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 Seeing the wrath of God in natural disasters was once commonplace.
August 28th, 2011
04:56 PM ET
My Take: God no longer in the whirlwind
By Stephen Prothero, Special to CNN As I am riding out Hurricane Irene on Cape Cod, I cannot help thinking about how differently New Englanders in colonial times interpreted these natural disasters. While we speak of the eye of the hurricane, they were ever mindful of the eye of a God who was watching over them, and sending storms their way as punishment for their collective sins. A fierce debate among academics about secularization theory–the view that societies will become less religious as they modernize–seems to have been won by the skeptics. Yes, secularization of a sort is happening, but only in certain places (western Europe, most notably). And it seems to be reversible (see the United States today vs. the United States in the 1970s). So simple versions of secularization theory seem just plain wrong. However, one place where American society, at least, plainly seems to be growing less religious is in the realm of natural disasters. When the Great Colonial Hurricane raced up the east coast and lashed New England in August 1635, its 130 mph winds and 21-foot storm surge were almost universally viewed in supernatural rather than natural terms—as a judgment of God on the unfaithful. We still have Puritans among us today, of course. Pat Robertson is notorious for turning natural disasters such as the Haiti earthquake and Hurricane Katrina into supernatural communications—God’s curse on Haiti or New Orleans for bad religion or widespread abortions. And on the radio a couple days ago I heard a talk show host suggest that the one-two punch of the recent earthquake and hurricane were two thumbs down from God on the leadership of Barack Obama. Still, American society as a whole no longer interprets natural disasters as signs of some coming apocalypse or evidence of some past misdeeds. And those that do (Robertson, for example) we generally regard as cranks and outliers—relics of a bygone age. Some say science and religion are engaged in a battle for the soul of America. I don’t buy that. I know there are bitter divisions over evolution and creationism, for example. But there are all sorts of spiritual arenas where science is mum, and vice versa. Science and religion run on parallel tracks far more often than those tracks intersect. Hurricanes and earthquakes are one arena, however, where the language of science has almost entirely routed the language of theology. Psalms 107:25-33 reads: “For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof. . . . He turneth rivers into a wilderness, and the watersprings into dry ground." Today, the overwhelming majority of Americans—including the overwhelming majority of American Christians—believe that when God has something to say He speaks in less dramatic ways, including the still small voices in our hearts and the slightly louder voices of the preachers in our pulpits. When it comes to earthquakes and hurricanes, however, our authorities are geologists and meteorologists. Most of us interpret these events not through the rumblings of the biblical prophet Jeremiah or the poetry of the Book of Revelation but through the scientific truths of air pressure and tectonic plates. As a result of this sort of secularization, we are much better at predicting the course of hurricanes. The Great Colonial Hurricane of 1635 arrived as a surprise and took many lives with it, including, according to the report of the Massachusetts governor John Winthrop, those of eight Native Americans taken by the storm surge while “flying from their wigwams.” So we are better prepared, thank science. Our stories are far less dramatic, however. The overwhelming majority of Americans believe in God. But their God no longer acts out his fury as in Bible days. Our storms have not yet been tamed. But our God has. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Stephen Prothero. soundoff (2,530 Responses)« Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 Next »
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  About this blog
The CNN Belief Blog covers the faith angles of the day's biggest stories, from breaking news to politics to entertainment, fostering a global conversation about the role of religion and belief in readers' lives. It's edited by CNN's Daniel Burke with contributions from Eric Marrapodi and CNN's worldwide news gathering team.  |
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Editor's Note: Stephen Prothero, a Boston University religion scholar and author of "God is Not One: The Eight Rival Religions that Run the World," is a regular CNN Belief Blog contributor.
Jesus Christ, there's two of them now...
And amazingly enough, they are both butchering the English language. Amazing how a lack of education seems to coincide with religious extremism.
Yeah, there definitely appears to be a direct correlation between the two, I wonder if it's contagious? God help us if it is.
Will be sad when Atheist die and they find out the truth. ......really sad. :*(
Obviously some dead guy gave you the inside scoop about the afterlife.
SPOILER ALERT!
It's all lies. Your whole life has been wasted on untruths.
