I'll try to post on this on my own site - the topic backlog just keeps getting lonmger and longer. . .

Dean's description pretty much matches my (perhaps incorrect) view of predestination. During periods when I believed in God, I never subscribed to predestination, though.

I do, however, find problems with the whole notion of an omnipotent God who simultaneously deserves credit for the food on my plate and yet not blame for the lack of food on the plates of little kids in Ethiopia.

I believe plainly that suffering in the world:

a) is a result of man's fall, and is a byproduct of our freedom of will, allowing us to make decisions that have consequences. Something's wrong with the world, and with us.. this is a central doctrine of Christianity;
b) occurs for everyone, including Christians;
c) is something that God commands His followers to assist in relieving (James 1:27 for example);
d) should be viewed in the light of eternity, not with regard to our brief lives - something that we cannot humanly comprehend.

OK. But then why give him thanks for my grilled chicken breast with mixed vegetables? Either it's my job to feed myself and he's staying out of it, or I should get to blame him for stuff going wrong. Indeed, why pray at all?

And, of course, hedging everything on the unverifiable promise of eternity is rather risky.

Predestination is not quite what Dean makes it out to be, but as usual, the subtle details have been pushed aside by an easily digestible "soundbite."

That's why it's called FAITH, James, choosing to believe what you cannot see, touch, hear, smell, or taste. And just because I can't see, touch, taste, smell, or hear it doesn't mean it doesn't exist either.

You don't have to thank God for the food on your plate if you don't want to. However, He gave you the gifts, talents, and abilities to be able to provide that food for yourself, so you can thank Him for that instead? =)

And why blame God for the bad stuff, we brought/bring that on ourselves as Pietro explained.

Indeed!

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