Why is God Angry?
You might not like this, but I have to add to the discussion on the Indian Ocean Tsunami. Of course it is a tragedy, of course it is absolutely heart-wrenching and my spirit mourns those who have left this world and wish them a light journey. I have had trouble thinking: "What can I say about this." The stories of tragedy have been covered as have the stories of heroism. Inevitably, the Cable News Networks found a Super Model who 'barely' escaped from her luxury cabana. Nice touch. In their defense, there has not been a catchphrase associated with this...yet. All of the news organizations are just calling it (rather blandly, but appropriately) "the earthquake-tsunami disaster. " That makes me happy in a sick anti-marketing way.
Here is my take: there was a lovely old lady (Panja) being interviewed by MSNBC and she was screaming "Why is God angry with us? What did we do? Why would He do this to us?" Something to that effect.
Here's the facts: Currently there are 117,000 confirmed dead (there will be more). This Tsunami affected 11 Countries and took the lives and souls of Buddhists, Muslims, Hindus, Tribesmen, Christians and Jews. It was indiscriminate. In today's climate of religious unrest confronting America so deeply, but a mainstay worldwide, I would hope that this sort of tragedy convinces people to question their faith. Not to abandon it neccessarily, but to question what role it has in today's world. What role does deep faith in a benevolent or spiteful God have today? What is the impact of your faith clashing so deeply with others' belief systems?
The Muslims believe this is a reminder that God controls all that we do and we should work to win His Favor. The Jews believe this is countenance for evil and sin. Same with the Hindus. Christians, where are you on this? I wonder if Pat Robertson will have the balls to call the Indonesians "Faithless Sinners" who created their own doom by denying Jesus Christ as their savior. (For those of you unfamiliar, this is his view of people with A.I.D.S- Children included)
Those who worship the earth believe it to be Mother Nature balancing herself naturally. Sorry, that is just as ridiculous in reality; otherwise Rainforests would reforest themselves.
Ask yourself: Do I really believe that God created an earthquake to cause a Tsunami to kill these people? Could a God do this? What about people who are doing good in this world? Does God provide the missionaries with rain in a desert? Let's go further. Why can't God create money or food? If there is an entity that can mobilize 100's of millions of tons of raw earth material to heat up in a gaseous environment and move plates of the earth under eachother therefore causing an Earthquake which rocks this entire planet off of it's axis; why can't he/she create money and give it to people. Why couldn't there be a car appearing in someone's driveway after a grandmother gave her kidney to a stranger and saved her life? Contrarians would say it is because "that is not natural." You mean to tell me your mighty and powerful God can't do something. Hmmmm. Might want to question that belief.
Christians will tell you it's the Devil. Nice try. Once again, God is that weak and weak-willed as to not save people (of any faith)? I would totally believe if I saw a monster Deity War between Good and Bad. But, that is not the case. Let's try this one:
We live on a planet that has physical properties which work as a mechanism to sustain growth and recycle itself. No insideous motive, it just is. By the way, "man" did not cause this in nature either. There were no greenhouse gases involved or deforestation. So, all you tree-huggers sit down and meditate. Perhaps "man" should not have built paradises in paradise. It just is. Why is that not goood enough?
People of religion scoff at those who are not like minded; calling them selfish and overly egotistical. When in reality, what I am trying to explain to you is far more stunning, faith-based and with no regard for my own self-importance. My answer is this.
It just is. That's all. No reason. "But wait, there has to be a re..............."NO! There is not. It just is. It is a tragedy and all the prayer in the world to all of your Gods will not bring them back.
All your prayer will not bury the dead. Where is your God now? Will he bury the dead so that young innocent children do not die in the next few days. I wish. But he won't. But there are lessons. There are always lessons. They are different for you and me and the lovely old Panja.
There are lessons for Governments and scientists and geologists and so on. Those are humans and of all walks of faith. So, please reckon this with your God. Ask the hard questions. Ask if God is going to create a miracle of equal importance and impact for the positive? If you pray on it and it turns out that God is wiping clean evil in a spiteful way; I'd say it's time to find a new God. And if that pisses you off, don't waste your prayers on my soul and such; pray for the survivors and those who are trying to help them.
Another word here: This is going to get more tragic as time rolls on. This will affect that region and it's people for decades. Motherless children, fatherless children, Families split and ruined. Houses, businesses and livlihoods ruined forever. They will recover, they will be strong. But, mark my words, America will forget within a month. Re-read this post a month from now and it will strike you as weird. Do you remember the Iran Earthquake earlier this year? It killed over 40,000 people. I bet a dollar you do not. Most of America does not. After all Martha Stewart is important. (that's what knocked it out of the news cycle)
What you can do is send a donation. Or help how you can. Listed below are some sources I am using.