@ Stubbs
Can you prove your thesis? If not, it is no more or less valid than any other opinion. Sorry, no passes for you just because you're an atheist.
You're the one making extraordinary claims. The burden is on you to prove it. I can debunk all of religion quite easily, because it's a load of lies. You go ahead and prove something with quantifiable evidence. I'll wait.
Ohsnap: I'm willing to bet money you tortured insects as a child.
Its sad to see christiains waste their lives on preparing for death. Thanks for your concern though.
hey rex insects dont matter
so you guys think when your dead it's over now that's sad. Guess you don't believe in the wind either you can't see it just the effects. Well I can see the effect's of Christ. What, you think we are just here by accident? Look at the complexity of our anatomy give me a break wake up people.
Evolution and developmental biology explain the complexity of our anatomy quite satisfactorily. However you will never have any evidence objectively demonstrating that there is anything resembling the Christian vision of an afterlife. It's sad that you choose to believe in fairy tales for the sole purpose of placating certain natural fears about death. How pitiful do you have to be to wantonly delude yourself about the realities of life and death? Religion isn't just joke, it's a drug. And it seems to be one that people enjoy taking to the point of addiction. I have no trouble living with the fear of death. It's a fact of our evolutionary heritage that I accept without the need to cover it up with lies about an invisible god and unrealistic afterlife.
Ohsnap, so you are presuming to know the mind of God? You can make His judgements for Him? You are the arbiter of individuals' merit?
Leave it. It's not your call. Only God knows what happens to someone when they die. Don't tell Him what to do.
SB, I find your comment about "placating certain natural fears about death" amusing. I have known a few battlefield medics who served in Vietnam and they all said the same thing. "You can tell the Christians from the atheists by the way they die. The Christians died in peace while the atheists died in agony and fear."
Do you expect atheists to fear retaliation (judgement to those pious types) from a being in which they do not believe? Get off your knees
steveo – how do you make the leap from a complex universe to a particular religious ideology?
@MereEngineer
the atheists died in fear??
the problem with your post is that it is just hearsay, someone's opinion!
atheists die in peace too, and some christians die in fear too. get over your childish arguments!
Americans got tamed by the super-rich and their own greed as people like Mr. Prothero spread weird philosophies.
Super-rich is to Republican party
Republican party is to religious evil
Religious evil is to downfall of Western society
God didn't do this..for people who think or say..oh god did this for punishment for sins!! Jesus already took our sins upon himself on the cross. If you would read Genesis you would find out the earth has been under a curse since Adam gave Satan his dominon by disobedence. People need to find out who God really is before blaming bad stuff like this on em...blame it on Satan!! or atheist..same thing 😉
Yeah... That's not real, you know that, right?
Oh damn, not another one...
They're like zombies. Unthinking and in great numbers.
Cookoo alert !!!
Where's the repellent when you need it?
Satan and atheists are the same thing? Wow....thanks for the tremendous insight
@Ohsnap
adam and eve is a myth. Now, with adam and eve beign untrue, Christ died for nothing and Christianity becomes false.
1. The basis of Christianity: Jesus died on the cross for us so that we may be saved by the grace of god because of original sin committed by adam and eve.
2. Adam and eve cannot be true from the above argument -> this means there is no original sin -> this means that Jesus died for nothing -> this also shows that Jesus is not god (why would a god come to earth to die for a mythical story?? being a god who knows all, shouldn't a god know that the story he died for is a myth?)
3. Combining the logic in steps 1 and 2, the basis of Christianity is shown to be false.
So stop spouting the adam and eve nonsense and realize that ur religion is based on falsehoods.
Secular Jews, repent and stop corrupting Americans. You think Americans can be tamed because they were regularly fed with your trash media and entertainment. Wrong. None of your scheme will come true. Read Revelation. Read Pentateuch like a good Jew and know that Jesus is your Messiah.
Wow, Jew hater too. Your buddy Hitler called, he wants his puritanical hatred back. Read a non-fiction book sometime, it might open your eyes.
Here's some (Atheist) science:
All the stereotypes about Jews are 100% correct.
