Tsunami Explained

[Loki]

In a recent conversation with a christian the following was offered in response to me asking the question "how do you reconcile a loving god with the human tragedy and suffering brought about by the tsunami?".

First, there 3 "points of fact" were made:

1. God can do whatever He pleases whenever He pleases and does not need to excuse Himself.
2. God is just, perfectly just, so He will give each person, what is rightly deserved. So, whatever suffering these people endure, God will take that into His judgement.
3. God has a purpose.

In a nutshell : he loves us; if you suffer on earth he'll (probably) make it up to you in the afterlife; and anyway it's his business and he doesn't need to explain it to us.

Then, some personal interpretation was offered :

We Christians believe the whole world will be evangelized.

My speculation is that that area of the world was virtually closed for evangelization. This is a turning point not caused by humans.

So the evangelization program in Indonesia was stalled and god 'helped things along' by (a) killing of a bunch of stubborn muslims, and (b) opening the door for a flood of christian aid organisations to enter into this previously muslim stronghold. A bible with every free meal I guess.

I wonder just how many bibles will be shipped into Indonesia by aid organisations as part of the relief effort?

So there you have it - the tsunami is a marketing campaign by god to increase brand awareness in new markets.

I would have thought that perhaps he could have tried something slightly different, like making eveyone in Aceh province a millionaire overnight or something - but I guess killing them was just easier in the long run. Hell, they were going to die anyway, right?

 

[Richard G]

Here is what Jesus has to say about these things:

Lu13:1: There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.
Lu13:2: And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things?
Lu13:3: I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
Lu13:4: Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem?
Lu13:5: I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

The entire world, in its fallen state is worthy of destruction and judgement. The Lord will return to judge the whole earth, and it will be destroyed with fire.

Those who call on the name of the Lord will be saved.

 

[LostAngeles]

...
The entire world, in its fallen state is worthy of destruction and judgement. The Lord will return to judge the whole earth, and it will be destroyed with fire.

Those who call on the name of the Lord will be saved.

I can't say it enough. The Bible says a lot of things. From slavery to creation to sodomy.

Loki, no lie. The latter part of what you were told about the evangelization was on the Phil Hendrie's show. He had one of his characters claim that it was a mass baptismal, but those who didn't get Last Rites still went to Hell.

Edited to fix the link.

 

[Kopji]

Heaven is such a great place to be, think how much happier they are now.

 

[jmercer]

You know what I really love about these jerks?

"God is unknowable, beyond human imagination, thought or comprehension. But I understand Him, and here's why He had a tsumani wipe out over 200,000 people."

Religion - what a racket. I don't have a problem with God, but I sure do with religion...

 

[Zep]

If I take what I think I understand about my religion and twist it around HARD enough, and the fold it a few different ways, then colour it a whole different colour, it might, just MIGHT, fit in with reality...if it doesn't completely collapse first.

Incidentally, the first people on the ground in Aceh who were preaching were the local militant Muslims, not any Christians at all. The "Christian" aid agencies didn't waste money and effort shipping bibles - they were shipping food, water and medicines instead.

So it seems your evangelist friend was completely wrong: The tsunami made the great religious opportunities by far for the so-called "enemies of the Christian God", not Christian evangelists. But perhaps they should go there themselves and try to turn it all around, hmmm?

 

[Kopji]

Hey, the Kabbalah Center sent an entire 10000 liters of holy water. I wonder if they are going to splurge and send some red string too. Maybe they'll be able to sell some when they arrive.

"The Kabbalah Centre has begun raising tens of thousands of dollars to ship their water to Southeast Asia," a Kabbalah spokesman tells the Scoop from somewhere outside our reality. "Our goal is raising $1 million for this project."
http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/arizonaliving/articles/0105people0105.html

(The Arizona Republic might want to be careful, someone might mistake them for skeptics)

"Try to imagine a world without all these interventions of faith,... Would you prefer it? Of course not. It's thrilling."
- Matthew Parris, London Times

Makes me all tingly.

I'm too busy imagining 2641.721 gallons of water.

 

[Ossai]

Loki

1. God can do whatever He pleases whenever He pleases and does not need to excuse Himself.
2. God is just, perfectly just, so He will give each person, what is rightly deserved. So, whatever suffering these people endure, God will take that into His judgement.
3. God has a purpose.

Restated:
1. Might makes right
2. God’s perfect because god says so.
3. Do not question god.

Ossai