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A question about the religious import of the Japan disaster?
Whenever we ask believers a question about why God allowed the Holocaust, or serial killers, etc., the answer is that God gave man free will.
So what happens when we look at natural disasters, where free will isn't an issue? I was prompted to think of this when I saw all the "let's pray for the Japanese" comments on the internet.
Think about this for a second - what is the point of praying for the Japanese? If the prayer is asking God to alleviate their suffering, and you expect that God might answer this prayer, why was the tsunami allowed to happen in the first place? There's no such thing as "free will" for the Earth and the oceans.
God created this world, so he could have created it without devastating earthquakes and tsunamis. Moreover, even if he had a reason to create earthwuakes and tsunamis, he is omnipotent, so he could absolutely have prevented the disaster. Why didn't he? And if he chose to let it happen, why would he suddenly start answering prayers to end their suffering? If he created the suffering, it doesn't make sense to answer prayers asking to alleviate it.
My ultimate point is this -- doesn't the fact of this disaster weigh in favor of an Earth that's not at all guided or overseen by an omnipotent god, but is instead subject to purely natural scientific phenomena?
One final note -- I refuse to accept the "it's God's plan and we can't know what that plan is" answers. That's a factual and intellectual cop-out. You could explain ANYTHING with that non-answer.
@Fireball - please explain how our pollution caused the earthquake.
@Wrenage: "the earthquake could have served as a call to repentance to all people, letting them know that the earth and their earthly lives are not forever."
So he massacred thousands of people, devastated the lives of thousands more survivors, just to send a message to the rest of us? Do you really want a God that is willing to do that?
@yesmar: "No, it is not God's "plan" that natural disasters happen, or that people suffer, it is his plan to help us in our times of trouble"
I would think it obvious that the best way to help us would have been to prevent the tsunami (which is within his power), or at least give people a warning so they could flee in time. This after-the-fact prayer answering is nonsense compared with what he could have, and should have, done.
Of course, the fact he didn't is just more evidence that God isn't real.
7 Answers
- B KLv 71 decade agoFavorite Answer
Religionists have manifestly been unable to explain "problem of evil" for centuries. Their only response to it is that man has free will, but as you have noted - the "free will" argument no longer holds water when it comes to natural disasters, like earthquakes, that have nothing to do with people or the choices they make in life.
The worshipping of a deity or deities that can help but won't, or can't help, is utterly futile. You might as well worship a stone idol for all the difference it will make.
- yesmarLv 71 decade ago
There are two factors that influence "natural disasters". One is time and chance, and the other is that the world and universe are in a war zone, and it is a fallen world under the eons old influence of "free will" agents who are not human, and have great power.
No, it is not God's "plan" that natural disasters happen, or that people suffer, it is his plan to help us in our times of trouble, and prayer bolsters that help.
Thanks for asking neighbor.
Source(s): Good point, if that line of reasoning was valid, but I submit that it is not neighbor. I base my philosophy on biblical revelation, not on human's reasoning of what God is able, or not able, to do. There is no doubt that God is "all powerful', but that does not mean that he is at liberty to do anything, and everything that hits him as a whim. he does not interact with the fallen kingdom, or the kingdom of men, within the boundaries of his absolutes, he deals with us within our limitations. There are more "wills" at work than his, and he can only work within those boundaries. - Anonymous1 decade ago
The problem is you seem to force the earthquake to have only one specific purpose. How do you know that? What God allows is often a blend of his providence and will. For example, the earthquake could have served as a call to repentance to all people, letting them know that the earth and their earthly lives are not forever. Only their relationship with God is forever. The earthquake could have been to deliver certain believers to heaven and to end the time of grace for certain unbelievers. Like you said, it can be a reason for people to pray for others rather than focus on themselves. It could also be to get people to love their neighbor and help rather than pile up things for themselves, so there can be many, many, many things going on that God is accomplishing. It's not a black and white issue that is only defined by our opinions. When you get right down to it, we are all due for an earthquake someday called death, which will bring us face to face with God. Thankfully, he provided Christ to make sure that meeting goes well.
- Anonymous1 decade ago
great question...you get a star...
did you notice how wrengae (the answer above me) put a spin on his words and gave you the "cop out answer"....he said what you asked him not to say....all he did was change the words...
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- Anonymous1 decade ago
population control , and if i was god and has all this time and power i would want some entertainment
- 1 decade ago
yeah good luck with that one, you are going to get a lot of answers that don't answer your question because they can't answer it logically.
- Anonymous1 decade ago
some natural disasters are caused by humans
example acid rain
