Richard, you mention Human vs Natural evil. This is something I jotted down some years ago. Particularly take note of the second paragraph.
On All Saints Day in 1755, a powerful earthquake struck Lisbon, Portugal, collapsing the roof of the cathedral full of worshippers along with causing horrendous death and destruction in the city. Coming at the time the Enlightenment was kicking into high gear, the philosophers of the new way of thinking had a field day taunting the faithful about their "almighty" God. This event struck a blow to Christendom from which it is still reeling.
Nowdays we know earthquakes are the result of plate tectonics rather than Divine Wrath. Ironically, the mechanism of plate tectonics is believed to be essential for life itself by recycling excess carbon back into the earth's crust, just like hurricanes and typhoons are essential to balancing heat in the atmosphere.
So, what's the person of faith supossed to do with all of this?
Personally, I have come to the conclusion that I really don't need a God that causes or prevents earthquakes. I can consult with a seismic expert about how to construct my dwelling. I can deal with fractures in the earth's crust. I need something a lot stronger for fractured and broken relationships.
The only force in the universe powerful enough to heal the tragedy and absurdity of the human condition is the self giving cruciform shaped love revealed in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth.
What I DO need is a God who will engender the love and concern in us that this God will be present in the chaos and destruction of the earhquake or the hurricane or the tornado (living in Kansas I'm way too familiar with them) in us and through us. People willing to incarnate God's love and bear His image into a hurting world.
Richard, you mention Human vs Natural evil. This is something I jotted down some years ago. Particularly take note of the second paragraph.
On All Saints Day in 1755, a powerful earthquake struck Lisbon, Portugal, collapsing the roof of the cathedral full of worshippers along with causing horrendous death and destruction in the city. Coming at the time the Enlightenment was kicking into high gear, the philosophers of the new way of thinking had a field day taunting the faithful about their "almighty" God. This event struck a blow to Christendom from which it is still reeling.
Nowdays we know earthquakes are the result of plate tectonics rather than Divine Wrath. Ironically, the mechanism of plate tectonics is believed to be essential for life itself by recycling excess carbon back into the earth's crust, just like hurricanes and typhoons are essential to balancing heat in the atmosphere.
So, what's the person of faith supossed to do with all of this?
Personally, I have come to the conclusion that I really don't need a God that causes or prevents earthquakes. I can consult with a seismic expert about how to construct my dwelling. I can deal with fractures in the earth's crust. I need something a lot stronger for fractured and broken relationships.
The only force in the universe powerful enough to heal the tragedy and absurdity of the human condition is the self giving cruciform shaped love revealed in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth.
What I DO need is a God who will engender the love and concern in us that this God will be present in the chaos and destruction of the earhquake or the hurricane or the tornado (living in Kansas I'm way too familiar with them) in us and through us. People willing to incarnate God's love and bear His image into a hurting world.