Body & Soul13 mins ago
Does God cause natural disasters or just decide not to stop them?
80 Answers
eg earthquakes, famines etc
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Are people really stupid enough to think with the whole universe to look after this "god" has got time to think about causing an earthquake or famine.
God is just a mythical character created by man to help them comprehend and explain "life, the universe and everything". Without some sort of "god" to look up to some humans may go mad trying to understand it all.
God is just a mythical character created by man to help them comprehend and explain "life, the universe and everything". Without some sort of "god" to look up to some humans may go mad trying to understand it all.
No he doesn't and no he doesn't!
Humans have discovered which parts of the earth are more prone to seismic or atmospheric extremes. In some lands this knowledge has helped to save lives through education as well as the development of better construction methods and warning systems. Still, the number of natural disasters reported annually has been rising steadily.
The severity of a disaster does not always relate to the power of the natural forces involved. The concentration of humans in the affected area is often of greater consequence.
Other exacerbating factors are rapid, unplanned urbanization, deforestation, and the extensive use of concrete to cover ground that would normally absorb runoff. Particularly the latter two can cause destructive mud slides and excessive flooding.
The human factor can also turn an earthquake into a major disaster, for it is not the shock wave of energy that causes most deaths and injuries but collapsing buildings. For good reason seismologists have the saying: “Earthquakes don’t kill people. Buildings kill people.”
At the outset it must be acknowledged that natural disasters can strike without warning. “Time and unforeseen occurrence befall [us] all,” says Ecclesiastes 9:11. Often, though, there is some indication—natural or official—that trouble is looming. Hence, when people know the signs, they can improve their prospects of survival.
When a tsunami struck the Indonesian island of Simeulue in 2004, seven people out of a population of many thousands died. Knowing that abnormally receding tides can precede tsunamis, most people fled when the sea retreated. Likewise, people have escaped violent storms and volcanic eruptions by heeding warnings. Because nature’s warnings sometimes precede official warnings, it is wise to be familiar with both, especially if you live in a disaster-prone area.
Sadly, however, there is a tendency for people to deny danger even when it is obvious. This is particularly true where false alarms are common or where a previous disaster occurred a long time ago. And sometimes people just do not want to abandon their possessions, even when disaster is staring them in the face.
Humans have discovered which parts of the earth are more prone to seismic or atmospheric extremes. In some lands this knowledge has helped to save lives through education as well as the development of better construction methods and warning systems. Still, the number of natural disasters reported annually has been rising steadily.
The severity of a disaster does not always relate to the power of the natural forces involved. The concentration of humans in the affected area is often of greater consequence.
Other exacerbating factors are rapid, unplanned urbanization, deforestation, and the extensive use of concrete to cover ground that would normally absorb runoff. Particularly the latter two can cause destructive mud slides and excessive flooding.
The human factor can also turn an earthquake into a major disaster, for it is not the shock wave of energy that causes most deaths and injuries but collapsing buildings. For good reason seismologists have the saying: “Earthquakes don’t kill people. Buildings kill people.”
At the outset it must be acknowledged that natural disasters can strike without warning. “Time and unforeseen occurrence befall [us] all,” says Ecclesiastes 9:11. Often, though, there is some indication—natural or official—that trouble is looming. Hence, when people know the signs, they can improve their prospects of survival.
When a tsunami struck the Indonesian island of Simeulue in 2004, seven people out of a population of many thousands died. Knowing that abnormally receding tides can precede tsunamis, most people fled when the sea retreated. Likewise, people have escaped violent storms and volcanic eruptions by heeding warnings. Because nature’s warnings sometimes precede official warnings, it is wise to be familiar with both, especially if you live in a disaster-prone area.
Sadly, however, there is a tendency for people to deny danger even when it is obvious. This is particularly true where false alarms are common or where a previous disaster occurred a long time ago. And sometimes people just do not want to abandon their possessions, even when disaster is staring them in the face.
