God helps those who help themselves? (translation, suicide, bible, quote) - Religion and Spirituality -Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Atheism, God, Universe, Science, Spirituality, Faith, Evidence - City-Data Forum

arjay57 · 12-18-2010, 11:37 AM

I've heard this my whole life and was surprised (and a little embarrassed) to read that it's "the most quoted verse that's not in the Bible."

According to this, the quote came from a guy named Algernon Sydney in 1698, and in the Bible actually teaches the opposite.

God helps those who help themselves - is it in the Bible?

Live and learn, I guess.

Boxcar Overkill · 12-18-2010, 11:48 AM

God helps people in such a way that it is statistically indistinguishable from God not helping people.

catman · 12-18-2010, 01:10 PM

arjay57: Thanks. I always wondered where that came from.

achickenchaser · 12-19-2010, 01:46 AM

Do all the work to help yourself then give God credit for it, whether he had anything to do with it or not.

That's how I always translated that saying.

My favorite religious translation of that would have to be that God only deals with what's impossible for you. You're on your own for everything else. Of course he'll also never put more on us than we can handle, so whatever

old_cold · 12-19-2010, 02:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by achickenchaser

Do all the work to help yourself then give God credit for it, whether he had anything to do with it or not.

That's how I always translated that saying.

My favorite religious translation of that would have to be that God only deals with what's impossible for you. You're on your own for everything else. Of course he'll also never put more on us than we can handle, so whatever

Yeah ! Is that why there are suicides even among those of you that believe in one?
Or would any reason for that be included in the 'everything else'?
What are some examples of the 'impossibles'?

Thomas R. · 12-19-2010, 03:17 AM

I thought it was Ben Franklin, but yes I think even as a kid that didn't seem right to me as it would seem to imply God maybe doesn't care for the helpless which seems rather opposite to Christian teaching.

Charles · 12-19-2010, 08:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arjay57

I've heard this my whole life and was surprised (and a little embarrassed) to read that it's "the most quoted verse that's not in the Bible."

According to this, the quote came from a guy named Algernon Sydney in 1698, and in the Bible actually teaches the opposite.

God helps those who help themselves - is it in the Bible?

Live and learn, I guess.

I would have thought "God Damn It" was the most quoted verse that's not in the bible. I hear that about ten times a day.