Roughly four out of ten Americans still like that old testament version of God — full of wrath and fury. A poll by Public Religion Research Institute and Religion News Surveshows that forty percent of our citizens still believe that God directs such disasters like the Japanese earthquake for a purpose. It is not clear what God had against the Japanese, but these citizens believe it was for a divine purpose. They are not alone Tokyo Gov. Shintaro Ishihara called the earthquake and tsunami in Japan tembatsu — or “divine judgment”
When Tokyo Gov. Shintaro Ishihara called the massive earthquake and tsunami in Japan tembatsu — or “divine judgment” — he expressed a kind of theological cause and effect shared by nearly 40 percent of Americans.
While 51 percent did not believe natural disasters are a sign from God, 56 percent believe God is in control of everything that happens in the world. My only weakness in faith is, if that is true, how do you explain that Steven Seagal still gets work? I can accept the occasional divine tsunami but Under Siege II? If that does not shake one’s faith in the Almighty, I do not know what would.
Not surprisingly, the rates were higher for evangelicals. “Nearly 6 in 10 (59%) of white Evangelicals said they believed natural disasters are a sign from God.”
Source: CNN
The underlying assumption is that these folks are expendable because they’re not Americans. We are the pinnacle of God’s plans afterall.
If these rice packers would think outside of the box, maybe this would not happen to them. It is easy to understand that my saviour does not like them.
signal is getting weaker….hopefully this posts…
So that leaves 6 out of 10 up the proverbial creek without a paddle.
Although I don’t subscribe to the theory at issue, it is my understanding that many of those who do also believe in eternal life. And, in their view, the short, transitory pain on this earth is minor in relationship to that eternal life.
So let me get this straight: an all-knowing, all-powerful, and all-benevolent entity communicates through killing a lot of people without some kind of unambiguous claim of responsibility?
Their god is basically a terrorist with very bad communication skills?
Personally, I lost my religion they day I responded to a home where grandparents had accidentally backed their car over the little head of a neighbor child in the driveway.
In my view, anybody who thinks such horrors are manipulated by the “Creator” is far too sick for anything modern medicine has to offer.
A few years ago, we responded to a Marin county beach in California, where a great white had bitten a high school biology teacher in half, as he dove for shells for his upcoming class.
I see no reason to believe the shark was evil; he may not have even been hungry. There is nothing to suggest he sought revenge or was even slightly pissed. The fact is, he just didn’t care one way or another.
I suspect the invisible man in the sky is a lot like that.
rafflaw,
I am coming to believe that they are being punished for us having to deal with people like Steven Segal…..If you think in the whole dynamics of things….we suffer as much….
James M,
Even some of us over over 40 don’t beieve this God caused Japan to suffer crap!
So according to the underlying survey, 56% of americans are coo-coo for cocoa puffs. Shockly, that sounds about right.
Glenn G, the people headed into the eighth-grade mindset of “christian sharia” are also headed rather more quickly toward the grave. No one under 40 buys this crap, not when it can be debunked from any location on earth in 3.5 seconds and a smart phone. And that route has millions of other distractions along the way.
To be effective, such things have to limit access to outside influences. So long as our First Amendment remains intact, it will be exceedingly difficult for this shrinking demographic to anything other than continue to throw the royal snit-fit.
However, we are also in an era when these same folks delight when more and more of our liberties are eroded, e.g. patriot, and the like. Due diligence, as always, is the prescription.
Such as seating civilian grand juries to probe war crimes.
My question? Why are people continuing to worship such a nasty, hateful god? There are many gods and goddesses to choose from. Choose another one!
We’re heading for what I call “Christian sharia” – no doubt in my mind. Fundamentalist rise in the US is no different that that of the Mideast – fear of losing old values to the forces of modernity.
If you go to the underlying survey, the number is actually much higher. 56% said that God controls everything (i.e. God directed the earthquake). The four out of ten number was either for the idea that natural disasters are a way for God to test our faith or that they are a sign from God.
http://www.publicreligion.org/research/?id=519
So, 40% of Americans believe God is a dick.
“Not surprisingly, the rates were higher for evangelicals. “Nearly 6 in 10 (59%) of white Evangelicals said they believed natural disasters are a sign from God.”
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These saved 59% also watch The Flintstones as a documentary. (Kudos to Lewis Black on that one.)
I’m shocked it wasn’t >50% given Bush’s victories in the Presidential elections.
When a natural disaster strikes the Bible Belt, is it God’s punishment for their rampant ignorance and intolerance?
Is he pissed off that the divorce rates are higher there than anywhere else in the country?
Is he smiting those areas because Red States are the largest consumers of porn in the country?
Or is it because … sh*t happens?
Inquiring minds want to know …
Seagal? Obviously, a matter of mercy (to him), punishment (for us) and a massive incentive to acquiring grace (to endure).
If that is so…then the GOP/Teabaggers etc….are for the US what the Earth Quake is for Japan……I see…God told me this this morning….or was I diving David Koresch…not sure the earth is shaking right now….