They control the media
They control money
They dictate foreign policy
Why? Because after 2000 years of being persecuted by absolutely EVERYBODY on Earth, they've adapted to the harsh reality of the world. They are survivors and good on them for persevering when the rest of the world have cut them loose. Why are Jews good with money? Because they've seen everything taken away from them.
Oh I agree. There are just bad people, period. Those Christians who started the Crusades or burned witches or were a part of the Inquisition really sucked. Hard.
Ben, that is a hilariously wonderful summation. Good job.
I think the problem starts surfacing when people attack one another for their beliefs. Which a lot of Christians are doing, a lot of aethiests are doing, a lot of Muslims are doing, a lot of Jews are doing, a lot of "spiritual" people are doing, etc. Everyone seems to just be pitted against one another. In my belief I think everyone has a little piece of the truth with them whether they are a part of Science, Philosophy, Religion, Spirituality etc. I guess the problem is that 99.9% of you people are bias and have completely shut off your minds. Its easy for you to find answers in books, in priests, in scientists in politicians...Taking what these people or things say as gold. We are in this mess because not a whole lot of people can think for themselves. They elect these politicians to not only represent them but to think for them. They listen to the priests and bishops as if they are God himself...I bet 99.9% of the people who claim to be religious don't even know 1/4 of what their "holy books" say. I bet 99.9% of aethiests are only aethiests because they can't stand the dogma the BAD Ones dish out at them. I don't stand the dogma either, its hypocritical and just down right nasty. However I'm not gonna put everyone in the same category on the few that dish it at me. In the Bible Christ was clearly humble. Christ...whether christian, muslim, aetheist, spiritual....is a good example for how humanity should be and has the potential to be. We live in a realm of relativity and we can't afford to be Absolute with so many problems slamming us in the face. Someone needs to admit there is some wrong doing here and ONLY THEN will we be able to fix this problem that is spreading.
Yes, us gnu atheists are terrible. After being suppressed for thousands of years we actually have a forum in which we can challenge the religious on equal footing. Must be a shame to be embarrassed at every turn and not have control over everything that is said and done.
While I totally respect what you have to say and the way you've presented it, I doubt there's any fixing this per se. I'm afraid we're all sadly and ultimately going down the final drop on a roller-coaster to Death... Bwahahahahaha!!
Jimtanker: When you say gnu Atherists, are you referring to the GNU public license?
@Rex
@Rex
Just a play on words with the New Atheists.
Phew! For a minute there I thought I'd have to pray to Linus Torvalds.
LMAO ... may the Linux be with you ...
perrrob: Still is 🙂
Can you just tell me one moment in history that atheist have done wrong and hurt a lot of people, or started a war? One time? If you can't that then that just proves you to be a dramatic liar.....
Benito Mussolini and Chairman Mao. Both atheists, both killed alot of people. I'm with you in belief, but atheists can suck too.
But they didnt do those things in the name of atheism.
That wasn't your question.
Sorry, his question.
Respect Ben, but their Atheism and their atrocities were not directly related. I will freely admit that there have been some pretty terrible Atheists throughout history. But generally, their Atheism played almost no role in their motives.
Big difference, They didn't do it in the NAME of Atheism or to further the faith of atheist, they just happen to be atheist. Big difference. In religion, people started wars and killed in the NAME of their religious beliefs. Name me one war or battle in the name of atheist where people were killed....
They did it because they were aheists. All atrocities in communists' land were done by atheists. Atheists don't regard humans as humans but just dirt.
Americans are naive on atheists since they lack real experiences or knowledge on history.
I thought that Adam was made from the dust of the earth. Isnt that just dirt?
@xenia, I am awarding you the most annoying person award for tonight. You say such stupid things, with no proof and I'm sure some where in you're mind you think you're doing some kind of work for God but aren't true religious people suppose to be tolerant, kind, non argumentative. Please stop...
If this is a non religious person writing comments as a religious person to rattle things up and have some fun....then kudos.: )
Ok crazy lady, sure. Religion is happy-fun sunshine rainbow time. I have no grasp of history? I have posted about some historically provable events that were religious in nature and killed millions. Two for you, which I posted before: The Spanish Inquisition and the Crusades.
