P

The new illustrated alphabet Part 16: 

P is for PREDESTINATION.

Predestination, in Christian theology, is the doctrine that all events have been willed by God, usually with reference to the eventual fate of the individual soul. Explanations of predestination often seek to address the "paradox of free will", whereby God's omniscience seems incompatible with human free will. In this usage, predestination can be regarded as a form of religious determinism; and usually predeterminism, also known as theological determinism. 

Believing this can make religious people "cock sure" of themselves, often becoming arrogant and elitist. They see themselves as chosen people with a right to enforce their own interpretation of God's will as they go because in their own minds they are operating "in the will of God". This can be used to explain and justify any type of action or judgement as well as excuse misdemeanors of all sorts. It's both an intellectual trap and an opportunity for exploitation and control.  A belief in predestination provides potential leverage for cruel and unspeakable acts to take place whilst providing a conscience salving excuse to explain such behaviour.

I often reflect on how many folks who became born again Christians in the 70s and 80s (Mike Pence anyone?) and have kept on with their faith have turned out to be absolute cunts as a result. In fairness it may be that even without their encounter with  faith they'd still have ended up that way.