I see you have reasoned this well. Unfortunately, when you are not an independent thinker, like a theist, then Gawd is a crutch for everything you can't explain.

It is the only way to wrap their heads around something when they believe god controls everything, especially when they keep telling you how loving he is. I am so very sorry for your loss and no There is no explanation for this type of thing. My daughter has been through 2 different cancer battles but is so lucky because she made it through. For her this experience was what made her an Atheist

Gonna go with "They're idiots."

Because they are weak minded and have a very casual relationship with reality

"Why do people think. . . "

Error.

Your question should be "Why do theists (a subset of people) think. . . " Those I respect are not theists and do not consider terrible outcomes a part of "god's plan"

The theist's "God's plan" apology when terrible things happen to good people is to classic example religious doublethink.

To support their faith (belief without evidence) based claim "a god exists", the Christian apologist by definition must employ a litany of such irrational justifications in an attempt to "support the unsupportable".

So the "God's plan" is just another outcome of faith. (belief without evidence often defended against testable facts that contradict the faith based claim).

Because it's the easiest way for people to explain the world around them.

Ask them why babies are born addicted to crack. Ask them why young children are raped. Ask them why God planned for a man to throw acid in a woman’s face because she looked at a guy.

God’s Plan is a bullshit excuse to describe away horrible things that Christians can’t explain rationally. Also, if you want to throw them for a loop, ask them if they believe in luck. If they answer yes, that just furthers their hypocrisy. If they do, that’s saying that God doesn’t have a plan. Luck is a force that can alter the outcome of an event. If God has a plan, then everything is already predetermined. Free Will doesn’t really exist if God’s Plan does. Because no matter what we do or what happens, God planned for it to happen.

This sort of schizophrenic pronouncement that god is good and merciful and kind and protective and fatherly, while at the same time having Mysterious Ways that involve baroque and tragic human suffering, is something you're never going to get them to explain because there IS no explanation for it.

They don't really believe that! They only use it as an excuse for inexplicable problems in life. That way...they still get to appear ''trusting in the lord.''

Sorry for your loss. I agree. The same thought goes for pediatric cancer. How can it be part of a plan for children to die??? Or any terminal illness? I was sexually molested by two men when I was 10 years old. It infuriates me when I hear shit like it’s part of the plan or god allows things because people can handle it.

Because then the incomprehensible makes sense, and they don't have to think about it much. I am so sorry for your loss.

I'm terribly sorry for your loss. I hope you can find some comfort in the memories of happier times.

As for the why, well, like nearly all things regarding human behavior there is more nuance to be found in the why then most people care to admit.

Some people believe they are being tested. That the bad things in their life are meant as a challenge to be endured to prove their faith to themselves and others.

Some people believe dark forces have conspired against them in an attempt to undermine God's Plan. But they have faith that His plan will ultimately win out, even if they don't live to see it.

Some people believe they are surrendering control to Him as a way of coming to terms with the overall lack of control they have in life.

Some people belive the whole "acts in mysterious ways" line. They think that with His perspective on reality being so utterly alien to our own we can't possibly understand Him and his choices any more then a sick animal can understand why a veterinarian just stabbed it.

And these are just a few reasons why. There are almost as many reasons as belivers. Just remember that, by and large, the people who talk about Gods plan in the face of hardship and tragedy aren't trying to upset you. In their lives such a statement is meant to reassure and comfort. It's what they want to hear in those times because it helps them come to terms. So of course that's where their mind goes when trying to help others cope.

It is a platitude, makes them feel better for not actually doing anything or having anything thoughtful or empathetic to say.
They don't say it for your benefit they they simply don't want to admit their god who they are terrified of, is a c<>t

Ignorance. Sense of purpose.

I worked in Pediatrics at Mt Sinai in NYC for twenty years. No loving god would let the things I saw ever happen babies and children. My experience there convinced me that there was no god and no plan for us. I go ballistic when people say that I usually reply quietly, No, it is not.

Because they cannot deal with the thought that the world isn't just and fair in some manner, and their inability to change that. If they think that there's an afterlife where someone that got a raw deal here will get ten times as many good deals gifted to them, then the world doesn't seem so bad and they can continue on with the least change to the way they normally do things.

Thoughts and prayers are so much easier than making a sizable donation to cancer research or to getting a medical degree and working on a cure.

Of course, it's also outside of their thought processes to consider what effect their "god's plan" comment will have on someone that doesn't read from the same book of fiction they do. Or perhaps they did think of that, and feel that it is deserved for not believing. Any god that tortures people with diseases like that certainly doesn't deserve respect (as in admiration, as opposed to how you'd respect a . 45 pointed at your head), much less worship.

I think it is in keeping with religion's lack of ability to explain phenomena - blame or attribute it to their god... Of course, if someone were to make that type of insensitive comment to me I would be sorely tempted to stating my amazement that anyone could worship an entity so sadistic. What plan could possibly explain cancer and an early, painful death??

my condolences. she must have been very young. 'god's plan' is a bunch of BULLSHIT!! also when ppl say that you can take comfort in knowing that it's in god's hands is BULLSHIT!! i take no comfort when bad things happen to good people. my mother died of cancer and my dad died a year later with an aneurysm (97' and 98'... that's about when i started to stop believing in bullshit. i do visit them in my dreams though. i know it's not really them but while i'm dreaming it's nice. i'm in the same work that my dad was in (he was and i am a land surveyor)... in my dreams i sometimes wonder why we aren't working together....then i wake up.

There is no god and therefore no plan. When people say that is part of gods plan what they are really saying is I can not except reality and the fact that life is full of the good and the bad, the bliss and the pain! It is a weak mentality that usually leads to following blindly into christian cult activity.

The pain that you feel, the outrage? The sorrow, despair, sadness, depression, anger...

Yeah a lot of people aren't strong enough to bear it alone. They need to beleive in a fairytale to make it all better. They didn't lose a loved one - they're with an all knowing, all loving Deity that just couldn't wait to hang out with them.

Fucking childish if you ask me. Reality is pain. Embrace it.

Because they are sent right from "gawd" (he/she/it is a complete bastard)...and woe to you blasphemers who plead for him to rescind the sentence!

It allows them to feel guilt free for not having done a damn thing to head it off...

Because it's easier than having to actually think.

Because is the way stupid people have to explain what can't be explained.