the mind. The combination of repetitive boring tasks and objective creative thinking is often required in science and engineering.

Tedious research combined with lateral thinking is often required of journalists and historical writers as well.

Aspies are often found in places where a lecture is prefered to a conversation, eg universities.

Aspies like things straightforward, literal and honest. This is similtaneously an asset and a deficit. Aspies might not deal so well with frustration or stress or deadlines. The task will be done when its done, who knows what complications will appear along the way, what is the point of a deadline?

Aspies don't always fit in so well socially. They are not good mind readers without a lot of specific training. They don't cope so well when others don't fit the rules they've been taught. A bit like a computer program that hasn't been designed to deal with a particular situation, the program crashes, and the aspie may have some variation of a melt down.

Some aspies get upset or anxious or depressed about the social problems. OThers revel in it. Some aspies oscillate between these responses.

Some aspies are keen to learn, and willing to listen. Other aspies think they know everything already and won't listen to anyone. Some aspies desperately want to fit in. Some aspies don't care. Some aspies don't care AND want to fit in. Some aspies make excellent loyal and positive friends, and some aspies are mean, negative and nasty and you don't want to be friends with those ones.

And there is lots more I haven't thought of or have forgotten.

But bottom line, there is lots of variation and as much as I have written, someone else could write some more that covers stuff that I haven't even looked at. And it is possible that for some aspies, none of what I've written applies.

DataImzadi: No, the most likely reason for your AS is that it is genetic. No god did this to you, it is just simply a genetic condition. The exact cause is not yet known, but genetic factors is the best explanation so far. Or it may be a combination of physical factors.

Click the link for more info. It is really far, far, far more likely that the cause is genetic, than some god did this to you.

Emp, I have complete certainty that it was God who chose my genes. He made the special combination that is me. If it was purely genetics, wouldn't my brother and sister be just like me? Believe me, they are NOT.

I truly believe that God can do what he likes, genetics or not. That takes faith Emp, something I dont think you have, but that is your misfortune.

Faith in God has kept me through a lot of bad times. Hope that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. And you know what? Absolutely nothing will convince me that there is no God. I see too much evidence around me that He is real.

Maybe that's another beauty of being an Aspie, an ability to stick to an unwavering faith, regardless of the strife that comes. Or the reverse, in Emp's case, not being able to believe in anything. That's really sad for you, Emp.

It's great for someone like me to be able to believe in a God who loves me unconditionally. A God whose peace and grace surpass understanding. That when everyone around me turns their back on me, or chooses to ignore me for a time, God is always there. Of course, there's also the promise of heaven. Keep going one more day, because at the end of the day, I'm one day closer to heaven.

Hold the phone right there. Misfortune? Atheists have chosen not to believe in something, and regardless of what you believe it will be until death before that is any misfortune. As for autism, it is genetic and most relations are ungodly(God is very strict when it comes to sex, and he isn't the first thing that comes to mind when two people are in the moment). Thus, your autism is above god.

I don't believe anything is planned for us. Since giving up the christian faith, I've become a critic of the whole bloody plan thing. If everything was planned for us, we wouldn't need to read the bible. We would already know everything from it and we'd all act Godly. But how come we can question what the bible says? Why do we still suffer hard times? Why do we harm one another? We are not machines programmed before birth. All these are purely choice and are from us, not from the big guy upstairs.

I don't believe God loves me not only because I don't know if He even exists anymore but also because of the bad things that have happened to me in my life. Why should I worship something that says He will take care of me when He does nothing? I've decided to discover my own spirituality. I don't need a faith that was formulated before people were more educated to live my life. And just because some people say it is the right thing to do doesn't mean it is right. I have written more in another topic.

I agree. I believe that I have AS for a reason and I hope to be able to help others with Asperger's as well. Emp, I'll be praying for you.

