What Do Tragedies Like This Mean for Us?

[gavinmccallister]

August 1, 2007


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At about 6 PM tonight the bridge of Interstate 35W over the Mississippi River in Minneapolis collapsed. I am writing this about three hours after the bridge fell. The bridge is located within sight of Bethlehem Baptist Church. Most of us who minister at the church cross this bridge several times a week. At this point I don’t know if any staff was on the bridge. Desiring God offices are about a mile from the bridge.

Want to read more? Click on the link below

Putting My Daughter to Bed Two Hours After the Bridge Collapsed :: Desiring God

[Exile]

What if there is no "meaning" or "purpose" behind tragedies? For example, the Minneapolis bridge collapse was likely due to structural /engineering defects. Natural and manmade disasters occur daily, either through randomness, or human intent an/or negligence. There's nothing supernatural about it.

This reality doesn't make these events any more or less heartbreaking, but maybe the best way to deal with these calamities is to learn what went wrong and try to prevent similar events elsewhere.

[GRITSinMS]

I am not sure what this post has to do with a personal finance forum, unless I guess you consider not just the human tragedy, but there is definitely going to be current and long term costs involved.

Unfortunately, I know about both, as I am a hurricane Katrina survivor Having lived in hurricane country all my life, I know really there are not answers - just like there are none for 9/11. Humankind was given "freewill", the will to choose, which in turn contributes to some tragedies. As to the why, if you are Chrisitian, a study of the bible will tell you that God will put us through many trials and tribulations in this life to test our faith and prepare us for an eternity with Him.

Were it not for those faithful Christians who gave SO much to us in the aftermath of hurricane Katrina, we would have really been living in hell on earth. There really are great people in this world.

[sweeps]

I'm not an expert in the bible, but where does God say that he will put us through trials and tribulations? I thought after the great flood he said something to effect of "I will never do this again."

[GRITSinMS]

Nor am I an expert of the bible. The verse you are referring to is from Genesis 9:11 and what it says is literal - that there will never again be a FLOOD to destroy the earth.

The whole book of Job is about going through trials and faith and reward. 1 Peter 1:6-7 says:
In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith . . . may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

Matthew 5:1-12 called "the Beatitudes" is the location of the classic - blessed are the meek..., etc., including "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Hope today's bible lesson helps!

[Exile]

As a Katrina survivor, GRITSinMS, you above all posters should know that the casualties were not only the result of the storm, but of human failure as well. Maintenance of the levees had been seriously neglected beforehand by the federal and state government (see Majority Whip : James E. Clyburn : Democrats Prepare Briefing For President On His Trip To Gulf Coast : ), and the missteps by FEMA afterwards, the head of which was appointed by our born-again President himself on the basis of the former's sole qualifications as a horse rancher.

As for donations to Katrina victims, if you think that only Christians contributed, please know that Jewish organizations also gave millions of dollars (see UJC Allocates Additional Funding to Hurricane Katrina Victims) . The State of Israel also sent donations, as did (gasp) Humanist, atheist organizations and other secular groups (see IHS :: HNN :: Atheists, humanists to send relief to hurricane Katrina victims)

But all that is besides the point. My contention in my OP that there was nothing supernatural about the Mpls. Bridge collapse holds true for Katrina as well.

Let's face it. There is no more proof for the existence of God than there is for that of Zeus or Woden, let alone some punishing deity who "tests" humankind. If you're a lifelong resident of hurricane country, GritsinMS, surely you must understand or at least be aware of the fact that hurricanes arise from natural forces, and have a scientific explanation as do earthquakes, volcanoes et al. These phenomena have been around for millions of years, long before humans evolved, and we and our man-made structures are no match for them. That is where the casualties come from, not from some punitive "big daddy" in the sky.

The current and long term costs to which you refer, GRITSinMS, are only increased when we waste our time, efforts, and resources on religion instead of putting them to better use in addressing such problems as hunger and poverty, as well as providing disaster relief and prevention to the extent possible, such as by repairing and replacing deteriorating infrastructure, and by holding to account those "leaders" whose appointment of incompetent cronies only intensify human misery resulting from catastrophes such as Katrina.