The name of Christianity was misused just like other religions'. Atheism – never. When atheists do the worst atrocities on planet, it's all according to their dogmas and slogans. Murderous atheists are faithful ones to atheism. The Christian Church rescued the world and made it civil with their feeding, healing, educating and saving people.
Big statement. Provide evidence.
I'll give you a while so you can go to Wikipedia.
SPOILER ALERT! The Adolf Hitler angle gets debunked in one quick Kevin Bacon.
Geez, and I thought it was going to be boring here tonight.
You are pure entertainment gold. Your mind is amazing in all the wrong ways. I should have been asleep two hours ago, but your crazy-talk is keeping me laughing too hard to fall asleep.
Yes crazy lady, lets hear what these "atrocities" are that were done solely in the name of atheism.
"It's all according to slogans..." Yep, them golden arches been doing bad stuff to my soul for many many years.
Here it is, almost 4:00 in the morning, and I'm having a blast teasing someone who (if it was a perfect world) wouldn't even be allowed to procreate without a basic IQ test (work of the devil, BTW).
Stubbs.... you are a pale ..very pale copy of a true Atheist debater.... If you leave now I won't tell Colin and David Johnson you are stepping on their turf 🙂
I'm sorry, is that some lame-ass religious swipe at me?
I have no idea who the people you mention might be. I'm assuming they're like the Michael Moore of the American Taliban...?
Still spending all that time on your knees, Xenia? I suppose when you get to heaven and on your knees in front of Jesus, it will please him intensely. Don't forget to take breath mints
Xenia, you are what we call a "nut job"
And what I don't understand about Christianity is your symbol of Jesus on the cross. Do you really think that's in good taste? If you believe he is going to come back, do you really believe that he want to look at a picture of him dying, suffering on the cross? It's like someone being shot and then everyone wears a necklace of him being shot. I have no problem of religious belief, but I do have a problem of religions forcing their belief on other people, ex killing gays, burning people, killing people (Christianity & Islam). Also Judaism there is no after life or a mention of the devil. Why did God leave out the most important thing your fighting against or why you're here in his first book? Just one of the many flaws....
The cross is symbolic. Not every faith that believes in JC uses it.
There's nothing cooler than wearing some medieval torture device around your neck.
@Rex
And there were many religions before Xianity that used it as well.
A lot do use it, just because 'some' don't doesn't answer my question. Why use it at all or make it OK? Why do so many religious people never answer a question straight up, always a side argument that deters from the main question. Not this time...answer the question properly....
You know what real bullying was/is? The Crusades. The Spanish Inquisition. The Salem Witch Trials. Child Molesting Priests. Islamic Extremist Terrorists. Just some of the wonderful things brought to you by tolerant, monotheistic religions.
there have always been crazy extremeists, makes me want to say a Hail Mary, and do something good and helpful to counterract their bad effect
God is the creator of nature, and all powerful, so if he wanted to punish man why send such puny storms when he can create ones that could wipe entire continents bare of all living things? Why not just make our sun explode and destroy the solar system?
I will tell you why, because our God is a loving God, as merciful as he is wise. Wrath of nature is part of a balance required for life to exist, not a weapon of retribution.
Your god is a non existant god. Weather is cause by the interaction of natural forces in the Earth's atmosphere and fueled by radiation from the Sun. Nothing more. Dont read too much into it.
(Editor's note)
– First paragraph was well-thought-out and critical.
– Second paragraph shows sign of brain shutting down.
Second paragraph isn't from the brain, it comes from the heart. The heart of a merciful and loving man, humbled by this immense gift of feeling that pales in comparison to its source.
It's great that you get all baked from that. But it just isn't real. And stop trying to convince people that it is. It's a sign of mental illness.
I'm glad you read my reply, Stubbs. I wouldn't dream of trying to convince you to be like me. I would be mentally ill if I had the desire to try.
Must not have loved his cathedral very much since he Fcuked it up with his earthquake. While we are at it how about explaining to me how earthquakes are “required for life to exist”?
