Christians: Natural disasters as punishment for unbelief?

[Sirona]

Just watched ab interview on the German version of the Catholic channel EWTN, where the interview partner stated that God sends natural desasters as punishment for people leaving the faith and that "we" should revert and "believe harder". The formal topic was Jonah and the whale. As Jonah was thrown into the water to appease the sea, in the same way God becomes appeased by people converting/reverting to Christianity after natural disasters. The last part is my interpretation, but it was the only way I could make sense of her. So, Christians, do you think that God punishes unbelief by sending natural disasters?

 

[Salvador]

Just watched ab interview on the German version of the Catholic channel EWTN, where the interview partner stated that God sends natural desasters as punishment for people leaving the faith and that "we" should revert and "believe harder". The formal topic was Jonah and the whale. As Jonah was thrown into the water to appease the sea, in the same way God becomes appeased by people converting/reverting to Christianity after natural disasters. The last part is my interpretation, but it was the only way I could make sense of her. So, Christians, do you think that God punishes unbelief by sending natural disasters?

Ever since I've left the Christian faith some few years ago, life's been pretty good to me. ** Edited out remaining commentary ** Sorry, I didn't realize I was posting in the Same Faith Discussion Section.

Salvador, needs to be more careful about knowing what section where he is posting.

 

[metis]

So, Christians, do you think that God punishes unbelief by sending natural disasters?

I agree that such a position is totally nonsensical because if God did that it makes him as being a homicidal maniac who kills even little children.

 

[Woberts]

I do, in fact, cause wildfires merely by being in the presence of sanctified ground.

 

[pearl]

And a few of these Christians actually blamed 9/11 on homosexuality in the US. There will always be those 'Christians' who corrupt Scripture for their own ideology.

 

[Ellen Brown]

Just watched ab interview on the German version of the Catholic channel EWTN, where the interview partner stated that God sends natural desasters as punishment for people leaving the faith and that "we" should revert and "believe harder". The formal topic was Jonah and the whale. As Jonah was thrown into the water to appease the sea, in the same way God becomes appeased by people converting/reverting to Christianity after natural disasters. The last part is my interpretation, but it was the only way I could make sense of her. So, Christians, do you think that God punishes unbelief by sending natural disasters?

Magical Thinking.

 

[Sirona]

*** STAFF REMINDER ***​

This is Same Faith Debates. If you do not *currently* affiliate with Christianity, you shouldn't be posting in here. That is all.

Thanks for your replies. I realize only now that I would have got further interesting replies if I had put my question under "Religious Debates." I'll check out if I can move the thread.

 

[Quintessence]

Thanks for your replies. I realize only now that I would have got further interesting replies if I had put my question under "General Debates." I'll check out if I can move the thread.

You can't, but if you'd like me to, consider it done!

 

[Sirona]

You can't, but if you'd like me to, consider it done!

Thanks, that would be great !

 

[Jainarayan]

*** Thread moved to Religious Debates per member request. ***​

 

[Revoltingest]

*** Thread moved to Religious Debates per member request. ***​

Oh, good.....I'm allowed in here now.

If God punished unbelievers, why is it that we always hear on the news of floods, fires,
& tornadoes taking out the churches, but never bordellos or bawdy movie stores?
I think this speaks to what God favors.

 

[Sunstone]

I love those stories of a fire taking down a house and leaving just one object un-scorched inside it -- a Bible. Is God really such a wild and crazy guy that he would render a family homeless in order to make a point akin to "Maybe or maybe not this was my doing"?

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

Just watched ab interview on the German version of the Catholic channel EWTN, where the interview partner stated that God sends natural desasters as punishment for people leaving the faith and that "we" should revert and "believe harder".

I guess they've given up on the idea that their God is just if they've decided that God uses collective punishment.

... to say nothing of whether the punishment would fit the crime.

The formal topic was Jonah and the whale. As Jonah was thrown into the water to appease the sea, in the same way God becomes appeased by people converting/reverting to Christianity after natural disasters. The last part is my interpretation, but it was the only way I could make sense of her. So, Christians, do you think that God punishes unbelief by sending natural disasters?

The flipside of this would be that a lack of natural disasters is a sign that God thinks that a people have enough belief... but they never make that argument.

 

[ChristineM]

I think its a sad indictment of a persons belief and personality if they need to threaten people with ''be in my religion or my god will destroy your property and kill your children'

Even if i wanted to be a god follower i would not associate myself with a hooligan and child murderer.

 

[Jainarayan]

I agree that such a position is totally nonsensical because if God did that it makes him as being a homicidal maniac who kills even little children.

Fundamentalists will explain that away with "blame the victim".

 

[metis]

Fundamentalists will explain that away with "blame the victim".

Yep, under the guise of "original sin".

BTW, with both Jewish and Christian theologians, the concept of "original sin" is very controversial with all different takes on this, often even within denominations.

 

[Trip Bapho]

I agree that such a position is totally nonsensical because if God did that it makes him as being a homicidal maniac who kills even little children.

Just as the bible does.

 

[Glaurung]

Just watched ab interview on the German version of the Catholic channel EWTN, where the interview partner stated that God sends natural desasters as punishment for people leaving the faith and that "we" should revert and "believe harder".

I remember many years ago reading a private revelation wherein it is revealed to a mystic that natural disasters are often permitted by God both as a means of reparation for sin as well as an opportunity for merit by good deeds. Because in the eyes of God what matters is our spiritual state at death and the eternity that state will determine.

There is no promise of a full life here on earth. The only thing that is promised is the eternity we all face at death.

I agree that such a position is totally nonsensical because if God did that it makes him as being a homicidal maniac who kills even little children.

Everything is under Divine Providence, nothing is an accident. God is the absolute sovereign Lord and Master of all creation (of all life) and as such God has every right to take life. Remember that Catholic doctrine says that all human beings are endowed with an immortal soul, so in effect death is simply a change from one state of existence to another. The person is never destroyed. And again, no one is promised a full lifetime on earth. You can be summoned to judgment at any moment.

To deny God's Providence in all things is to deny His sovereignty and power. It is to effectively say that God isn't in control, which is incoherent considering His omniscience and His omnipotence.

 

[Deeje]

Christians, do you think that God punishes unbelief by sending natural disasters?

No...I think you will find a lot of what we call "natural" disasters are not really "natural" at all....they are caused by humans milking the planet and polluting the daylights out of it. Climate change, earthquakes, floods, hailstorms, droughts.....mostly man made if you ask me. But then if humans learned how to control the weather....imagine the power they could have?

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

I remember many years ago reading a private revelation wherein it is revealed to a mystic that natural disasters are often permitted by God both as a means of reparation for sin as well as an opportunity for merit by good deeds. Because in the eyes of God what matters is our spiritual state at death and the eternity that state will determine.

Please explain how you think dying of smoke inhalation in a wildfire, drowning in tsunami, being crushed by a collapsed building in an earthquake, or getting sick with cholera - or watching a loved one go through these things - are "a means of reparation for sin?" Are you saying that God values human suffering?

And as for "an opportunity for merit by good deeds," if relieving the suffering of a natural disaster is good in and of itself, wouldn't the suffering be bad in and of itself?

Also, these two goals seem to be at odds with each other, since any suffering foregone by "good deeds" would represent a lost opportunity for "reparation for sin."