Where is God during disasters?

[CaptainXeroid]

My theory, a bit cruel hearted, is that the earth is over-populated, and man is using too much land. The earth is fixing the problem.
I can say that Katrina must have been big and strong. I have been seeing the rain from that monstrous storm all day today, in northern Indiana.

I don't think either of us wish to diminish any suffering related to Katrina, but I do concur with what you are saying. The city of New Orleans sits below sea level, and scientists have been warning for many years that a such a hurricane could hit the city with catastrophic results. Scientists have been warning about an earthquake for many years, but that doesn't stop people from moving to California. No matter where we live, there is a risk of a natural disaster.

...And I can't help but think, why would anyone's so called God let these type of things happen. And all I here is people saying they thank God they are alive. Well why don't they un-thank God for the people that are dead...

So, it is logical to conclude that you also get heated up at the people who don't believe in God and don't pray to him, yet they seek to 'blame' Him for natural disasters. I grieve for the victims and pray for the survivors. The fact that we don't understand God's plan does not mean that He is uncaring or non-existant. Consider this verse.:162:

 

[Yerda]

Either this god is malevolent or has no part in such things, I can see no way around it.

 

[Melody]

All these things and others I didn't mention or know of are religious babble that can't be proven. No, all things do not need proving, but to believe in something as unproven as life or anything after death as a basis for one's own justification to be satisfied with death seems ... asinine. When you become satisfied of death then you are more prone to die because you don't try to fight it. Yea you could say when it's your time to go it's your time to go, but that time will be sooner if you don't have the desire to live.

We don't look to hasten our death...but we don't fear it. Big difference. I don't look at death as a good or bad thing. It just is.

 

[cardero]

Where is God during disasters?
What makes you believe that GOD considers them disasters?

 

[Rex]

If you can honestly look at this disaster and not blame "your god" then denial must be stage in your thought process. As a person of rational/logical thought and I think just about everything is subjective and the world knowledge of all beliefs is key, I just can't help feel sorry for the people that are praying to something that has taken so much way from them.

I see people just sitting on the side of the streets here in B.R. because they have no place to go, no home, no family, no money, NADA. And maybe God spared their life, but also took away everything they have ever known, they might as well be gone also. I would want to be.

Sorry if I sound so cruel but I guess just seeing this stuff saddens me beyond the point of constructive thoughts.

 

[cardero]

Denial would probably take the form if we felt we were defeated or there was nothing we could do about it. Maybe we should take this sadness and put it toward an act of compassion. Now most of us do not live near the Louisiana area but that does not mean that we are not open to suggestions to help. If you know of any ideas Rex, please keep RF members in mind.

 

[Radar]

God is non-existant during natural disasters... God is non-existant in our natural world... A hurrican is a natural occuring storm. So there for it occurs in a natural world. Gods and dieties are supernatural therefore they exist outside of the natural world. So you have to to chalk these events up to Nature.

Supernatural defined:

1. Of or relating to existence outside the natural world.
2. Attributed to a power that seems to violate or go beyond natural forces.
3. Of or relating to a deity.
4. Of or relating to the immediate exercise of divine power; miraculous.
5. Of or relating to the miraculous.

 

[BUDDY]

It seems to me that you are asking for believers to blame God for natural disasters only. If God created nature and natural order, and if God created man, then why not blame God for everything bad that ever happens, whether created through natural order to through man's irresponsable acts? I can understand why you would be upset, as we all should when disasters happen. But if you want to be angry with someone, why be angry with a Christian for having a belief? Take your frustrations out by helping others, not by denegrating those of us who believe in God.

BTW, and not that any of you necessarily care, but to blast the focus of atheist (i.e. God) is not a great way to practice what you love to preach. Tolerance, community, love, etc. If you guys really want to practice these things, pick up a phone and make a call to the Red Cross or some other organization that can do something positive to help people in need right now.

 

[Feathers in Hair]

I'm not sure if people are angry with Christians, maybe just with theists or with religion. Hopefully, this will not affect how people treat each other on the forums.

 

[BUDDY]

I'm not sure if people are angry with Christians, maybe just with theists or with religion. Hopefully, this will not affect how people treat each other on the forums.

Okay, maybe non-specific religion which would include christianity. The bottom line is, if you don't believe in a God(s), what point is there in getting angry with those who do? It serves no purpose and has no constructive outcome. All it will do is make you and those you are angry with, more upset than we are already.

 

[michel]

Okay, maybe non-specific religion which would include christianity. The bottom line is, if you don't believe in a God(s), what point is there in getting angry with those who do? It serves no purpose and has no constructive outcome. All it will do is make you and those you are angry with, more upset than we are already.

