Tsunami sufferers question faith

[theHandpuppet]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4382689.stm

Tsunami sufferers question faith

By Nick Bryant
BBC South Asia correspondent


For the pilgrims descending upon Vailankanni, this Easter weekend is both a celebration of Christ's resurrection and a remembrance of the victims who died when last this seafront community came together to mark a Christian festival.

Where there was once a throng, now there is a trickle

The Vailankanni shrine was in one of the regions of southern India worst hit by the tsunami of 26 December.

About 600 of the tsunami's victims were pilgrims who had journeyed to the "Lourdes of the East", a one-time hamlet on the shores of the Bay of Bengal, where, according to local legend, Mary and baby Jesus once appeared before local Hindu children.

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She lost 10 relatives when the tsunami hit, including her only son, nine-year-old Manimaran.

Before the tsunami, she used to run a tea stall in front of the church and attended Mass each night to thank God for her takings.

Now she has vowed never to set foot in it again.

"When the tsunami hit I ran to the church and begged for the life of my son," she said, crying.

"All I got was his dead body. God cheated me."

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[chaumont58]

1. Fallwell, Robertson and the Tsunami

I have been waiting for some enterprizing reporter to ask Fallwell or Robertson, in light of what they said about God letting 9/11 happen because of America tolerating abortion, gays, sexual revolution, what they thought about the tsunami killing so many people? If a tsunami can not be called an act of God, what can?
I put the same question to a fundie relative and his response was: "Those were Moslems." I don't know if he was kidding or not. I didn't follow up.

[theHandpuppet]

2. I have plenty of questions myself

Like, if God really wants to make a statement and convert the millions, let him show the world a miracle and have Terri Shiavo rise from her bed this Easter and walk. Let's just see how much God cares, and how "faith" seems to be demanded from humanity but not from God.

As to your fundie relative, what a shame that anyone would think that a god who would murder millions of innocents simply because they were Muslims is any god they would worship. Your relative was wrong, anyway -- people of all faiths were killed. Perhaps you should send them a copy of this article and then see what they have to say.

[chaumont58]

3. It seems to me that ALL religions believe they are the ONLY true..

religion. Maybe it is a necessary charistic of a religion to keep the faithful in line. As for my question, I don't think there is an answer to it. It is the same sort of question regarding the fate of the million of Jews slaughtered by the Nazis. People have told me of their belief in the power of prayer, and I ask about the millions of Jews: Did they pray? For deliverance?
As for sending anything to my fundie relative, his is a faith that can not withstand logic, but it doesn't have to. If he is asked a logical question, he replies with an illogical answer, such as the Moslem response. In truth, I am as befuddled by him and his family's fundieism as he is by my atheism.
Atheism is a mental jog most can't take.