Please read my post here...Marken, I think you might find it interesting anyway.
http://www.wrongplanet.net/asperger.htm ... 567#250567

The misfortune, subatai_baadur, is not the threat of hell, or anything like that. It is the absense of hope. An atheist who believes in nothing can not have hope for tomorrow. And hope is what makes life bearable.

Truth is, no one can truly be an atheist. Everyone believes in something. Even if it is that you believe there is no God, you still believe something, don't you.

Belief is inherrent in human nature. God put it there so we would seek him out. Why else would there be so much religion, and so many theories as to the creation of the world etc. Belief in Evolution is a religion. Belief in human supremacy is a religion. It is not possible to believe in nothing. Not possible.

Hello, DataImzadi.

I'm curious. Are you saying that there was some form of Divine Intervention that led you to be this way? Sort of like God stopping what should have happened to you and instead went against the laws of nature to make you the way you are?

Actually, the reason you are here is because all of the necessary contingent factors have come together in order for you to exist. If even one contingent factor was missing, you might not exist at all. So, you still can find reason and purpose in your particular existence.

My genetics give me purpose, I can't say everyone has a purpose since I have not shared in their genetics. As one atheist I met said, "My purpose is to have fun and be happy." Whenever I go against my purpose, I'm unhappy. Sort of like if I stick my hand in the fire, it goes against my purpose and my body feels anguish. So there's a purpose to keep my body from feeling those kind of things.

The whole joy in purpose is figuring out the aspects of it. Enjoy yourself if you so desire. n_n

You have a point, Taruby.

But I prefer to think that my loving father God put me together the way I am for a reason rather than a genetic lottery. "You knew me before I was formed, you knit me together in my mother's womb"
Of course, I look at the world around me, at the intricacies of nature, at the individualities of my pets and all animals, at the uniqueness of each individual person I meet, and I refuse to believe life is a big cosmic accident. There is a divine power at work, I know it. And this divine power is my best friend

Well, I believe in god. That doesnt make me anything like an American fundamentalist though. fundaMENTAList. Yeah, thats in there for a reason. Someone had a sense of humour..

I believe in science, genetics, fiscal conservatism and Canada, but mostly I believe in ME!

That being said, you cannot heap pity on Emp. Whats between you and god is between you and god, and the same goes for Emp. Emp and atheists have chosen to delay this indefinately. If potential other parties(god) choose to negate this period, there is nothing that anyone, believer or not, can do about it.

People that condemn or claim condemnation for those that dont believe are simply putting their words in gods mouth. The bible might even say it(I dont think it does!), but its still not your place to do. It is hubris. (not saying that anyone local to the topic has done so).

This indicates that you do not have faith. You cannot ever have faith. You have unshakeable belief. Some would say blindness.

You no longer seek understanding, you think you have it. You are the hare that no longer races, thinking you have won, while Emp the tortoise, plods along, never thinking he will get a prize, but still he goes. Heaven awaits you? You have won before the race is over?

Faith is trust against your senses, against rationality. Faith is risk. Indiana Jones provides a perfect answer in the third movie, when he must step into an abyss, trusting that something(a bridge, or God, or whatever) will be there to catch him. Thats faith. Anything else is just knowledge or belief, or arrogance.

Thit is a good reason for prayers to go unanswered. You must doubt to have faith. If you do not doubt(knowledge or belief), you cannot have faith. If all prayers are answered, God is made knowledge, or belief becomes absolute, and faith is moot.

You believe in god, but you have no faith. You make no effort, take no risks. You act and speak as though you have won.

That's really sad for you, DataImzadi.

Oh, my prayers have gone unanswered. Don't you worry. My parents divorced even though I prayed for them to stay together. My friend Kym died of liver cancer a month after she got married, despite the fact that I prayed and fasted and prayed and fasted for her to get healed. I don't understand why God answers some prayers and doesnt answer others. But I trust him. I trust that he has everything under control.

Sure, I pity Emp's lack of hope. But never can it be said that I have "condemned" him. And yes, the battle is won. Heaven is my reward. I still have to walk the road to get to it, but I know it is my final destination. The road to heaven is narrow and rocky, but the reward is worth it.

