What are we to make of the Haiti earthquake?

[Ian]

I note Pat Robertson`s comments about the Haiti earthquake and God`s judgement on that country since it made a "pact with the devil" to get free of bondage to colonialism. You can imagine the derision in atheist circles. Haiti also lies along a fault-line:

http://scienceblogs.com/highlyallochtho ... arthqu.php

Is this only plate tectonics at work or something more?

[TK]

i think there are 3 questions (maybe more but i can only think of 3):

1. did cause cause it?
2. did God allow it?
3. can God use it?

personally i would answer no to 1, maybe to 2 and definitely to 3.

TK

[darinhouston]

i think there are 3 questions (maybe more but i can only think of 3):

1. did cause cause it?
2. did God allow it?
3. can God use it?

personally i would answer no to 1, maybe to 2 and definitely to 3.

TK

I'm not sure we can know the answer to 1, really (2 and 3 are definitely yes), but I can say the Robertson's an embarrassment to the Kingdom. Second maybe to Danny Glover yesterday blaming it on the American's response in Copenhagen. I can say, though, that God can work through us to help them, financially. I understand World Vision is a good group heading that way.

[Michelle]

i think there are 3 questions (maybe more but i can only think of 3):

1. did cause cause it?
2. did God allow it?
3. can God use it?

personally i would answer no to 1, maybe to 2 and definitely to 3.

TK

I'm not sure we can know the answer to 1, really (2 and 3 are definitely yes), but I can say the Robertson's an embarrassment to the Kingdom. Second maybe to Danny Glover yesterday blaming it on the American's response in Copenhagen. I can say, though, that God can work through us to help them, financially. I understand World Vision is a good group heading that way.

I agree, Darin. My question is: What does God want me to do about it?

[darinhouston]

I agree, Darin. My question is: What does God want me to do about it?

That's the million dollar question -- for me, all I can think to do is send money to a supporting agency.

[steve7150]

I agree, Darin. My question is: What does God want me to do about it?
Michelle



I think these would qualify for "the way you treat the least of these is how you treated me."

[steve7150]

Is this only plate tectonics at work or something more?Ian









Plate techtonics existing in a fallen world.

[darinhouston]

From a friend...

FYI All the news reports of USNS COMFORT on way to Haiti are now confirmed as we saw her leaving Baltimore Harbor and it also shows on marinetraffic website. Wish my boat was in the water to give her a flag waving sendoff.

[Ian]

I later heard Steve being asked nearly the same thing on a broadcast last week. He tried to give Pat Robertson some benefit of the doubt by saying perhaps he meant the devil was extracting his pound of flesh, rather than that God himself was wreaking revenge.
In view of the aftershocks today, weren`t the tectonic plates just being, well, tectonic plates? If the event had supernatural origins wouldn`t it instead have been a one-off like the wind Steve mentioned?

I thought the short answer "plate tectonics in a fallen world" was a good one.

[darinhouston]

I think Steve may have been suggesting that Robertson may have intended to say that their poverty and general situation made worse by the earthquake had its origins in their forefather's poor political decisions, and that perhaps we should cut him some slack since he didn't seem to be saying "they deserved it" but that it was said int he context of raising money for them but simply expressing his belief as to how they got in that situation and that it was not their own personal faults so they should be helped.... I don't know - I didn't hear the context of the statement.