Don't expect a straight answer from anyone who genuinely believes in a god within the framework of the monotheistic religions. They find this issue an impossible conundrum and will respond in platitudes and/or riddles, such as "We cannot understand the ways of God", etc. - otherwise they would either have to say that their god is not omnipotent (so who/what holds the rest of the power to complete the set ?) or else that their god is careless (latter part of your question) or malicious (former).
There is a whole branch of theology entirely devoted to this subject. It is called Theodicy, and it seems to be entirely devoted to proving that suffering is good for you. It seems to say that if God makes you suffer ( or if it seems that he doesn't care whether you suffer) he is actually teaching you valuable lessons about patience, sympathy, heroism and lots more.
And if you believe that, . . . . .
Perhaps it is a coincidence that "Theodicy" sounds to me so much like "Idiocy" ? ? ?
And if you believe that, . . . . .
Perhaps it is a coincidence that "Theodicy" sounds to me so much like "Idiocy" ? ? ?
The world’s thinkers have thus failed to mount a convincing defense for God and to render real comfort to victims of evil. Perhaps what should be on trial is not God but theology! For these conflicting theories merely echo the hollow reasonings uttered nearly four millenniums ago. At that time a debate took place centering around the sufferings of a God-fearing man named Job, a wealthy and prominent Oriental who became the victim of a series of calamities. In rapid succession Job suffered the loss of his wealth, the death of his children, and, finally, he was afflicted with a loathsome disease.—Job 1:3, 13-19; 2:7.
Three so-called friends came to Job’s aid. But rather than rendering comfort, they assailed him with theology. The gist of their argument was: ‘God has done this to you, Job! Obviously you are being punished for having done something wrong! Besides, God has no faith at all in his servants.’ (Job 4:7-9, 18) Job could not understand why God seemingly had ‘set him up as a target for himself.’ (Job 16:11, 12) To his credit, Job maintained his integrity and never directly ascribed evil to God.
Nevertheless, Job’s comforters had, in effect, ‘pronounced God wicked,’ by implying that every sufferer of calamity was being punished for evildoing. (Job 32:3) But God soon corrected their erroneous views.
Three so-called friends came to Job’s aid. But rather than rendering comfort, they assailed him with theology. The gist of their argument was: ‘God has done this to you, Job! Obviously you are being punished for having done something wrong! Besides, God has no faith at all in his servants.’ (Job 4:7-9, 18) Job could not understand why God seemingly had ‘set him up as a target for himself.’ (Job 16:11, 12) To his credit, Job maintained his integrity and never directly ascribed evil to God.
Nevertheless, Job’s comforters had, in effect, ‘pronounced God wicked,’ by implying that every sufferer of calamity was being punished for evildoing. (Job 32:3) But God soon corrected their erroneous views.
Given that there is no god (I refuse to use a large G) the answer is no.
Frankly, anybody who believes there is a higher being is a fool.
It never ceases to amaze me that seemingly intelligent people are naive enough to think there is a greater being. The very concept of there being a god is absurd in the extreme and is right up there with leprachauns and the fairies at the bottom of the garden.
Frankly, anybody who believes there is a higher being is a fool.
It never ceases to amaze me that seemingly intelligent people are naive enough to think there is a greater being. The very concept of there being a god is absurd in the extreme and is right up there with leprachauns and the fairies at the bottom of the garden.
Don't be daft. We and the Americans throw enough food away to prevent famines. We waste enough money on pleasures to prevent famine. We just don't care enough to share our wealth with those people in countries that don't have our good fortune of birth.
Which of the hundreds of Gods do you worship - and which one do you blame for natural disasters?
When you die, my friend, you will be dead, If you start to believe in this god guff go round to your local graveyard and dig up a few graves you'll find no-one has climbed out to catch a bus to heaven!! Wake up and start to look after your fellow man. We're all humans fighting our way through it for a few decades.
Which of the hundreds of Gods do you worship - and which one do you blame for natural disasters?
When you die, my friend, you will be dead, If you start to believe in this god guff go round to your local graveyard and dig up a few graves you'll find no-one has climbed out to catch a bus to heaven!! Wake up and start to look after your fellow man. We're all humans fighting our way through it for a few decades.
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