Since most Christians believe that their God is every where and controls everything I will like to know how they reconcile their allegedly all loving, all powerful God with natural disasters that kill people(including innocent children) and destroy their livelihoods? It has nothing to do with human free will. Does God use natural disasters as punishment for sins? If everyone is going to answer at the judgment day according to the Christian claims, what precisely are these dress rehearsals and early recalls about?

Any where there is a natural disasters people are always trying in one way or the other to help each other and provide relief for each other, god is never there to help at all. . . Whenever humanity is destroyed or afflicted, there is only humanity trying to remedy these things. When will people actually do something positive instead of praying and pretending they are doing something?

Yes it was God who caused the earthquake. . .he let out a big fart and the entire earth had to quake.

actually I was making love and the earth moved.

But seriously guys, this is a grievous matter. It is so heart wrenching to see those people suffer like that, let us not make jokes about it, or use it to score debating points. please.

^^
You make it sound like by talking about it, it in anyway prevents or precipitates such earthquake in the future.

We're entirely powerless against such disasters the only thing we can do is talk.

Ive said it and will say again, God is not the author of disaster. He does allow it to punish sin as seen in the bible but this or any other disaster is not for Pat Robertson or Mazaje to speculate. He already said these things will happen near the end, dont ask me why because I dont know.

So WHO is the author of natural disasters?

He does allow it to punish sin? Whatever happened to the thousands of christians killed?

I once heard from a geologist that all the continents were once pieced together. They name it godwannaland or something. With the move of continents now comes 'tectonic shifts'. I don't know how true that is, but I'm sure of the bashing that would've being handed to christians if that was a theory from the Bible.
All the same, the theory seems to agree with scriptures in Genesis 1v31 which says God say everything that he had made, and, it was very good. But then, thingS happened and sorrow and death made an intro, and the earth was cursed. Today, the situation we have is mirrored in Psalm 82v5 which says 'all the foundations of the earth are out of course. But there's a remedy. All we need is patience.
It's like when judgement has been passed on a convict but it's yet to be executed. The days are already numbered. We're living inbetween judgement passed and execution. We may go through some pain, seeing the convict still alive, but be of good cheer. Jesus has overcome. Be patient. He's coming

God commands me in Psalm 96v10. "Say among the heathen that the Lord reigneth: the world also SHALL BE established that it shall not be moved: he shall judge the people righteously". Friends, judgement is coming, and there's the promise of a new earth for God's children. You can be a child of God by believing in Jesus. He is coming to reign. See that you do not refuse Him. Hebrews 12v27. Death is not the end of life. The sting of death is sin. A child of God doesn't commit sin and so cannot be stung by death. He is coming back to live with Jesus. Jesus puts it better in john's gospel. He will NEVER die. Repent and believe the gospel.

I was expecting this thread t be filled with christians but i guess they just read it and zoomed out. Answering the question is 2-way.
A christian must first affirm the following:
1. God created the earth and everything therein.
2. He is all-loving.
3. Omniscient.

if you agree with the above, then mazaje is not wrong to say God killed Haitians like he has been killing japanese, indonesians who also(through natural disasters) join some jews who refused to listen to Noah.

Any explanation that says God is not responsible for the quake invariably goes against his omniscience and hence we can start questioning his credentials as an earth-caretaker/creator.

nice thread mazaje.

Were there Jews in the time of Noah?

Any world which has Natural laws will have natural disasters.
It is like asking,why are bachelors umarried males?

Plate tektonics are the causes of earthquakes which are created by fault lines in the Earth's crust.

For there to be no Earthquakes,we will have to have no oceans and preferably very cool core.Under this circumstances,life would not exist on earth.

Therefore any planet with oceans and land masses,will have earthquakes.

My point being, the only way we can avert natural disasters,is by suspending natural laws.

$mazaje
If you want to know about God Read the Bible [for hasty reading read JOB]

If you want to know about Natural Disaster Go and study Geography/Physics(geophysics)

I hope that helps and i think you will stop accusing God though he was everywhere.
But if you still really want the answer apart from what Nairalanders Posted, wait till eternity
God is all knowing He will surely answer

The theists' response is the typical damage control to their belief systems as can be seen from the few post from the Christians here. . . . . .Punishment for sin is the reason some people give as reason for natural disasters. . . . . it certainly is biblical,  . . .If you read the bible you will see that the bible God often sent disasters as punishment for sin, whether in the form of disease and pestilence, a victorious enemy or some thing similar to natural disasters. Christians make up all kinds of things that in their minds reconcile the real world with their belief in their imaginary sky daddy.

Pastor AIO:

Were there Jews in the time of Noah?

you sha understand, dont u?

@OP: Why is there free oxygen in the earth's atmosphere? Why do trees stand their ground and animals roam? Why do things decay?

