Theodicy
The question of questions. Why does God allow these kind of things? I don't expect any profound answers. Perhaps the better question is, how will we respond? How can we help in the name of Jesus?
Pray for New Orleans. Pray that the looting and violence stops. Pray for the displaced, those who have died, and those who are close to death. Kyrie Eleison.
"Tend the sick, Lord Christ; give rest to the weary, bless the dying, soothe the suffering, pity the afflicted. Have mercy, O Lord, on the people affected by Katrina. For your love's sake. Amen."
posted by fatherneo at 1:35 PM
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15 Comments:
THESE ARE NOT FATHER NEO'S WORDS, here is how one pastor is talking about this:
"Our hearts and love go out to the thousands who have been dispossesed, killed, injured, or have suffered the loss of a loved one across the Gulf Coast. We must each do all we are able to help them rebuild their lives.
At the same time, New Orleans vied with Las Vegas for the most immoral city in the United States. Drugs are rampant. Live sex shows were openly advertised on Bourbon Street. While I mourn the loss of some great restaurants (I hope Deanies survived) I do not mourn the loss of some of the seamier side of New Orleans.
We have had an unprecedented last 6 years for natural and human-made disasters. Now, I know the PC police will be all over me for this, but have we considered that this is the beginning of God's judgement on America fo rour lust, our materialism, our refusal to share our abundance with the poor and homeless, the vast disparity between rich and poor (it is clear from the Bible that God is NOT amused with this...), our daily murder of unborn babies here and of innocent civilian non-combatants overseas, our stockpile of weapons of mass destruction (which, of course, of course, we'll only use DEFENSIVELY, right? After all, WE'D never start a pre-emptive war, now would we????), and our un-American detaining of prisoners without a trial and the torture of prisoners? God isn't amused. Maybe He isn't just the doting Grandfather that many Protestants see Him as. Maybe He still gets torqued and acts on it. Consider it...plagues of frogs, biting flies, an invasion of locusts, and the killing of the firstborn may still be on the program unless we REPENT!
II Chronicles 7:14
14 if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, pray, seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
Time to repent..."
What is theodicy?
I agree, the better response is, how will we respond.
I saw this in one report:
"We can't have people fighting," Capt. John Pallerre of the Texas Air Force National Guard told the crowd on public address after a teenager was taken away for fighting. "I have kids here who are crying and frightened and can't find their parents. Be adults. We're going to get you out of here. It takes a while. I'm not God. If I was, you'd all be home with your family."
Gary
Padre,
Whoever this "Pastor" is...I'd say he's not thinking clearly. Not for some of his observations relative to morality, but for his ludicrous notion that Hurricane Katrina is God’s direct judgment.
Some, I repeat, some, of the points made are legit, but this is not God's hand guiding the eye of a hurricane to hit “x” spot. To be sure, God allows this carnage (He’s NOT a “tame Lion” as Lewis says), which begs so many questions on its own, but to call this a direct supernatural intervention to wallop us for our sins paints God as indiscriminate. Who thinks that everyone impacted in this catastrophe is “guilty?” Silly idea altogether and worthy of a Pat Robertson type. If this notion were true, you’d think the opposite would be too, but I don’t really observe any wholesale “blessings” going on. Indeed, the opposite if often the case. The faithful get left in the dirt to wallow and suffer in God’s apparent absence.
The sun shines on the just and the unjust alike. Same for hurricanes.
Olympiada, "theodicy" is "vindication of divine providence in view of the existence of evil" (Oxford Dictionary). In other words, if God is a loving God, as well as an all-powerful God, why is this such a hard, unfair world?
I would like to agree with MCM, if I can do so without being attacked, called names, and so forth. LOL. From now on I'm having a gin and tonic before I blog.
Where's the love man...?
"if God is a loving God, as well as an all-powerful God, why is this such a hard, unfair world?"
One of the grander questions in life.
Father??
Gary
I'm sorry, Angevoix, but if you attempt to agree with me I may become verbally violent. Tough love. You'll just have to bite the bullet and be contrary.
"From now on I'm having a gin and tonic before I blog."
Ahhh, after my own heart you are mi amiga...so long as it's Bombay Sapphire gin that is. :)
Hey, I'm sure you can handle your own "matches" Scout, but if you ever need help I'll step in and knock some heads around too. Fr. John tried to knock my head off the other night, but I'm still standing. So who gives a rat's arse if I'm a member of the "Whore of Babylon." I guess he did. Anyway...if it's Seraph that tongue speaking...opps...sorry, I know you are more in line with him on this issue than with me, but you know what I mean. :)
God of the wind...have mercy on us
God of the waves...have mercy on us
God of our pain...have mercy on us
God of the cross...
God of the...
God of...
God.
Where's the love?
There's the love...
Thanks blog family.
“Costa, Really, Bombay Sapphire? Tanqueray is the better gin, in my humble opinion. I've conducted a blind taste test. We take those things pretty seriously around here!"
Grin. I bet you guys do take it seriously. Ohhh, but you hurt my heart speaking the blasphemous name Tanqueray! I've done the blind taste test too. You could line up a slew of different gins with a blindfold over my eyes, and I'd pick out the blue bottle elixir every time!
We'll have to have the now infamous “Morpheus Deck Meeting” at mi casa next time, and you and John both come and the rest of the crew. Seraph and Fr. John would even be welcome. I’m a glutton for punishment.
Unbuntu, we need unbuntu!
OOOOOOXXXXXX!
May the force be with you, Seraph!
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