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December 14th, 2012
06:17 PM ET
Massacre of children leaves many asking, 'Where’s God?'By Dan Gilgoff and Eric Marrapodi, CNN Belief Blog Co-Editors (CNN) – As he waited with parents who feared that their kids were among the 20 children killed at a Connecticut elementary school on Friday, Rabbi Shaul Praver said the main thing he could do for parents was to merely be present. “It’s a terrible thing, families waiting to find out if their children made it out alive,” said Praver, who leads a synagogue in Newtown, Connecticut, and was among nine clergy gathered with parents at a firehouse near Sandy Hook Elementary School, where the shooting occurred. “They’re going to need a lot of help,” Praver said of those who are close to the dead. From the first moments after Friday’s massacre, which also left six adults and the shooter dead, religious leaders were among the first people to whom worried and grieving families turned for help. Over the weekend, countless more Americans will look to clergy as they struggle to process a tragedy in which so many of the victims were children. “Every single person who is watching the news today is asking ‘Where is God when this happens?’” says Max Lucado, a prominent Christian pastor and author based in San Antonio. Follow the CNN Belief Blog on Twitter Lucado says that pastors everywhere will be scrapping their scheduled Sunday sermons to address the massacre. “You have to address it - you have to turn everything you had planned upside down on Friday because that’s where people’s hearts are,” Lucado says. “The challenge here is to avoid the extremes – those who say there are easy answers and those who say there are no answers.” Indeed, many religious leaders on Friday stressed that the important thing is for clergy to support those who are suffering, not to rush into theological questions. A University of Connecticut professor on Friday hung up the phone when asked to discuss religious responses to suffering, saying, “This is an immense tragedy, and you want an academic speculating on the problem of evil?” “There is no good answer at that time that anyone can hear and comprehend and take in,” said Ian T. Douglas, the bishop for the Episcopal diocese of Connecticut, referring to counseling family and friends of the dead. “They’re crying out from a place of deep pain.” Praver, the rabbi, will join a memorial service Friday night at Newtown’s St. Rose of Lima Roman Catholic Church. “We’re going to have a moment of prayer for the victims,” Praver said of the service. “We cannot let it crush our spirit and we march on.” Some national religious groups are also sending staff to Newtown, with 10 chaplains dispatched from the North Carolina-based Billy Graham Evangelistic Association on Friday. Public officials including President Obama, meanwhile, turned to the Bible in responding to the shooting. “In the words of Scripture, 'heal the brokenhearted and bind up their wounds,' ” Obama said from the White House, citing the book of Psalms. On Twitter, #PrayForNewton became a trending topic. CNN’s Belief Blog: The faith angles behind the biggest stories Some religious leaders argue that modern American life insulates much of the nation from the kind of senseless death and suffering that plagues much of the world every day. “Most of the world, for most of the world’s history, has known tragedy and trauma in abundance,” wrote Rob Brendle, a Colorado pastor, in a commentary for CNN’s Belief Blog after this summer’s deadly shooting in Aurora, Colorado, which left 12 dead. “You don’t get nearly the same consternation in Burundi or Burma, because suffering is normal to there,” wrote Brendle, who pastored congregants after a deadly shooting at his church five years ago. “For us, though, God has become anesthetist-in-chief. To believe in him is to be excused from bad things.” My Take: This is where God was in Aurora Lucado said there was an eerie irony for the Connecticut tragedy coming just before Christmas, noting the Bible says that Jesus Christ’s birth was followed by an order from King Herod to slay boys under 2 in the Roman city of Bethlehem. “The Christmas story is that Jesus was born into a dark and impoverished world,” Lucado says. “His survival was surrounded by violence. The real Christmas story was pretty rough.” Many religious leaders framed Friday’s shooting as evidence for evil in the world and for human free will in the face of a sovereign God. “The Bible tells us the human heart is ‘wicked’ and ‘who can know it?’” the Rev. Franklin Graham said in a statement about the massacre. “My heart aches for the victims, their families and the entire community.” Many religious leaders also said that such tragedies are a good time for lay people to express doubts about God – or anger. “This is a time to go deep and pray,” says Lucado. “If you have a problem with God, shake a fist or two at him. If he’s God, he’s going to answer. And if he’s in control, he’ll find a way to let you know. soundoff (9,195 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 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 Next » |
  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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I can't help thinking of all those innocent kids died in American wars.
