As far as my own beliefs go, yes and *yes.
* "According to God's plan" in the big picture/grand scheme sort of way, yes. This does not mean that every time a person chooses to hurt someone else, for example, it was done so "according to God's plan." This simply means that, being God, He is outside of time and so He has seen how in the end everything will be made right. Knowing the big picture, He has chosen to make the universe as it is, which includes things like letting us humans have free will and allowing nature to work as it does. In that sense, everything is all in God's plan.
* "According to God's plan" in the big picture/grand scheme sort of way, yes. This does not mean that every time a person chooses to hurt someone else, for example, it was done so "according to God's plan." This simply means that, being God, He is outside of time and so He has seen how in the end everything will be made right. Knowing the big picture, He has chosen to make the universe as it is, which includes things like letting us humans have free will and allowing nature to work as it does. In that sense, everything is all in God's plan.
"Of course, everyone will claim they respect someone who tries to speak the truth, but in reality, this is a rare quality. Most respect those who speak truths they agree with, and their respect for the speaking only extends as far as their realm of personal agreement. It is less common, almost to the point of becoming a saintly virtue, that someone truly respects and loves the truth seeker, even when their conclusions differ wildly."
-walsh
-walsh
