Why Does God Hate New Orleans?

[arwalden]

What kind of deity would allow such a thing to happen to so many people?

I see two logical answers... either we have a cruel god, or there is no god.

[flordehinojos]

1. why do you have to blame GOD or the absence of a GOD?

why couldn't it be that the stewarts of this green earth that GOD gave us HAVE NOT BEEN GOOD STEWARDS FOR THE EARTH and therefore ...

[arwalden]

9. And Therefore... What? Your Unfinished Thought Leaves Me Guessing...

... what direction your argument might have taken.

And therefore... he's PUNISHING only the people of New Orleans (and the entire region) for not being "good stewards" of the entire earth?

One would think that a deity that was powerful enough to create, sustain and aim a hurricane (a dozen times a year, mind you) could also manage to put that phenomenal cosmic power to some good use too.

Maybe the good folks along the Gulf Coast just didn't pray hard enough to please the Lord. It's clear to me that as the flood waters continue to rise and the filth and death and squalor and destruction continue to increase... they STILL aren't praying hard enough.

If this is the deity's doing, then it is EVIL.

If this is not the deity's doing, then it is too WEAK to prevent it, or too weak to help these poor people.

Or maybe there is no deity at all.

[flordehinojos]

16. actually, my thought would have finished this way, "and therefore,

it is MAN -- not GOD -- to blame for our intense hurricane which killed so many and devastated a city such a NEW ORLEANS ... where, by the way, my parents met and married in 1928, and where i still have one cousin, her husband, and their child who are living there and whose fate i don't know -- but for whom i hope for good things in the midst of such a tragedy; and also a niece who was an engineer for chevron and their oil rigs out of NO years ago--but who, thankfully, has relocated to another state and was not there when katrina left her mark on such a wonderful city---which for me was a connection to my own origins.

[shimmergal]

22. There may well be a deity and yet

he/she/it/they is not all-powerful, or all-good. After all, it's humans who have (in recent centuries) defined God that way. May I suggest that the ultimate "why?" aspects of disasters/* like this are, like much else about the universe, not accessible to any humans.

[PsychoDad]

18. Or maybe we could just be smart enough...

To move out of the way, and compassionate enought to assist each other in doing so? That would be using an ability god gave us.

(Which, BTW, I remember God telling us to do- The help each other out part, not the move away from NO before the hurricane hits part, that I think was for us to figure out.)

People who were killed were trapped there because they either chose to or in more cases they had no where to go or no way to go.

The first is there choice, the second is unexcuseable on the part of the government who traped them there.

We should be good stewards not only to the earth which sustains us, but also to each other.

[Ishoutandscream2]

2. This is the type of question that keeps me on the fence

I can't believe a God would let anything like this happen. I don't know if I'm a Deist, or just a plain ol agnostic. I can't say there isn't a God because I don't have proof. On the other hand, I have no proof that there is one, either.

I tell you, the last 5 years have made me question if there is any God at all.

[sniffa]

3. how can ace be both 1 and 11?

what kind of god wouLd aLLow that?

[Pacifist Patriot]

4. Or the interpretation of the symbol "God" is flawed.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Process_theology -- Just for a different perspective.

[LaurenG]

5. Maybe it's us

maybe God just stays out of it and lets us pave our own way. We have created global warming, we have sucked the life blood out of the earth (oil). We have treated each other poorly. Maybe the planet is sick of us crapping all over her and each other. Maybe the planet is trying to survive what we have done. The planet is a living breathing entity, ask any native American. Maybe the question should be what we have done to cause this?

[arwalden]

10. Are You Suggesting That The Earth Is Self-Aware?

<< The planet is a living breathing entity, >>

When you tell me that "the planet is a living breathing entity", are you suggesting that the PLANET itself is sentient?

<< ask any native American.>>

I'm sure that this is what many of them believe, but that's not enough to convince me that it's true.

<< Maybe the planet is sick of us crapping all over her and each other. Maybe the planet is trying to survive what we have done. >>

So it's a sentient AND vengeful planet? (Maybe we need to sacrifice more virgins into the volcano, eh?)

[LaurenG]

13. I can't and won't convince you or prove my beliefs

It is my opinion that the planet is a living breathing entity. Full of malice? I don't think so. I just think we are a great deal more responsible for what is happening than we realize. Form follows thought. If you decide to create something first you have to think of it then work toward getting it accomplished. Sacrifice virgins? Hell no, it's about honoring the life force in everything. If you measure energy, even rocks have a slow "pulse". Why do we think we can abuse everything greedily that the planet has to offer and then never pay the consequences? You can't take the "lube" out of the planet. It is used in conjunction with the tectonic plates so that they can slide around. (take all the synovial fluid out of your joints as an example). It's the same principle. Also, the earth and atmosphere have no way of removing all the pollutants we put out. It causes changes in the atmosphere and thus we have our global warming. How is that the earth or God's fault? We did it, the planet is just struggling to keep up with the abuse we pour on it daily. We are responsible for much of what happens. Not all weather related occurrences have a thing to do with us. Weather happens. I happen to "think" this is a warning to pay attention and take better care of our "home".