List of relief Efforts: Help List
Network for Good
Red Cross
Thanks for reading and do what you can
Here is my take: there was a lovely old lady (Panja) being interviewed by MSNBC and she was screaming "Why is God angry with us? What did we do? Why would He do this to us?" Something to that effect.
Here's the facts: Currently there are 117,000 confirmed dead (there will be more). This Tsunami affected 11 Countries and took the lives and souls of Buddhists, Muslims, Hindus, Tribesmen, Christians and Jews. It was indiscriminate. In today's climate of religious unrest confronting America so deeply, but a mainstay worldwide, I would hope that this sort of tragedy convinces people to question their faith. Not to abandon it neccessarily, but to question what role it has in today's world. What role does deep faith in a benevolent or spiteful God have today? What is the impact of your faith clashing so deeply with others' belief systems?
The Muslims believe this is a reminder that God controls all that we do and we should work to win His Favor. The Jews believe this is countenance for evil and sin. Same with the Hindus. Christians, where are you on this? I wonder if Pat Robertson will have the balls to call the Indonesians "Faithless Sinners" who created their own doom by denying Jesus Christ as their savior. (For those of you unfamiliar, this is his view of people with A.I.D.S- Children included)
Those who worship the earth believe it to be Mother Nature balancing herself naturally. Sorry, that is just as ridiculous in reality; otherwise Rainforests would reforest themselves.
Ask yourself: Do I really believe that God created an earthquake to cause a Tsunami to kill these people? Could a God do this? What about people who are doing good in this world? Does God provide the missionaries with rain in a desert? Let's go further. Why can't God create money or food? If there is an entity that can mobilize 100's of millions of tons of raw earth material to heat up in a gaseous environment and move plates of the earth under eachother therefore causing an Earthquake which rocks this entire planet off of it's axis; why can't he/she create money and give it to people. Why couldn't there be a car appearing in someone's driveway after a grandmother gave her kidney to a stranger and saved her life? Contrarians would say it is because "that is not natural." You mean to tell me your mighty and powerful God can't do something. Hmmmm. Might want to question that belief.
Christians will tell you it's the Devil. Nice try. Once again, God is that weak and weak-willed as to not save people (of any faith)? I would totally believe if I saw a monster Deity War between Good and Bad. But, that is not the case. Let's try this one:
We live on a planet that has physical properties which work as a mechanism to sustain growth and recycle itself. No insideous motive, it just is. By the way, "man" did not cause this in nature either. There were no greenhouse gases involved or deforestation. So, all you tree-huggers sit down and meditate. Perhaps "man" should not have built paradises in paradise. It just is. Why is that not goood enough?
People of religion scoff at those who are not like minded; calling them selfish and overly egotistical. When in reality, what I am trying to explain to you is far more stunning, faith-based and with no regard for my own self-importance. My answer is this.
It just is. That's all. No reason. "But wait, there has to be a re..............."NO! There is not. It just is. It is a tragedy and all the prayer in the world to all of your Gods will not bring them back.
All your prayer will not bury the dead. Where is your God now? Will he bury the dead so that young innocent children do not die in the next few days. I wish. But he won't. But there are lessons. There are always lessons. They are different for you and me and the lovely old Panja.
There are lessons for Governments and scientists and geologists and so on. Those are humans and of all walks of faith. So, please reckon this with your God. Ask the hard questions. Ask if God is going to create a miracle of equal importance and impact for the positive? If you pray on it and it turns out that God is wiping clean evil in a spiteful way; I'd say it's time to find a new God. And if that pisses you off, don't waste your prayers on my soul and such; pray for the survivors and those who are trying to help them.
Another word here: This is going to get more tragic as time rolls on. This will affect that region and it's people for decades. Motherless children, fatherless children, Families split and ruined. Houses, businesses and livlihoods ruined forever. They will recover, they will be strong. But, mark my words, America will forget within a month. Re-read this post a month from now and it will strike you as weird. Do you remember the Iran Earthquake earlier this year? It killed over 40,000 people. I bet a dollar you do not. Most of America does not. After all Martha Stewart is important. (that's what knocked it out of the news cycle)
What you can do is send a donation. Or help how you can. Listed below are some sources I am using.
List of relief Efforts: Help List
Network for Good
Red Cross
Thanks for reading and do what you can
posted by Michael St. James at 1:58 PM
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