iStock_000019088221MediumNo one likes natural disasters. They can devastate entire areas and cause human suffering and death, leaving people to wonder why God would allow such calamities. If God created the earth for the benefit of humanity, why is it sometimes inhospitable to its inhabitants?

While a world without natural disasters might seem ideal, such events prove necessary for life on Earth to be possible. Without tectonic activity, the source of seismic activity, our planet would “possess no continents, no mountains, no stable water cycle, and nothing like the diversity and abundance of life we enjoy.” Plate tectonics helps to maintain the right levels of carbon dioxide in the earth’s atmosphere, without which life would be driven to extinction. If it weren’t for the just-right amount of plate tectonics, our planet would resemble our inhospitable-to-life neighbors, Mercury, Mars, and Venus.

While natural disasters (or what philosophers categorize as natural evil) are part of God’s creation, humanity often finds a way to frustrate an optimized feature of nature. That is, the impact of natural evil can be magnified by moral evil.

Biochemist Fazale Rana writes that, according to a recent study (and as one might expect), “more deaths occur in poverty-stricken parts of the world than in wealthy, developed countries.” However, the death tolls in some countries are higher (or lower) than expected based on the country’s income. This disparity, Fuz explains, correlates to the level of corruption—typically, with a ranking official benefitting financially—in those countries. In other words, “quake-related deaths stem from, in large measure, moral failings and could rightly be understood as an example of moral evil, not natural evil.”

Speaking of moral evil, it seems inevitable that as soon as a disaster strikes, some well-known alleged Christian spokesperson will assert that it’s God’s judgment on the morally evil. While God did use Noah’s Flood to judge the wicked, not every natural disaster is tantamount to God’s judgment. In Luke 13, the disciples ask Jesus about the persecution of the Galileans. Jesus answers,

Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? I tell you, no!…Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? I tell you, no!

In other words, stuff happens. Towers fall, volcanoes erupt, and the earth shakes. Though we might not appreciate or understand natural disasters, when they occur we can respond with confidence that they are part of God’s providential care for the creation. Should moral evil have played a factor in the damage, God is aware and concerned and will bring about a reckoning. Ultimately, he demonstrates compassion—often through other people—for those who have suffered loss as a result.

–Sandra

For more on natural disasters, see the following resources.

Articles

“Natural Evil or Moral Evil,” by Fazale Rana

“Designed to Shake,” by Hugh Ross

“Volcanism and Plate Tectonics on Earthlike Planets,” by Hugh Ross

“Why Do People Die in Earthquakes? Blame Corrupt Governments, Not God,” by Fazale Rana

“What If There Were No Hurricanes,” by David Rogstad

“Another Benefit for Life in Earthquakes,” by David Rogstad

“Grappling with Natural Evil,” by Fazale Rana

“Good God, Cruel World,” by Krista Bontrager

Podcasts

“Japan Tsunami and Natural Evil” (Straight Thinking podcast)

“How Could a Good God Allow Earthquakes?“ (Science News Flash podcast)

“Natural Disasters Also Demonstrate Fine-Tuning” (Science News Flash podcast)

Webpage

RTB 101 – Natural Disasters

Video

“Natural Disasters,” with Jeff Zweerink and Kenneth Samples