Re: What kind of God would allow a deadly tsunami?

Certainly, these are the hardest things for anyone religious
or not to comment on. Perhaps it is even wise for those who
think there is no God to not use these moments as a soapbox
for preaching. They have little to offer as comfort from
their armchairs anyway.

But there is another sin here that I was reminded of....

Hegel aptly said "The only thing we learn from history
is that we don't learn anything."

Surely this is not the first time this earthquake has
occurred. Maybe not quite this degree of ferocity, but
I think if we dig far enough back, we will find related
incidents.

The trouble is that as time passes, we forget the impact
of events. In early 1800s, there was a massive earthquake
along the Mississippi fault line. Yes folks, there is a
fault there and that is why you have a Mississippi river.
I lived in Baton Rouge for about 1 year. I dread to think
what will remain standing when the next one hits and I know
some people there now.

Usually, after a major disaster, efforts are made to fix
things so it cannot happen again. But then economics and
politicians of various ambitions observe "why do we need
these things?". Little by little, all the efforts are
whittle away, and then bang, the next disaster comes.
Everyone says, "let's do something", and the whole story
repeats again. As the preach says, "there is nothing
new under the sun".

We let things be other people's problems (all of us).
We don't ask questions, and nobody wants to be the
first to think about where things are really going
or how much it might cost to apply a little foresight.
Surely, early warning systems could have been put
in place, for far less cost than we now have to pay,
but nobody bothered to think about it because they were
making money on their seaside paradise and could not
inconvience a few tourists. Of course to be fair, one
man against the world is a tough place to be and we
cannot do things alone without cooperation.

If you live in a river valley, you ought to think that
it might flood. Maybe God doesn't ask us to care about
the poor just for Him, maybe he asks us to care about
them for ourselves as well.

Somehow, again and again, it seems like those who are
less fortunate, end up with more misfortune because of
our procrastination and contemplative indolence. Add
to that the expediency of "budgetary constraints" and
sooner or later, it all happens again and at a much
higher price than a little forethought could have cost.

Isn't this "missing the mark", i.e., sin?

Major depressions almost fall in line with lifetimes
1830, 1870, 1929, and possibly 1990. When will we
learn to listen to the historian who scolds us for
ignoring these repetitions of history? It's not about
dates and names, it's life and learning from the good
and bad examples of others in the past. It is alive
and as much you and me as anything.

At least, this is a time to remind ourselves of the
parable in Luke 16:19-31. "If they do not listen to
Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced
even if someone rises from the dead." Let's try to
use history for what it is good for, and apply our
minds in ways that may prevent costly future displays
of folly on our own part (each and every one of us).

by Grace alone we proceed,
Wayne

"But remember that the Captain belongs to the most
dangerous enemy of truth and freedom, the solid
unmoving cattle of the majority."
Ray Bradbury, Fahrenheit 451.
Received on Fri Jan 7 22:55:36 2005