Xenia: I KNOW WHO YOU ARE!! You're the crazy woman from the YouTube video that goes postal on the telemarketer... she starts telling him he's all sorts of horrible things, just like what you're telling the rest of us now. I knew it!
Rex, I'm not. Don't live on your imagination. Atheists stalk people and bully them.
I agree. Damn you Atheists with your super-cool legacy of pop culture, science, technology, arts and literature.
I hate the way you Atheists bully people by making them feel shame about every part of their lives that doesn't revolve around hypocritical evil.
Atheists were good at creating trash and trash cultures and polluting the planet. The spritual con-dition of the West parallels the con-dition of our deteriorating planet.
Xenia, believe in evolution? How old is the Earth?
Xenia: If it weren't for Atheists creating the internet, you'd be even more alone than you are right now.
To the person who wrote the article and all the people that commented against God not being the one who shows us through the wind and the rain that He is all powerful, I am praying that you get enlightened and that His son Jesus Christ reveals Himself to you to know Him and accept Him as your Lord and Saviour. Remember, the one and true God gives you the air to breathe, to enhail and exhale and to cause your heart to beat and to have a brain that thinks. Without your doing, you are a live breathing complex machine of a human beings and with all the advances in the science today, the depths of the brain and all that it's capable of doing, is still untapped territory. GBU
The evidence of intelligent design is all around us. I've asked myself many times; why are we the only species that can invent things (albeit very crudely) in our own image, and to our limitless needs and wants?
I agree with you completely!
Or you could grow a brain and accept personal responsibility for your life.
You know, one or the other.
I already have my own Lord and Saviour thank you ... the Flying Spaghetti Monster is the one and only deity.
May His Holy Noodly appendage touch you ... RAMEN !
You keep praying and we'll keep thinking.
He's pretty genuine. Nicer than most celebs. Except Bill Clinton. Secret Service simply cannot keep up with that guy. He is very simply the nicest guy I've ever met.
Maybe a good thing would be to check out the targeting of disastrous events and all available statistics about it. It could (could!) significantly reveal the power and precision of God. The same thing is with all military actions. This is really a poor state of mind. Even the most primitive heathens are recognizing God's work in cases of heavy strikes. On the other hand, such opinion is typical curse of mankind, animals are perfectly aware of their Creator.
W T F ??????????? 😯
Peace...
I found what I just read what you wrote confused the hell out of me, but I agree with you on the animals.
Yeah... I'm sorry but atheist scientists have been doing this for centuries. These 'natural disasters' are the result of seasonal weather patterns and global warming, which has in the last decade produced a great number of weather events to move in a Northerly direction.
You know why the Bible doesn't mention that?
Because it's a book of stories that's been re-written dozens of time by primitive men.
Only Christians do good deeds? Off the top of my head, here are three prominent, non-religious Americans who do lots of good deeds: Warren Buffett, Bill Gates and Lance Armstrong.
@Ben,
Wacky off-topic coincidence! Lance Armstrong flies into my airport a few times a year. He was there yesterday. Nice guy. Always takes a moment to say hello. Likes to meet people, but doesn't like phones/cameras. Very genuine as a person. Subscribes to good magazines and eats a 2000 calorie breakfast.
Complete Atheist. I asked.
@Stubbs
Hey -Stubbs...
" Wacky off-topic coincidence! *Lance Armstrong* flies into my airport a few times a year. He was there yesterday. Nice guy. Always takes a moment to say hello. Likes to meet people, but doesn't like phones/cameras. Very genuine as a person. Subscribes to good magazines and eats a 2000 calorie breakfast.
***Complete Atheist. I asked.*** "
LOL... !!!Hey, I can't blame him... after going what he went through ! I'm sure that this would fly in the face of the current mind-set of the Christians that would say..."Wow... you survived something horrible, it must be God !"
Seems like he's a pretty cool dude, yes...?
Regards,
Peace...
Xenia: Now be a good girl and go take those medication(s), would ya now? Thx.
Rex, I'm old. Listen to your good, moral mother like a good youth.
She can't take her meds. They were created by atheist scientists. Maybe she should just pray the crazy away.
How old, Xenia? Tell us.
Science developed in Christendom alone. Atheists are only good at destroying.