err stats even
Im schmarter than everyone smchmarter schmarter schmarter. I amaze me much stuffwords garble.
I ama so inteliolectial iam betters than youzies iam a legend inmy ownmiind.
Wht's that, Dr. Robert? Time for my thorazine?
I schmell burnt toast!
God is love!
God is weeping with us. He had to watch his own SON be murdered and beaten to a pulp on that cross so that US sinners could know how much HE really loves us! Jesus' last words were, "Abba Father, FORGIVE THEM, THEY KNOW NOT WHAT THEY DO." I don't understand how ppl don't believe in God. What is your purpose on this Earth then? To die and that's it? God never promised this life would be easy, but HE did say, "Take heart, for I have overcome this world. SATAN is ruling this evil place right now. He has been since Adam and Eve. If I'm wrong and there is no God, then I die thinking I'm going to Heaven. If you're wrong, and there God IS real....well I would hate to be you. GOD BLESS THE USA!!!
If God brings us good and bad, then is he as much responsible for the birth of a new child to the death of one? From the reunion of a long lost sibling, to the separation of a loved one? Should we thank God for what is good and we blame him for what is bad?
Yeah, right – he watched is son being murdered. knowing that his "son" was just a tiny bit of himself that he sent to earth in human form, knowing that after being "killed" that little bit of himself would be resurrected and then reunited with himself. So boo hoo and cry me a river. The "Sacrifice of Jesus" is a ludicrous story.
wonder whos idea it was to take GOD out of our schools! maybe we need to think about that at times like this. My prayers go out to each family that has been affected by such a senceless act.
amen
Public schools are not responsible for the failings of parents, if parents really care about instilling moral values in their children.
yeah cause the more religious a nation is the less violent it is..... (just ignore the crime states of most of europe)
only idiots believe in god.
Your prayers are an insult. How about really doing something about problems for a change.
Christians get so miffed when their omnipotent , omniscient and omnipresent god does a no show
God is weeping with us. He had to watch his own SON be murdered and beaten to a pulp on that cross so that US sinners could know how much HE really loves us! Jesus' last words were, "Abba Father, FORGIVE THEM, THEY KNOW NOT WHAT THEY DO." I don't understand how ppl don't believe in God. What is your purpose on this Earth then? To die and that's it? God never promised this life would be easy, but HE did say, "Take heart, for I have overcome this world. SATAN is ruling this evil place right now. He has been since Adam and Eve. If I'm wrong and there is no God, then I die thinking I'm going to Heaven. If you're wrong, and there God IS real....well I would hate to be you. GOD BLESS THE USA!!!
Yeah, right – he watched is son being murdered. knowing that his "son" was just a tiny bit of himself that he sent to earth in human form, knowing that after being "killed" that little bit of himself would be resurrected and then reunited with himself. So boo hoo and cry me a river. The "Sacrifice of Jesus" is a ludicrous story.
And why would your god bless any given country? Why the USA? Does your god play favorites?
If anyone need an explanation of what happened go deep in the story and ask yourselves why such person is like that go ask him .. Don't blame Me Nor God for your foolishness and such Person like that going to kill with his free will incent children...hmm...its not God is weak to do something.. but His nfinite Goodness to keep on all of you with all what you are in the inside of rebellious no penance and your nakedness of thought in your hearts before you act on them
ahh the video is there
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=tu57B1v0SzI
educate yourself!!!!!!