Mavenb0x:

@OP: Why is there free oxygen in the earth's atmosphere? Why do trees stand their ground and animals roam? Why do things decay?

What have these questions got to do with the topic?

^^
I too seriously wonder oooo

mazaje:

What have these questions got to do with the topic?

They are alternate ways of asking why human beings interact with nature, or vice-versa, the way they do.

ilosiwaju:

you sha understand, dont u?

easylogic:

Any world which has Natural laws will have natural disasters.
It is like asking,why are bachelors umarried males?

Plate tektonics are the causes of earthquakes which are created by fault lines in the Earth's crust.

For there to be no Earthquakes,we will have to have no oceans and preferably very cool core.Under this circumstances,life would not exist on earth.

Therefore any planet with oceans and land masses,will have earthquakes.

My point being, the only way we can avert natural disasters,is by suspending natural laws.

Mavenb0x:

@OP: Why is there free oxygen in the earth's atmosphere? Why do trees stand their ground and animals roam? Why do things decay?

Excellently put. The Atheist expects God to be illogical; their apprehension of omnipotence includes the ability to erase existential laws: which ability must per force render all things non-existent in the first place as nothing can exist without existential laws.

I have always said that i have scant regard for the line of reasoining which places God at the epicentre of blame for perfectly natural occurences which we as intelligent beings should be able to discern beforehand and move away from.

Damn it: there are animals that are able to sense these things months in advance as it has been shown that prior to an earth quake or Tsunami, there are many species that instinctively migrate.

But humans are too busy making money to rouse their extra-sensory perception into working as it was intended to.

Any how, as man advances further, those abilities will be roused.

Deep Sight:


Excellently put. The Atheist expects God to be illogical; their apprehension of omnipotence includes the ability to erase existential laws: which ability must per force render all things non-existent in the first place as nothing can exist without existential laws.

I have always said that i have scant regard for the line of reasoining which places God at the epicentre of blame for perfectly natural occurences which we as intelligent beings should be able to discern beforehand and move away from.

Omipotence has nothing to do with natural disasters, I personally believe that natural disasters are just what they are and are NOT controlled by any god or goddess, They happen randomly and are just as a result of mindless forces of nature, I just wanted to hear the inputs of christians who talk about their god as the ultimate god of love and how they reconcile that with natural disasters that kill hundred of thousands of people. . . . .If YOU have the ability to stop natural disaster from killing 100,000 people I KNOW you will stop it. . . .Talk less of a loving god. . . .It ONLY makes sense if such a god is imaginary. . . .

Damn it: there are animals that are able to sense these things months in advance as it has been shown that prior to an earth quake or Tsunami, there are many species that instinctively migrate.

But humans are too busy making money to rouse their extra-sensory perception into working as it was intended to.

Any how, as man advances further, those abilities will be roused.

Some animals have evolved far better sense organs than humans. . . .Some have greater sense of smell or hear ultrasonic sounds that humans are unable to hear. . . .that might be useful to them in detecting the advent of some of this natural disasters and move away. . . .If humans were to create themselves they will also equip themselves with the ability to perceive all these things long before they hit and move. . . .In fact humans are now trying to stop natural disasters like hurricanes by changing the temperature of the surrounding environment once a hurricanes begins to build up. . . .If Humans can do these things, What about an all powerful and supposedly loving father?. . .God is not even there to comfort the victims of any natural disaster humans alone are always doing everything for themselves. . . .Yet the religionist will keep going around praising and thanking imaginary beings that are never anywhere. . . . .

If Humans can do these things, What about an all powerful and supposedly loving father?. . .God is not even there to comfort the victims of any natural disaster humans alone are always doing everything for themselves. . . .Yet the religionist will keep going around praising and thanking imaginary beings that and never anywhere. . . . .

You contradict yourself. You are stating that humans are trying to develop ways to deal with those things. That clearly shows that their creator has given them the ability to deal with those things.

I wondered recently why my dog's teeth are always clean despite the fact that he does not use a toothbrush. The creator gave the animal the sort of biological system that produces necessary chemicals to rid its teeth of food and plac growth. This is because the creator knew the animal he was making would not be given the intelligence or abilities to develop a toothbrush.

But where there is intelligence, nature demands that IT MUST BE USED. Thus human teeth will rot away if not cleaned regularly.

The reason that nature demands constant use of intelligence is the fact that intelligence itself will rot away if not used constantly.

This explains why the animal may have ears that hear geological vibrations and move on - but the human is REQUIRED TO USE EITHER HIS INTELLIGENCE OR SPIRITUAL CAPACITIES TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.

Deep Sight:

You contradict yourself. You are stating that humans are trying to develop ways to deal with those things. That clearly shows that their creator has given them the ability to deal with those things.

And why is such ability not available to humans all through their history? What about some abilities that are not available to humans to take care of some of the natural disasters like earth quakes and some incurable diseases. . . . .