And how dare you accuse me of not taking risks? You didnt read my post I linked to, did you?
Fuzzy, all life is risk. I'm putting all my eggs in one basket by choosing to believe in Jehovah Jireh, my provider. If that's not a risk, I don't know what is. You think it hasn't gone through my head "What if it isnt true?" yes, that and many doubts have gone through my head. Everytime something goes wrong in my life I doubt. But you know what? God pulls me through those doubts and reveals himself to me more and more.

But yes, I have won. God has a crown for me in heaven, a reward for surviving this earth with faith in him through every trial.

I should have stated more strongly, NO ONE in this thread has condemned anyone. My apologies. It is probably I that have come closest to doing so.



Undoubtably the reward is worth it.

But just as an atheist has no reward based reason for acting good or evil, a person that believes their soul is saved no matter what can act as they wish, feeling that their belief alone will save them.

I am betting that you are a good person. But not all believers are, and simple belief aught not save them from consequence, or else heinous acts are rewarded by god.


Nope. I will go back and do so.



What do you risk by doing this?



I am glad. That shows me a human. A thinking rational being. It is the very act of believing in something we cannot sense that allows man to reach greater heights, become better. That may be god, or it may be a fourth dimension, or electrons, or just the dream of flight for a creature that cannot. Dreams, faith and belief, all as one.



See, that I have a problem with. Maybe you leave something unspoken there(I bet you do), but belief alone shouldnt save. While I have no doubt that you live a life of virtue and grace, not all do.

What of the men that gassed Jews and Gypsies and Poles, but worshipped, prayed, and attended church? Did they go to heaven simply through belief regardless of sin? Isnt heaven for those that live a life of virtue, rather than blind belief? What of the KKK, killing blacks but proclaiming Halleluiah every sunday, and praying before bed?

I guess that if you saw a murderer praying when he thought no one was looking, you could assume that he was a true believer. If thats all it takes to escape the consequence of sin, then worldly justice is not based on celestial justice, and unbelievers like Emp have virtues missing in godsmen.

Again, I am abstracting, rather than pointing at you. I do not compare you to any awful people.

Fuzzy, yes that is sad.

See, that is the clincher. It's about repentance. I didnt go into that as much as I should have. You have to repent. And that doesnt just mean saying sorry. It doesnt work like that. True repentence is living like you're sorry. A murderer can repent of his sins, and be saved. I believe that. He can never undo what he has done, but he can change the way he does things in the future. He can try and make amends for what he has done.

That's why Jesus says "Not everyone who says "Lord, Lord, we did this that and the other thing in your name" will get into heaven. He will look at them and say "I never knew you.""

A murderer who truly meets Jesus can not go on murdering, his conscience and the spirit inside would not allow it.

I can not make any excuses for people who have committed atrocities in the name of Jesus. There have been some evil things done by supposed Christians all throughout history. But I can say this, any true christian would have to high a respect for life and his neighbour to do those sorts of things.

Man looks at the outside, God looks at the heart. People can pretend to be christians as much as they like, but they can not hide the truth from God. God will know if they are true or liers and will deal with them accordingly.

Hold on just a minute there, an atheist can have plenty of hope, more hope than a believer can. I have more hope now than I ever did when I was a believer, in fact I had no hope when I was a believer. This statement is wrong in so many ways that I cannot even begin to describe how wrong it is. Also, I am NOT a ret*d. Different, not defective.

Jonathan79,

I'm confused. I can agree with you that you can have as much hope as anyone else can, but how do you get the idea that you can have more than they can hope to achieve? This perplexes me, because not even evolution favours us more than, oh say, a tapeworm. n_n;

Isn't life wonderful? Although, I don't understand why formation and alignment of contingent factors unguided could even be called an accident. An accident is something you wouldn't suspect or want to happen. An accident would be like two Gods driving their cars and they collided into each other because they were on their cell-phones and the flying debris created the universe we live in. =)