Cartoons are my preferred way of learning.
I got my amazing understanding of physics from Roadrunner.
praise youself because by the end of the 21st century we will have reversed the aging process and we will be immune to all disease and death so basically when it comes down to It were all just thinking up ideas of how we'd like to see ourselves once we become god. WE ARE THE GODS
When we promote sin as our national anthem, when we protect the right to kill life, then agonize when someone takes life, then we ask where is God? God is giving this nation up to our depraved minds to let our hearts be darkened. We spit in the face of God, and then ask where He is when we need Him?
We deserve nothing from Him, but He gives, despite your retaliations, despite your hatred of Him, but there is appointed a day for man to die, then to be judged
God's not allowed in schools, remember? It's too offensive for all the atheists. So don't ask where's God, or how could he let this happen.
Are you saying GOD is PREJUDICE and refuse to help ATHEISTS?
Which bible are you reading? The Jewish bible or christian bible?
All you guys are coming here with the exact same propaganda talking point. Do you get this from some talk show or something? I mean, there is just no way all of you would jump to the same absurd conclusion about how slaughters occur because god is not in scool.
Where did you all get the same brainwashing? I mean, your conclusion is insane – the shooter was from a church going Catholic family, so he undoubtedly got a LOT of gor indoctrination. And why would god not help those children?
You guys need to think instead of being brainless parrots repeating your propaganda.
*prejudiced
Christians love to say their god is omnipotent and omniscient so they get bent out of shape when he demonstrates himself to be totally impotent or else completely non-existent
God has general mercies, and is kind, gives general grace to all, even those who hate him
Romans 9
22 [a]What if God, although willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction? 23 And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy, which He prepared beforehand for glory,
That's funny, God makes no promise to take away the consequences of what He calls sin – God is not obliged to us in any way, He chooses. Our little arguments are nothing to Him, you add nothing or take away nothing from Him. You can actively try to deny Him, but you will account to Him and He is your judge not me. I only found mercy in Christ, repent now before you meet the flaming eyes of Jesus
PJ,
"Romans 9"
What makes you think that Paul of Tarsus knew anything special?
PJ's god – yet another god unworthy of existance or respect.
Good Grief! Talk about evil....just read some of these demonic comments about God and His believers... Man!! Satan is a liar... and his 'tools' as well. Praise be to Jehovah!!
And Jeebus. Don't forget to praise Jeebus.
(repost)
@Compton Sike,
"You still don't have a clue about the logical and scientifically verifiable proof of the non-existence of any god whatsoever."
Wow! you have "scientifically verifiable proof" that god does not exist?
Please, enlighten me. I would love to see it. And, please, cite your sources too if possible, as I'm sure I'll need to read more to fully understand it.
God does not exist you have a squirrel brain if you think so. However there is a higher power ill give you credit for that. Religion and connection to a higher power should be interpersonal though trying to be open about your connection with God is what has led to thousands of years of genocide and war that's why it seems like theres no God because you've all worshiped him like an idol!!!
@evan,
Thanks for your input.
I don't think god exists, although I wouldn't claim to know it nor would I claim to be able to "prove" it.
If you have any evidence that god(s) exist(s), please present it.
Likewise, if you have any evidence that god(s) do(es)n't exist, please present it as well.
Prove to me that there isn't a giant, but completely undetectable, inflatable squid wearing a bowler hat floating in space between here and the moon that is responsible controlling the weather on earth? Sorry, but dumb argument! There is not one shred of empirical evidence to suggest that there is a God and boatloads of reasons for people to have fabricated the idea. No number of intelligent people saying that they believe there must be a God (think Einstein, etc.) will make that assertion anything more than a statement of the particular individual's faith.
Any sort of test will do, ME ll. Put any possibility of supernatural events on the table and test for those specific events.
There are none.
Everything is straightforward dimensional physics with ZERO indication or even merest suggestion of anything "supernatural" or "magic" in any way, shape or form.