I don't even think it is a case of that; there is anger - which is natural; it has to be directed at someone, something - what would be easier than to direct it at God ? - I don't think it is religion orientated..........people need a punch bag.

 

[Terrywoodenpic]

God is not responsible for disasters. He does not cause them nor is he a rescue service.

Parts of the world are disaster prone. earthquake floods famines eruptions mudslides.
This is a living world that God has given to us.
Because of this it is fertile and encourages life.
It is subject to constant change as the earths crust moves and the wind and rain erode its surface.
We chose to live in some very dangerous places where disasters are inevitable.
we Chose this not GOD.
There is a great deal we could do to make these places less dangerous to life, but it would cost MONEY. so little is done.
In the UK housing estates are being built on flood plains because the land is available and cheap, it makes good profits for the builders. But it gives no thought to the people who will live there.
I think we should put more blame on governments and developers and Give God a break.

The poor people who are suffering now will be comforted by God but must be helped by us all.

Terry
_______________________________
Amen! Truly I say to you: Gather in my name. I am with you.

 

[Snowbear]

Where is God during disasters?

I think He's right there. Whether He caused the hurricane or allowed it to be caused, He was there.

And I can't help but think, why would anyone's so called God let these type of things happen.

I don't know. I'm not even going to pretend to know the reason(s) for even a small part of His purpose, much less the big stuff. Even as far away as Alaska, though, people are coming to gether and taking up collections and sending money, people and supplies to help with the relief efforts.... isn't that a good thing? Could getting people motivated to help out and think of someone other their own selfish wants be part of the big Plan? How do we know something even worse was going to happen if the hurricane didn't? Maybe something worse than death was prevented in those who died? Who knows? No-one does. None of us can explain it ~ doesn't matter if we're atheists or Believers or anyone in between.

And all I here is people saying they thank God they are alive.

Yeah - they're glad they are alive.... whether things are tougher for them now than they were before, they are still glad their life was spared. What's wrong with being thankful for that?

Well why don't they un-thank God for the people that are dead.

I can't answer that for them. But I'd bet there are a lot of folks who are questioning, blaming and angry at God for the dead and injured as much or more than they're thanking God for their own lives being spared. I'm sure there are parents, sisters, brothers, friends, children and strangers who are wishing they had been taken so someone who died could have been spared. But again, it's not up to us.

 

[Apotheosis]

Napping?

 

[EnhancedSpirit]

Place your mouse on the X below and drag to the O.



XEven though you can't see Him, GOD is there!O

 

[Shadow Wolf]

You are assuming that death is a bad thing

That is very true. For many, death can be a sweet release from a very hard life. For many others, it can also be shortening of a good thing.

I am convienced things will get worse, with many more, very disaterous natural disaters occuring. There are even scientifical explinations, such as warmer Atlantic waters causing the several hurricanes last year.

I can't help but wonder, how much of New Orleans is left? All I've seen from pictures are flooded areas that look like it would be difficult to build over for quite some time. And then the looters setting fire to buildings. Then disease will be a major issue. Who would have thought New Orleans would come close to total destruction? And all the other cities that look like they were the targets of an atom bomb.

 

[Terrywoodenpic]

Looking at pictures of the disaster last night and seeing the profile of the land. It would seem a good idea to rebuild New Orleans in a safer place.
Global warming and the rise in sea levels and the more violent weather we can expect, are bound to repeat the disaster if it is rebuilt where it is now.

Going back in history Many destroyed cities were rebuilt in a new place after a disaster.

This is an opportunity for the people in the area to have a safe long term future.

Terry
___________________________________________
Amen! Truly I say to you: Gather in my name. I am with you.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

Going back in history Many destroyed cities were rebuilt in a new place after a disaster.

I wonde if this trend will follow, and thier will be a Newer Orleans.
I find it sickining that whatever organization said a year or two ago that a hurricane making a direct hit on New Orleans would be a great disaster, equvalent to a great earthquake in California or a terrorist attack in New York City. Yet there was no preperation done. Pumps should have been built to rapidly drain water, and the levis should have been re-inforced to withstand more preasure. But now New Orleans is underwater, because the head of whatever organization said they couldn't have had any way to prepair.

 

[Ori]

I wish I knew where God was at times like this, I will certainly question him if given the chance.

 

[michel]

I am quite convinced that God had the power to stop the tornado, had he wished - but he would have been interfering with what nature was 'achieving'?- totally innapropriate words, I realize; I don't believe that he would change the course of nature.


All these events are circumstantial - some even aggravated by man; I believe the speeding up of the hurricane was due partly to the cold southern currents of the ocean, meeting the warmer ones. Man is responsible for the damage to the ozone layer; the ice melting at the poles is as a result of that. It could therefore (I presume) be argued that the violence of the hurricane was down to man's interference.