Equal-Opportunity For Failure?

Jermyn Davidson · #1 03-13-2010, 04:42 PM

Does God provide people with the opportunity for failure?

I'm sure, all answers would be yes.

Is that opportunity for failure equal for all people, of all times, in every circumstance of historical record?

Was there ever a time where failure was expected, and thus, alright?

Religious and/or historical contexted answers please.

Jermyn Davidson · #2 03-13-2010, 04:46 PM

Another question: is there ever a time when it is simply, "your turn to fail?"

Baron1710 · #3 03-13-2010, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jermyn Davidson

Does God provide people with the opportunity for failure?

I'm sure, all answers would be yes.

Is that opportunity for failure equal for all people, of all times, in every circumstance of historical record?

Was there ever a time where failure was expected, and thus, alright?

Religious and/or historical contexted answers please.

Define failure.

Jermyn Davidson · #4 03-13-2010, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baron1710

Define failure.

FAILURE DEFINED:

Inability of a person to keep up with the demands of life and, specifically, the inabilitiy of the person to function as expected within the confines of their social and/or spiritual norms.

Baron1710 · #5 03-13-2010, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jermyn Davidson

FAILURE DEFINED:

Inability of a person to keep up with the demands of life and, specifically, the inabilitiy of the person to function as expected within the confines of their social and/or spiritual norms.

Whose expectations? Mom's? Dad's? Societies?

What is a spiritual and social norm?

A man who never makes more than $25,000 a year but is content with what he has may be seen by some as a failure others may see him as a huge success.

RandyWayne · #6 03-13-2010, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baron1710

Whose expectations? Mom's? Dad's? Societies?

What is a spiritual and social norm?

A man who never makes more than $25,000 a year but is content with what he has may be seen by some as a failure others may see him as a huge success.

This reminds me of the episode of Frasier where Woody (from Cheers) visits Dr Crane. Frasier feels bad for Woody in the sense that from his perspective he never did anything with his life and is leading a paycheck to paycheck hillbilly existence. It turns out Woody is happy with his life and actually feels sorry for Dr Crane and HIS life.
Granted, it is a lot funnier to actually watch the episode then reading my brief breakdown, but the lesson is there.

Baron1710 · #7 03-13-2010, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RandyWayne

This reminds me of the episode of Frasier where Woody (from Cheers) visits Dr Crane. Frasier feels bad for Woody in the sense that from his perspective he never did anything with his life and is leading a paycheck to paycheck hillbilly existence. It turns out Woody is happy with his life and actually feels sorry for Dr Crane and HIS life.
Granted, it is a lot funnier to actually watch the episode then reading my brief breakdown, but the lesson is there.

That was a fun show. Amazing what one learns from sitcoms.

Jermyn Davidson · #8 03-13-2010, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RandyWayne

This reminds me of the episode of Frasier where Woody (from Cheers) visits Dr Crane. Frasier feels bad for Woody in the sense that from his perspective he never did anything with his life and is leading a paycheck to paycheck hillbilly existence. It turns out Woody is happy with his life and actually feels sorry for Dr Crane and HIS life.
Granted, it is a lot funnier to actually watch the episode then reading my brief breakdown, but the lesson is there.

So neither one of them are failures, using the definition I provided.

Is there proof to sugest that God or society tolerates failure on Woody's behalf but not Frasier's or vice versa?

Jermyn Davidson · #9 03-13-2010, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baron1710

Whose expectations? Mom's? Dad's? Societies?

What is a spiritual and social norm?

A man who never makes more than $25,000 a year but is content with what he has may be seen by some as a failure others may see him as a huge success.

I was trying to purposely leave the question broad to attempt to apply the answers to any various place in history and time.

Spiritual and social norms are the behaviors embraced bringing an established, desireable outcome-- established and desireable by the people of that same environment.

Baron1710 · #10 03-13-2010, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jermyn Davidson

I was trying to purposely leave the question broad to attempt to apply the answers to any various place in history and time.

Spiritual and social norms are the behaviors embraced bringing an established, desireable outcome-- established and desireable by the people of a particular place and time.

I think people must define those "norms" for themselves.

What does one want from life?

What sacrifices are they willing to make to get there?

Many people want a six figure job but don't want to put the time in to learn a trade, many times while earning little or no money, or spend a few years of their life in school and then start at the bottom in a profession.

Stuff happens along the way. I think it was Solomon who said "Time and chance happens to us all." You get up dust yourself off and try again.