What possible nonsense are YOU relying upon to support your "maybe one exists" position? Come on, don't be shy. Let's hear what ignorance you are basing your "anything's possible" stance on and maybe we can find out where you have left the path of epistemological analysis. Mmmkay?
@Steve,
I agree.
As I said, I don't think god(s) exist(s). My OP was simply saying that, while reasonable to think God does not exist, claiming "scientific proof" is ridiculous.
1) Science doesn't deal in "proof"
2) It is really hard to "prove" the non-existence of something.
@Compton Sike,
You stated that you have "scientifically verifiable proof". Please present it.
Failure of any test 'for' the supernatural is only a failure of that test, not a positive result for the opposite. However, I never claimed any evidence, let alone "proof", in the affirmative.
You made the claim. You have the burden to show it.
You have failed to provide any legitimacy to your arguments. To ascribe supernatural or magic properties to any event you must have a reason to do so, yet no one has ever gone beyond ignorance and delusion as a basis for insisting on there being anything supernatural.
The proof is neuroscience. Everything clearly indicates purely physical causes to every claim of anything supernatural.
Mass/energy equivalence as well as conservation of energy are also proof that there is nothing supernatural.
Physics is the proof. All of dimensional physics shows no place for anything supernatural to even FIT.
Dude, it's time to face the hard truth of what I am saying here. Ignorance is by definition not the sort of thing you can ever use to support a logical conclusion. If you aren't into physics, maybe that is your problem.
But I like some of your other arguments. I just don't like seeing intelligent people holding stupid positions.
Ignorance is no way to go through life, son.
@Compton Sike,
"You have failed to provide any legitimacy to your arguments."
What argument? You claimed you have "proof", I just asked what it was.
"Everything clearly indicates purely physical causes to every claim of anything supernatural."
Neuroscience is an excellent reason to not believe in God, I agree. However, it is not "proof", but inductive evidence, since it is not exhaustive. "Complete", I think is the term in logic, if I remember correctly.
"Mass/energy equivalence as well as conservation of energy are also proof that there is nothing supernatural."
And quantum fluctuations fit in this how? Similarly, where does Hawking hypothesize the universe came from?
"Physics is the proof. All of dimensional physics shows no place for anything supernatural to even FIT."
Sorry, but this is just silly. You are claiming that in a hypothesized multi-dimensional multiverse that there is no room or "place" for a suposed non-physical enti.ty?
Seriously?
"Ignorance is by definition not the sort of thing you can ever use to support a logical conclusion. If you aren't into physics, maybe that is your problem.
But I like some of your other arguments. I just don't like seeing intelligent people holding stupid positions.
Ignorance is no way to go through life, son."
Listen, "son". You are the one making unsupportable claims, not I.
You might research the concept of "proof" and how it's not part of science.
p.s. I'm not sure if this is what you think I'm attempting, but I am not making an argument from ignorance. That would entail me saying that something is true because we don't understand it. I'm not claiming anything is true.
You continue to act as if your level of ignorance is the same as mine and use that as a basis to dismiss my evidence.
Well that isn't going to win you any arguments with me. You don't get to make up your own facts regarding neuroscience and physics so I guess I will let you go on your ignorant way and I will go my way.
Like I said, perhaps you are not into physics....and, yes, I know plenty about quantum indeterminacy and it is not a supernatural event or even an indication of one. Quantum foam is where it's at, my man. Hawking just needs to move past his bias about gravity being a force. Dimensional energy is the basis for everything in this closed continuum and physics is quite a solid refutation to any of your ignorant nonsense.
Sorry, but I'm going to leave now. I've been putting off playing BlackOpsll (it's a double XP weekend, you see) just to kick you in the shins with solid facts because that is the sort of thing I enjoy when I come here.
If you want to continue this, it will have to be some other day. I'll catch up with you and we'll have another good go-around, k?