[arwalden]

14. Wow.

<< It is my opinion that the planet is a living breathing entity. >>

But do you think that the PLANET known as "Earth" is self-aware? Does it have emotions? Feelings? A conscience? A soul?

<< Form follows thought. If you decide to create something first you have to think of it then work toward getting it accomplished. >>

Uh... okay?

<< Sacrifice virgins? Hell no, >>

I was only kidding about sacrificing virgins... it was a joke.

<< it's about honoring the life force in everything. If you measure energy, even rocks have a slow "pulse". >>

Rocks have a pulse? How is this pulse measured? Are you talking about on an ATOMIC level? The individual ATOMS that a rock is made from? Is this pulse evidence that the Earth thinks?

<< It is used in conjunction with the tectonic plates so that they can slide around. >>

Astounding! That one statement alone demonstrates a severe lack of knowledge about the earth's crust and plate tectonics. Go here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plate_tectonics

<< Also, the earth and atmosphere have no way of removing all the pollutants we put out. >>

That is also incorrect. It does happen, it can clean itself... but it takes a very long time.

<< Weather happens. >>

That's the only thing you've said that I fully agree with.

So... why would a loving-caring deity allow such a thing to happen to so many innocent people? What was THEIR crime?

[LaurenG]

19. Oh alright

I'll go get some sources. I'm at work so it will be tonight sometime. In the meantime ARWalden I see I must be more careful with my words and generalizing with you.

<< It is my "opinion" that the planet is a living breathing entity. >>

But do you think that the PLANET known as "Earth" is self-aware? Does it have emotions? Feelings? A conscience? A soul?

Coming back to this with more specific info. I won't get a scientific answer about emotions feelings or soul though.

<< it's about honoring the life force in everything. If you measure energy, even rocks have a slow "pulse". >>

Rocks have a pulse? How is this pulse measured? Are you talking about on an ATOMIC level? The individual ATOMS that a rock is made from? Is this pulse evidence that the Earth thinks? Never said it specifically thinks, though it may, it is evidence of life on some level.

Rocks "pulse" (my word) or vibrate at a very slow rate. Let me see about getting this info for you. What proves life in your opinion? That may help me.

<< It is used in conjunction with the tectonic plates so that they can slide around. >>
Astounding! That one statement alone demonstrates a severe lack of knowledge about the earth's crust and plate tectonics. Go here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plate_tectonics

Ok so that does sound dumb. I will research my sources, will get back to this one.


<< Form follows thought. If you decide to create something first you have to think of it then work toward getting it accomplished. >>

Uh... okay?
This one is not difficult to explain, you either get it or you don't there is nothing scientific about it.


<< Also, the earth and atmosphere have no way of removing all the pollutants we put out. >>

That is also incorrect. It does happen, it can clean itself... but it takes a very long time.

This is what I inferred, will be more specific in future.

<< Weather happens. >>

That's the only thing you've said that I fully agree with. Good!

Lastly, I don't think "God" punishes people. Most of the time it's the law of cause and effect, in my opinion.

[Arger68]

6. Maybe God is punishing us

for Pat Robertson wanting to assassinate Chavez. :shrug:

[beam me up scottie]

7. Are you suggesting

that survivors don't get down on their knees and thank the lord?:wtf:

[Alpharetta]

8. God hates New Orleans because creole and cajun has FRENCH in it

:crazy:

[MercutioATC]

11. It's the boobies.

God doesn't like young women showing their boobies. It's that simple.

[arwalden]

12. I'm Sure That John Ashcroft Would Agree With You.

Breasts are evil and must be covered up.

[onager]

15. You'd think a vengeful Earth...

...would be REALLY irked about the nuclear weapons testing that went on in its lands and oceans since 1945.

I guess the Vengeful Earth moves in mysterious ways. Just like God. And random chance.

[PsychoDad]

17. Of course you are right.

There is no way anyone could have foreseen this. We have no knowledge of hurricanes, or that living below sea level on a coast beset by these unknowable events might have unfortunate consequences, and even if we had, there is no way we can predict where one will hit land in time to evacuate. Even if we could know the future in such a manner there is no way people can move out of the way, even if we had such methods of mobility at our disposal.

