Act of God?????????????????????

A week after the tsunami hit in Asia, and the debate has already started.. Here's how it goes -

Does the tsunami, and all the death and destruction as a result of it, mean that God exists or that God doesn't? Was it an act of God - an event brought about by Him to test the kindness, generosity and compassion of the 'faithful' - or was it an act of Nature - something that any compassionate God should have prevented?

I first heard people talking about this on a program called Heaven & Earth on British TV. Their three guests, that would join them in this debate, were a female Hindu - whom had lost a relative at the hands of the tsunami - a male Christian, and an Atheist. Now, if you take into consideration that both of the interviewers are religious people, then the odds are slightly unfair, but I digress.

Now the Hindu woman went on to explain that it was not an act of God, simply an act of Nature, but the tsunami does not prove that God doesn't exist. In Hinduism, death is just another part of life - a 'closing chapter' - and that God would not prevent death because death is just the next stage of their existance.

The Christian man said that either it was an act of God, brought about to test the compassion of people on Earth and prove themselves to God, or that it was just an act of Nature but that God does not involve himself in our lives anymore, because Jesus sacrificed his life for us, and that we are on our own until Armageddon/Heaven/whatever.

The Atheist simply said that it doesn't prove or disprove the existence of God. He stated that nobody could ever disprove or prove the existence of God, but that anybody with an open mind could give evidence for both sides - anyone could argue that God does or doesn't exist, and put forward a convincing arguement. But, based on the evidence, he thinks that God doesn't exist, and the recent tragedies in Asia simply backup his belief that there is no God, and even if there is, he is not a kind, loving, forgiving God, or he would not allow such things to occur.

Now, my mum watched this TV show, also, and she is a religious person that strongly believes in God. But, she said, the recent events in Asia have made her strongly question her beliefs, and that out of the three guests on this TV show, the Atheist made the most sense, and that his view was the most unselfish - he simply wanted to help, whether or not it was an act of God, Nature, or the Apocolypse. Also, the Archbishop has also stated that these events have made him question his faith.

So, without me argueing for either side, I want to ask you guys what your opinion is. Thanks :)

Well i believe that there is no god. and anyway if they is a god and he did send this. Whos he to say who dies and who doesnt in the tsunami. I mean if he sent it to test people, why would he kill others by doing it? I just think that there is too many flaws in everything that the bible / torah / koran says about god and what he has done.

whats up with all the god talk lately :confused: its like on every thread!

Well, that didn't take long, did it...!

*shakes head in bemusement*
Shit happens, people...sometimes, tragically, alot of people die as a result - Pompeii, The Black Death, Hurricanes..etc, etc.
Now we have this latest disaster...:(

Why have people got to blame someone/something (ie, God - the usual suspect)?
Why do people use stuff like this to justify their arguments?

So what if it was God's will?
Whatcha gonna do about it?
Tear up your Bibles and not go to church anymore?
Convert yourself out of religion?

Does your belief really make a difference?

It didn't make a difference 9 days ago, did it?

My opinion is that a tsunami happened and here's why:

http://www.uaf.edu/seagrant/earthquake/tsunami.html

QUICKLY, LET'S TURN IT INTO A RELIGIOUS ARGUMENT!!! FASTER!!!

lol

:rolleyes: I always find it amazing that when bad things happen people are so quick to blame God. Yet when something good happens, man is very quick to stand up and take the credit. To blame God is to acknowledge God. If one acknowledges God then they necessarily acknowledge the teaching of the Bible. The Bible is the only place God will speak to man today. God does not speak in dreams, visions or signs today, according to His Word.

:confused: The Bible tells us that Satan has dominion over the earth today. The Devil is very real and I tell you, he is in control of the earth today down here. This dominion will not last forever. All of this is according to scripture. So, God does not make these things happen, but they are permitted to happen according to His plan and purpose for this earth. That plan and purpose is not always intelligible and is often not known at all to men. For this, God does not owe you or me an explanation or a reason.

When was the last time you prayed for those people? What was that prayer? Do you pray for God to help them or for God to save them? God does not hear prayers concerning those that do not accept Him! Most people in the region believe in Buddha. However, this is not a judgement from God on those people that are left alive. Tragedy's are, rather, how Satan works and deals with people, that is, killing them. It then becomes the day of judgement by God for those that died in unbelief. Dying in unbelief happens right here in America through accident, disease and all sorts of bad things every day.

Undertaking a sincere study of scripture under a competent teacher will eliminate this "baby talk" about why a good God can let bad things happen! It is a waste to focus so much time and effort on such an infantile question that is really nothing but a bunch of whining and complaining by those that do not even attempt to understand God - that is, a sincere study of Him. It is truly amazing how we spend so much time examining seasons, weather, space, atoms, heath, you name it, but we can't study for thirty little minutes each day for the answers to the really important questions, like this one. :)

Hey, Blisterize :)

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Originally Posted by Blisterize

:rolleyes: I always find it amazing that when bad things happen people are so quick to blame God. Yet when something good happens, man is very quick to stand up and take the credit.

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Strangely enough, the Christian guy on the show I watched said this (roughly) - The tsunami may not have been an act of God - people are always too quick to blame bad things on God - but all the compassion and help shown by people all over the world, THAT is an act of God

So, nobody is allowed to blame the BAD things on God, but you're allowed to blame the GOOD things on God? That doesnt seem fair, or logical

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Originally Posted by GHoSToKeR

That doesnt seem fair, or logical

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Since when has any religion been logical?