Have a great weekend. I really do enjoy many of your other arguments with the fundies so don't think I'm trying to totally diss you here. Just kick you in the shins as a friend. That's all. – kthxbye.
@Compton Sike,
I will admit that I am unfamiliar with Dimensional Energy (of this type? http://dimensionalenergyrealm.com/ ) and I will admit that I, too, consider gravity a force. Call me odd.
Not sure I really want the type of "knowledge" that you claim to posses.
Good luck your games (and BlackOpsII, as well).
I AM God... is simply self realization. I am, he is, she is, we are... self realized... Thank You... for being that and knowing who you are on the deeper levels of reality...
While I agree with your statement, it is a perspective that will never gain acceptance with the majority of the American populace, because you have to acknowledge that the shooter in this case is also God.
God is in the same place as Santa, Godzilla, the Hulk and the Wizard of Oz
Bob, I am glad you didn't include Bigfoot and ET's, because I have been in contact with et's... and soon you will be too...
God is dead. God remains dead. And we have killed him. Yet his shadow still looms. How shall we comfort ourselves, the murderers of all murderers? What was holiest and mightiest of all that the world has yet owned has bled to death under our knives: who will wipe this blood off us? What water is there for us to clean ourselves? What festivals of atonement, what sacred games shall we have to invent? Is not the greatness of this deed too great for us? Must we ourselves not become gods simply to appear worthy of it?
—Nietzsche, The Gay Science, Section 125, tr. Walter Kaufmann
yeah and we all know what happened to this guy
yeah and we all know what happened to this guy – I don't know how anyone can see the nation of Israel still existing and say "God's dead" that nation shouldn't even exist, how many times has someone tried to eradicate them? do some homework unless your a regular lazy american
Tiredtraveler, God is not dead, but alive and well, as "it" manifests itself in all realities across space and time. As an all pervasive consciousness, God creates infinite realities on all dimensions in physical and non physical polarity conscious multiverses of worlds. Terra earth is just one of the many, where et's seeded us here, in order for us evolve ourselves as a species through hardship and pain for the ultimate reward, leading us to a fully conscious society based on the highest levels of love....
Ok i am going to explain you.
Scientist always thought of mater as being made of tiny little balls called particles. One day some scientist, decided to run an experiment, they called it the double slit experiment. In this experiment scientist shut photons to a dark area or box where there were two slits facing the photon shutter, inside the box there was some sort of scream recording where did the photon end up. So scientist shut a number of photon and then they open the box to analyzed where the photons where hitting. And guess what, the scientist were shock for what they found, there was a interference pattern on the screen. hey the scientist said to themselves, how is this possible, photons are tiny little balls of matter, how could that have formed a interference pattern? something only waves can do?
So scientist shut photons which are supposed to be tiny bit of matter and they found on the screen a interference pattern, only waves could produce that result . So they thought then photon that is matter must be a ave, could that be possible? then they decided to install a measuring device, something similar to a camera to see though which slit the photons where going through, and what scientist could not believe their eyes when they decided to see the result, the photons formed only two bands of light on the screen, so something only ball of mater can do. So when the scientist did not observe the photons behaved like waves but when they observed the photons behaved like tiny ball of ball of matter or particles.
based on the result then Einstein said his famous phrase, that he prefer to think the moon is there even if he doesn't look at it!
If you dont understand then rent the movie "what the bleep do you know" it may help you!
Elena – you really are quite dense, aren't you? How old are you? 8?
I have no idea what this guy is trying to say but I hope someone will pay for him to take a English, excuse me, an English course
Mike it doesn't matter what level of English I have, what matters is that you are a red neck and I am intellectually superior to you!
elena is traditionally a Greek or Italian name, but I'm betting that she's German!