Rex, I won't since I'm planning to come to USA to show Americans how much I love them.
Xenia, you never answered my question.
Xenia: You might want to drop a couple hits of acid and put on some Pink Floyd before getting on the plane. Trust me on that one.
Rex, I don't need to. Mind your own business. Listen to Christians to stay normal.
Atheists are not good. A single moral atheist is not found upon the planet Earth yet; it's harder to find such than even the missing links of fossiles. They are non-existent.
The sad thing is that she exists because we pay attention to her (although she is most likely a 'he' in the real world. Which negates all of the condescending lies 'she' spouts).
Stubbs: I'm with you mate, let's ignore IT.
X is not all that old... 50s - old enough to know not to be such a rigid crank one would think... but, no, not in her case.
Hey Rex, you're my new best friend!
Stu-, I'm a woman. You atheistic men oppress women and children. Sa-va-ges. Only Christians rescued us. Sometimes I made typo mistakes; I don't lie like atheists do.
Pontius Pilate and King Herod were good friends in doing evil...
Xenia, you should Facebook friend me. (Mark Zuckerberg...? Jewish by birth, but complete Atheist).
I guess all of my scientific lies and truth-seeking fibs will never match your magical angry ghost who is omnipotent, yet is so insecure that he demands to be worshipped non-stop.
Stubbs: I recently watched Pink Floyd live in Pompeii. That film is like a religious experience. Of course, I had a little help from my "friends" 😉
What a coincidence ... I watched that film last friday ... amazing music.
perrrob: My favorites in that film were Echoes and Saucerful of Secrets. Great interviews as well and overall a great production.
Can't beat Echoes ... I've been listening to the Meddle album since the 70's.
Good film ... but the imagery (volcano, lava, etc) gets old after a while. Great interviews though.
perrrob: I watched the director's cut, which had this slightly primitive (by today's standards) computer animation. I found it odd that they added that to a film shot in 72.
I listened to the same version (Director's cut) ... primitive CGI indeed ... good thing the music was so great because the imagery sucked by moments.
Atheists are ignorant; they can't refute anything and are only good at mocking truths and facts.
We're also good at science, truth, love, honesty and 'real' faith. Not your evil lies and decpetion.
So, let me ask you this then... which is more important; to recognize your own faults or the faults of others? If you are a genuine follower of the Creator, you will know the answer to that question.
@Stu-, your science and truth is a fiction, your love a lust. You have no honesty or morality. You are not faithful. You need help, atheists. You commit infanticide and promote perversion.
Aw... I was busy killing a baby, and now I have to respond to you. Way to ruin my Atheism.
Xenia: You say we should stop evil? OK... I'm going to do just That. It'll take a few minutes tho'...
So if atheists are so bad please explain Bill Gates. I Christians are so good please explain televangelists
OK, its been close to 2000 years and still that hippie fella has yet to come back. In that time, we've proven the Earth wasn't flat, that we are not the center of the universe, earthquakes are caused by plate tectonics, Evolution did happen and does happen and has been proven by facts, and we've split the atom, etc. etc....
Tell me why I should believe anything written in a book that says women were made from a mans rib??
***Cue the Christian Apologists to try and justify and make sense out of your question.
Peace...
Can't wait for the guy to come back ... I'd like to see the walk on the water trick ...
I'm sure he would get good ratings.
@perrrob
LOL !!! Yeah... it would be good. For me, I think it would the old..."raise the dead" trick. Now 'that' one would probably do it !
Peace...
LOL ... Ah yes ... the good ol' Raise the Dead trick ... a fan favorite for 2 millenia already.
Doesn't get any better than that ...
Xenia, you are an idiot.
LOL ... looks like that lunatic Xenia took a large dose of these magic mushrooms ... can't wait to hear her rant about the burning bush and talking donkeys.
You mean that's a She? Scary, dude.
Hey... Don't laugh at her, she might call you a racist for not automatically knowing that she's a complete moron.
As long as she doesn't send the talking snake after me ... I hate these critters ... LOL
Great. Now you've got me craving apples and ribs. Damn you.
Stubbs: Lol, nice.