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Originally Posted by RESiNATE

Since when has any religion been logical?

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umm... since Leonard Nemoy became a Born-Again Christian?

**tumbleweed**

:p

take it to spirituality please.

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Originally Posted by poorman3

take it to spirituality please.

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take it to Feedback and Suggestions, please

Fascinating

*raised eyebrow, blank expression, pointy-ears...yes! I'm Tony Blair!*


:D

Destruction is a form of creation. Why should God spare millions of people. If he did that everyday there would be no question or debate that there is a higher power. It was an act of nature. Mircales happen everyday, but to different people mircales could be very simple. God found my car keys, God found my remote control, God made me win a million dollars from the lottery. The point I am saying is, if there was never a tragedy in the world, we would never evolve. We would never become stronger. We would never see the errors in our ways.

Hey, it's cool. I sure did'nt write the Bible and I aint tryin to sell it or preach it...you asked. And quoting one part of a paragragh is not a valid response to what I wrote. So, peace out, brother!

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Originally Posted by Blisterize

Hey, it's cool. I sure did'nt write the Bible and I aint tryin to sell it or preach it...you asked. And quoting one part of a paragragh is not a valid response to what I wrote. So, peace out, brother!

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I'm confused.. I know I asked it, and you replied to it, and I replied to you.. I wasnt gettin angry or being a dick.. Im just tryin to start a conversation/discussion with people..

No anger, man. Just tellin ya what I've learned. And judging from the Florida school system that may not be sayin much. lol.

And please, who gives God credit for anything good today? But man does need someone, obviously, to blame the bad on.

Also, for those that don't like this topic...don't read it!!!

What does God have to do with it, really?

The point is moot, because despite what everyone believes, the Earth exists, and therefore earthquakes and tsunamis also exist. It's Nature, not an Act of God.

Whether or not God exists doesn't make a god damned difference in anyone's life. The earthquake and the tsunami, however, do make a huge difference and even if God did exist, would he/she/it bother him/her/itself to stop Nature at its most powerful and destructive?

Everytime something like this happens, this question always comes up. Listen people, God won't do anything about stuff like your cat dieing, your neighbor's house burning down, the Amazon jungle being slashed and burned, or the huge tsunami. Face it, and deal with it.

Blisterize, Satan and God have nothing to with anything that happens anywhere in our world, or anything that has ever happened. MANKIND is responsible for itself, and our world will not be a better place until people wake up and realize that. Take responsibility for your actions, stop saying it's God's fault, or Satan's fault, and by the same token stop thanking God or whatever you believe in for something you've accomplished, or for blind luck.

We are real, we can decide for ourselves, each and everyone of us has the potential to be God to ourselves and to others. Instead of waiting for God to do something, donate money to the Red Cross or any other organization. Volunteer your time to help the needy. Then God will indeed exist, only inside you. The power is within us, we don't need to look anywhere else.

FLESH that was awesome. People always seem to toss the blame on God when something horrible happens. Like I said before Destruction is a form creation

Lol XTC, for some reason I skipped over your post, but we're essentially saying the same thing. Yay! :D

ok well i hear if u stand on ur head and drink a glass of water it well get rid of ur hiccups :D

it was the god of the sea and i guess hes pissed at all the people pissing in the ocean. like you've never done it....

god is good
devil is evil

u cant have somit good and not have somit bad.

examples.

SUN - RAIN
HAPPINESS - SADNESS

SUCH IS LIFFFFFFFEEEEEE

WE ALL NEED TO GO BACK TO THE TIMES WHERE WE ALL CARED FOR EACH OTHER AND RAISED EACH OTHER. THEN WE CAN CLEARLY SEE GODS WAY...

UNTILL THEN WERE STUCK IN THE DEVILS ADVOCATE

an act of god my ass,,,,,bad shit happends!

Im no expert in the bible but if you follow the bible doesn;t the Noah's Ark story say somewhere that god would never put disaster on man again or somthing like that????. But.... I dont think we can really rely on the bible when we read it in the exoteric way since its been re-writtern ( how many times?), bits have been taken out and it's has been used more as a propoganda tool by the people re writing it than anything else. I know god is present in more religions that christianity but the post just made me think of that noahs ark story...........if i'm wrong about it then i'm wrong and smoke to much weed.



Peace

act of god, eh? not likely. way I see it, that's what you get for living in a coastal town.

you get lots of sunshine, you go to the beach everyday, you are tanned and beautiful...but every so often a wave will come along and kick your ass.

See now this is why I don't want to live in Hawaii. ITS AN ACTIVE VOLCANO CHAIN YOU DUMBASSES! does it really make sense to complain aboot where you live when you have chosen to live there?

glad to be in Toronto, away from oceans, mountains, volcanoes and jungles, DrGonzo.

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act of god, eh? not likely. way I see it, that's what you get for living in a coastal town.

you get lots of sunshine, you go to the beach everyday, you are tanned and beautiful...but every so often a wave will come along and kick your ass.

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Or you live in a poor country, in crap conditions next to the beach because thats where you can make a little money to support your family and self. Then a wave comes along and wipes the lot out. They could have got one of those early warning systems like they use in the states that gives about 3 hours notice but when it came to investing in one the only country interested was indonesia and they couldn;t afford it .



Peace