Define Redneck
Mike, DEFINE REDNECK PERFECT? IS AN AMERICAN WHOSE LEVEL OF UNDERSTANDING ONLY ALLOWS TO WORK THE LAND UNDER THE BURNING SUN AND WHOSE NECK IS RED FORM SO MUCH HIT! LOL BUT TRUE
SO YEAH! IGNORANT PEASANTS WHOSE NECK IS RED FROM THE BURNING SUN!
@elena,
'What the bleep do we know' was mostly, if not entirely, pseudo-science, i.e. not real science.
"Scientists who have reviewed What the Bleep Do We Know!? have described distinct assertions made in the film as pseudoscience.[11][12] Lisa Randall refers to the film as "the bane of scientists".[13]"
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/What_the_Bleep_Do_We_Know!%3F, while wiki is not a primary source you can follow the citation for more info.)
ME II, was the double slit experiment pseudoscience?
@elena,
Obviously not. However, the inference from the observer effect (a real thing) to some metaphysical consciousness is pseudo-science.
Okay Elena,
Now a simple question your way? Define GOD?
God doesn't exist.
Neither does Santa Clause.
Time to grow up people.
so then why are you on here? why do you mourn these children, someone bumped up natural selection like they did in Columbine
Maybe if we didn't preach Romans 1 in this country, where it says God will give us up, because of we don't want the knowledge of Him
PJ
Please stop making excuses for your absentee Sky Daddy.
He doesn't exist.
Grow up.
so then why do you bother putting any value on these students?
You assume your statements have value? why? Your chemicals in your brain must be off
Starting with the Abrahamics:
origin: http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F20E1EFE35540C7A8CDDAA0894DA404482 NY Times review and important enough to reiterate.
New Torah For Modern Minds
“Abraham, the Jewish patriarch, probably never existed. Nor did Moses. (prob•a•bly
Adverb: Almost certainly; as far as one knows or can tell).
The entire Exodus story as recounted in the Bible probably never occurred. The same is true of the tumbling of the walls of Jericho. And David, far from being the fearless king who built Jerusalem into a mighty capital, was more likely a provincial leader whose reputation was later magnified to provide a rallying point for a fledgling nation.
Such startling propositions – the product of findings by archaeologists digging in Israel and its environs over the last 25 years – have gained wide acceptance among non-Orthodox rabbis. But there has been no attempt to disseminate these ideas or to discuss them with the laity – until now.
The United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, which represents the 1.5 million Conservative Jews in the United States, has just issued a new Torah and commentary, the first for Conservatives in more than 60 years. Called "Etz Hayim" ("Tree of Life" in Hebrew), it offers an interpretation that incorporates the latest findings from archaeology, philology, anthropology and the study of ancient cultures. To the editors who worked on the book, it represents one of the boldest efforts ever to introduce into the religious mainstream a view of the Bible as a human rather than divine doc-ument.
The notion that the Bible is not literally true "is more or less settled and understood among most Conservative rabbis," observed David Wolpe, a rabbi at Sinai Temple in Los Angeles and a contributor to "Etz Hayim." But some congregants, he said, "may not like the stark airing of it." Last Passover, in a sermon to 2,200 congregants at his synagogue, Rabbi Wolpe frankly said that "virtually every modern archaeologist" agrees "that the way the Bible describes the Exodus is not the way that it happened, if it happened at all." The rabbi offered what he called a "LITANY OF DISILLUSION”' about the narrative, including contradictions, improbabilities, chronological lapses and the absence of corroborating evidence. In fact, he said, archaeologists digging in the Sinai have "found no trace of the tribes of Israel – not one shard of pottery."
What does REAL GOD looks like?
It might look like this. He lives in ISRAEL. TEMPLE OF MOUNT.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUm6rC0o7Po
I heard that Jesus was hung like THIS [**arms spread wide**]
I have a burning bush too. I must be god.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=tu57B1v0SzI
can you post that video for me pls!
"'Where’s God?'"
In the imaginations of men who do not think!
Really? that simple huh? ...oxymoron...but ok.........