Not like humanity has been living on this planet long enough to understand how this nature or weather thing works.

And after such a disaster, you would at least think that a God would drop resources and money from the sky along with rescue workers, because god knows, humans are pretty much incapable of helping themselves before, much less after. We humans should never have be responsible for ourselves.

You are quite right, if there was a god, it might have at least thought to give humanity enough intelligence and foresight to cope with such a natural disaster. A real god would have given humans the foresight to organize into communities and structures to deal with and help each each other in these events before they happen, which they seem to do occasionally. It might have thought to have given us the intelligence to move resources from areas that were not affected to where they were needed.

Indeed, if there were a god, it should have given humans the compassion and ability to care about the needs of others, before and after.

And since we seem to posses none of these abilities, I guess you are right.

And how dare god, if there is one, put so much water on this planet, cause you know, that's a major cause of hurricanes. Not like we really need it or anything.

:)

[Jim Bob]

20. Good points, PsychoDad

Also, a compassionate Deity would surely have sent someone -- perhaps His own Son -- to show humanity the way. If only people would listen to Him.

I was born in New Orleans, at Touro Infirmary at Tulane University. New Orleans is a very strange city, for those of you who have never been there. When I visited there several years ago, I was hounded by a very unsettling feeling, and experienced a series of occurrences that convinced me that the place is haunted. I stopped by Marie Laveau's House of Voodoo, and I almost bought an "evil stay away gator toe." At the last second, I decided to get out of that place and not mess with such things.

On Sunday night, I asked my wife to pray for the people of New Orleans, as I was doing. She told me that her mother told her that a couple of years ago, a preacher prophesied that New Orleans would be subjected to a purifying wind. It is probably just a coincidence, but "Katrina" means pure.

[Disturbed]

21. An interactive go does not exist.

People that believe that a god causes anything on this planet are mistaken.

[SoCalifer]

23. God who?

Oh you mean that mythological creature who has the ability to do anything, such as intelligently create the world in seven days (six really), destroy practically everyone and everything on it with a global flood, grant powers to people to part oceans, cause plagues, etc. And on an equal level, who is also capable of performing miracles.

I think arwalden brings up a valid point. If the creature referred to as God exists and is all loving and all powerful and wishes for everyone to recognize him. Why didn't he perform a miracle? It seems to me every time an apparent miracle happens, believers give credit to this God thing. So arwalden's question is valid: If this God thing performs miracles, why didn't he perform one for New Orleans? It would seem that arwalden's conclusion as to why this creature didn't perform a miracle is also valid......either this God creature is cruel, or there is no such creature.

[Kire]

24. you say that to all the girls

but, seriously, bad things happen to good people...just wait until you're gasping your last breath, you'll see

[beam me up scottie]

25. What's that supposed to mean?

Are you referring to the old bullshit meme that atheists convert on their deathbeds?

[Kire]

26. it's not a threat

so it must be that "meme" you're talking about

or maybe it's just me thinking about something Peter Fonda said about someday there will be no oxygen left on the planet

go ahead, be bitter

if you think there's no God, why are you angry at Him?

[beam me up scottie]

28. I know it's not a "threat".

It's a strawman, and a tired one.

If you can't answer his question, just say so.

Pretending your gods exist and have earned my anger is sadly delusional.

[Kire]

30. my answer:

god does exist, and he's not cruel

he gave no premises to support his arguments so it's a stalemate now, isn't it?

[beam me up scottie]

33. Prove it.

Begging the question doesn't work with me.

And since you obviously can't prove it, I believe that makes it checkmate.

[beam me up scottie]

29. dupe

[SoCalifer]

27. Actually

I've unfortunately faced death two times. The first time, when my appendix ruptured and there were serious infection complications that brought me to the brink of death. I refused a chaplin and focused on fighting it until I either died or got better. The second time, an accident while racing motorcycles out in the Mojave desert here in California. I was literally, as you put, gasping for breath. And again, all I focused on was fighting until I either died, or got better.

On both of these unfortunate occasions in my past - was I scared? Yes, you bet I was. But I never thought to cry-out to a God thing for help.

I don't mean to offend anybody who's a believer. But to me, this God thing is about the same thing as the Easter Bunny. Just, it has some actual human history mixed in with mythical creatures.

[Kire]

31. well, good onya

what were you fighting, BTW?

[SoCalifer]

32. Fighting

to stay conscious and breathing.

[Kire]

34. staying conscious and breathing are relaxation techniques

I say again, what were you fighting?

[Name removed]

35. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Moderator]

36. Locking..........

This is becoming flamebait.