I wondered recently why my dog's teeth are always clean despite the fact that he does not use a toothbrush. The creator gave the animal the sort of biological system that produces necessary chemicals to rid its teeth of food and plac growth. This is because the creator knew the animal he was making would not be given the intelligence or abilities to develop a toothbrush.

There are a lot of problems that dogs face like diseases that they have no control over and are unable to solve on their own. . . . .Did the creator forget to give them that ability too?. . . . .

But where there is intelligence, nature demands that IT MUST BE USED. Thus human teeth will rot away if not cleaned regularly.

The reason that nature demands constant use of intelligence is the fact that intelligence itself will rot away if not used constantly.

This explains why the animal may have ears that hear geological vibrations and move on - but the human is REQUIRED TO USE EITHER HIS INTELLIGENCE OR SPIRITUAL CAPACITIES TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.

Human's do not have the intelligence to deal with a lot of their problems and knowledge is constantly improving as time goes on. . . .Why would the so called creator give some generation of humans superior knowledge than others? And by the way does oneness of infinity have any human traits like the abrahamic god of Judaism, Islam and Christianity?. . . . .How can we get to know about this oneness of infinity? Does it speak through deepsight?

mazaje:

How can we get to know about this oneness of infinity? Does it speak through deepsight?

I am the anointed prophet of the Oneness of Infinity sent to redeem Nairaland.

All hail and respect the prophet!

It is okay if you refer to me as the "only begotten son" of the oneness - or the incarnation of the Oneness - make images of me and start worshipping!

anyway, people shouldnt assume an earthquake cant happen in Nigeria.

It can oh.

mazaje:

Since most Christians believe that their God is every where and controls everything I will like to know how they reconcile their allegedly all loving, all powerful God with natural disasters that kill people(including innocent children) and destroy their livelihoods? It has nothing to do with human free will. Does God use natural disasters as punishment for sins? If everyone is going to answer at the judgment day according to the Christian claims, what precisely are these dress rehearsals and early recalls about?

Any where there is a natural disasters people are always trying in one way or the other to help each other and provide relief for each other, god is never there to help at all. . . Whenever humanity is destroyed or afflicted, there is only humanity trying to remedy these things. When will people actually do something positive instead of praying and pretending they are doing something?

the odd thing is that some of the same Christians who bend our ears with God is Love etal are echoing the maniac pat robertson - that the haitan earthquake is punishment of the entire nation of voodoists and christians for a so called 'pact with the devil'

The bible makes us realise that the devil controls the world affairs :
2 corinthians 4 vs 4,
1 John 5:19,
so natural disasters are not caused by God but God watches out for those who are faithful to Him during times of crisis

To the atheist; you think those who believe in God (or more specifically - Christians) are mindless fools. Always wanting to explain their experiences or occurrences with their "stupid" beliefs. Good for you, just for you. You see as an individual, I know you're entitled to your own opinions but criticizing other people in the way you're doing, it's really not the best. You can criticize all you want sha but if there's anything I can tell you, that'll be: These occurrences have been predicted a long long time ago and according to these predictions, they're only going to get worse. Do not be surprised if the next natural disaster will level the entire Lagos as you know it today (that one go bad sha O). If you think you're enlightened, those that lived during Noah's time and the inhabitants of Soddom & Gommorah (if my spellings are correct) thought they too were enlightened. One last thing, if nairaland was a forum then, I seriously doubt that some who perished would not have posted something similar to yours. I leave you all to your beliefs, just don't regret it. , if only I believed.

Never question God, may his wills be done.

Chuck D:

To the atheist; you think those who believe in God (or more specifically - Christians) are mindless fools. Always wanting to explain their experiences or occurrences with their "silly" beliefs. Good for you, just for you. You see as an individual, I know you're entitled to your own opinions but criticizing other people in the way you're doing, it's really not the best. You can criticize all you want sha but if there's anything I can tell you, that'll be: These occurrences have been predicted a long long time ago and according to these predictions, they're only going to get worse. Do not be surprised if the next natural disaster will level the entire Lagos as you know it today (that one go bad sha O). If you think you're enlightened, those that lived during Noah's time and the inhabitants of Soddom & Gommorah (if my spellings are correct) thought they too were enlightened. One last thing, if nairaland was a forum then, I seriously doubt that some who perished would not have posted something similar to yours. I leave you all to your beliefs, just don't regret it. , if only I believed.

Noah's story is a myth ands the event ONLY happened on the pages of the hebrew bible and no where else. Natural disasters in my opinion are just part of the world we live in and humans must accept them and live with that fact. No god predicted anything because no god exists any where beside the pages of religious text and the imaginations of those that subscribe to the hypothesis.

LawBreaker:

Never question God, may his wills be done.

I wish that there was a god who had a will.

His ways are different from that of man

So dont question him