Natural Disasters: God's Drama Series? (1 Viewer)

[Bjerknes]

For those who believe in an Almighty God, what do you consider natural disasters to be? God punishing those for their sins? God allowing the physical forces in nature to run rampant? God's version of Fear Factor or the Perfect Storm for his viewing pleasure? How would one justify these events?

You know, if I was God, I would create more natural disasters. These things are just so damn interesting. So kudos to God for creating them.

 

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[swag]

I do love the story of all the bible thumpers who prayed for sheets of dumping rain when Obama gave his speech in Denver at the DNC. And while it turned out sunny there, a hurricane bore down on New Orleans during the RNC just days later.

EDIT -- found my reference:
http://www.newyorker.com/talk/comment/2008/09/15/080915taco_talk_hertzberg

 

[Bjerknes]

I do love the story of all the bible thumpers who prayed for sheets of dumping rain when Obama gave his speech in Denver at the DNC. And while it turned out sunny there, a hurricane bore down on New Orleans during the RNC just days later.

EDIT -- found my reference:
http://www.newyorker.com/talk/comment/2008/09/15/080915taco_talk_hertzberg

That's right. How ironic. Perhaps there is a God.

 

[rounder]

Read the Bible Andy and you'll find out exactly which drama series it is.

 

[Bjerknes]

I've read parts of the Bible. Hell, I was raised as a Catholic. Don't patronize me.

 

[rounder]

I've read parts of the Bible. Hell, I was raised as a Catholic. Don't patronize me.

If you want my honest opinion, I truly believe that Christianity is one of the most corrupt religions out there. Don't even get me started on the Vatican.

However, I'm not one of those Jesus freaks that openly absorb everything a preacher says and goes around like a fucking nuthead trying to convert people into Christianity. I found god on my own, I have my own personal reasons to believe. Not a long time ago, I was mocking him a lot more than you.

Things happened that changed my perception of god forever. I know you think it's fun and cool to ridicule Jesus and god etc... But maybe one day, like many others you will change your mind and regret the things you have said, like I have. So enough of the mocking, you are free to believe what you want, but you can do so without the continuous god insults.

 

[Bjerknes]

I changed my mind once; won't happen again.

Now, back to topic. How do religious people justify natural disasters?

 

[Rhizoid]

I believe God has created Nature, which itself dictates it's own laws. The Earth is a planet which has to survive, thus enduring its own natural processes whether it's rain, plate tectonics, hurricane, snow, or a heat wave...

That's just my simplistic view.

Andy are you trying to elaborate this controversial philosophical point (read: Ayer, St. Anselm of Canterbury etc...) such as "If such an all loving, father figure, omnipotent, good-willed GOD exists, then why is there the existence of evil [i.e. in the form of a Natural disaster]?"


....or are you simply trying to discuss, natural disasters and its relation to the concept of God?

In Islam, we believe that one should only fear God, and nothing else. If one has been a pious Muslim; then if one day your life ends as a result of a natural disaster, then God will judge you positively and you will enter Heaven.

Life is indeed short, and nobody knows when their time will come. We all have an "Expiry date"...we just don't know when. Which is why Muslims emphasize the point, that nothing should be feared in life, except for God.

 

[Bjerknes]

I believe God has created Nature, which itself dictates it's own laws. The Earth is a planet which has to survive, thus enduring its own natural processes whether it's rain, plate tectonics, hurricane, snow, or a heat wave...

That's just my simplistic view.

Andy are you trying to elaborate this controversial philosophical point (read: Ayer, St. Anselm of Canterbury etc...) such as "If such an all loving, father figure, omnipotent, good-willed GOD exists, then why is there the existence of evil [i.e. in the form of a Natural disaster]?"


....or are you simply trying to discuss, natural disasters and its relation to the concept of God?

In Islam, we believe that one should only fear God, and nothing else. If one has been a pious Muslim; then if one day your life ends as a result of a natural disaster, then God will judge you positively and you will enter Heaven.

Life is indeed short, and nobody knows when their time will come. We all have an "Expiry date"...we just don't know when. Which is why Muslims emphasize the point, that nothing should be feared in life, except for God.

A little bit of both, actually. From what I have observed over my lifetime, religious people tend to throw scientific facts out the window when it's not in agreement with their cherished book. Some even say, despite the fact that God created the deluge for purity and instructed Noah to save life by building his ark, that natural disasters are indeed part of the natural processes He created. But these stories contradict one another.

I find it strange a loving God would create such monsters in natural phenomena. I mean, he has enough to judge us on regarding our actions with other people. He doesn't need massive hurricanes slamming into our coast to test people, nor does it seem like His creation of this place and these people is perfect, as some like to believe. Studying meteorology, even while admitting this stuff is amazing, still pushes me further away from the God theory. But your answer is a reasonable justification even though I'm a non-believer.

 

[Seven]

What is very odd is that the theory of intelligent design and an imperfect world seem to co-exist. How the fuck did that happen?

 

[Lawnchair Bes]

according to the same idiots, there is enough evidence to claim perfection in the world

 

[rounder]

What is very odd is that the theory of intelligent design and an imperfect world seem to co-exist. How the fuck did that happen?

Well, if something is intelligently designed, it doesn't have to be perfect. Humans are intelligently designed creations yet we are not perfect, diseases etc.. The two are not directly related.

If you build a plane. This is an intelligent creation, right? Does this mean that the plane is perfect?

 

[swag]

Not that I have any reason to defend "intelligent design" goofballs, but sickle cell anemia looks like a defect unless you're living in malaria-infested sub-Saharan Africa, where suddenly it seems like a good idea.

 

[rounder]

Thanks for calling me a goofball.

 

[swag]

Thanks for calling me a goofball.

Er, you're welcome.

 

[mikhail]

If you build a plane. This is an intelligent creation, right? Does this mean that the plane is perfect?

Perhaps if God worked for Lockheed Martin.