# "Thanks God!" - "Why God?"

[republic15]

I was reading the news about the Haitian earthquake. One woman and her daugther survived with minor injuries when their badly-built house collapsed. She was praising "Thank God for the blessing and miracle that I survived!" But her neighbor's house also collapsed which killed all five of his children and he cried out "There is NO God! Why God?" How contradictory!

And the Haitians are predominately Catholics and some have bunches of kids from 8 to 10 kids. Maybe they are following the Catholic teaching of not using contraception? Some mothers can't afford to support the kids and sell them into slavery. So why does this Church's teaching cause so much misery?

[Athanasius]

It's not the Catholic churches position to sell children into slavery, so what's the question you're meaning to ask?

[Ryan R]

Hi republic15,

I should point out that the rules of this board stated that the teachings of the Catholic Church are not the same as those of the faith reflected on this forum. With that in mind, the answers you receive here would not necessarily be in defence of anything held by the Catholic Church.

The short answer to your question, though, is that the Bible says "Be fruitful and multiply" and that is interpreted to mean that you should not put a barrier on the ability to do so.

[The Mighty Sword]

"Thanks God!"

Ephesians 5:20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;


"Why God?"

Matthew 27:46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

It is human nature to cry out because of great tragedy.

" Maybe they are following the Catholic teaching of not using contraception?"

You used the word maybe, meaning in not knowing. having large families in third world countries is common and has nothing to do with a religion.

[republic15]

Can you explain the Haitian earthquake?

The Catholic Church and some Christian churchs telll people not to use contraception and thus they have 8 to 10 children. And in Haiti, these parents can't even afford to support 8 to 10 children so it's not a wise teaching.

[BroRog]

I don't see these as contradictory. I see them as honest expressions of gratitude and grief. Those who cry out "There is no God! Why God?" in the face of the death of children are not teaching a theology class. The person who said this may very well believe in God and have a strong faith, but at the moment when children die, emotions can run strong as the pain cuts to the bone. We just don't know what this person really believes. All we can do is sympathize and if given the chance, empathize with the grieved.

[Firefighter]

The number of children are more related to financial status than it is religious status. Poorer people have more children as a whole.

[Ryan R]

Can you explain the Haitian earthquake?

The Catholic Church and some Christian churchs telll people not to use contraception and thus they have 8 to 10 children. And in Haiti, these parents can't even afford to support 8 to 10 children so it's not a wise teaching.

Sorry republic15, but I think I'm missing something. You're asking for an exp;aination of the Hatian earthquake, but then you ask quesitons about the Catholic Church, contraception and children. I don't see the transition.

[republic15]

Sorry republic15, but I think I'm missing something. You're asking for an exp;aination of the Hatian earthquake, but then you ask quesitons about the Catholic Church, contraception and children. I don't see the transition.

I have a few different questions. Can you give explain the Haitian earthquake? Did God caused that?

And what's this Bible forum view on using contraception? The Catholic and some Christian churches should teach that it's ok to use contraception and only have enough kids that you can support and take care of. Dirt, poor Haitian people shouldn't be having 8 to 10 kids - that's very irresponsible and not fair for the kids.

[Ryan R]

I have a few different questions. Can you give explain the Haitian earthquake? Did God caused that?

Actually, we (people) caused it at orginal sin, introducing corruption and curse to paradise, now we reap the rewards of that:
"He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous" (Matt 5:45).

And what's this Bible forum view on using contraception?

I don't think it has a specific position, at least not that I've noticed. There's no where in the Bible where contraception is forbidden, but God loves fertility. It was the first commandment to be fruitful and multiply (Gen. 1:28), the first commandment again after the flood (Gen. 9:1), and we are told children are a blessing in Psalm 127.

[republic15]

Actually, we (people) caused it at orginal sin, introducing corruption and curse to paradise, now we reap the rewards of that:
"He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous" (Matt 5:45).

God must have some part in causing the earthquake since HE is the one that created earthquakes in the first place. What's God doing when 100,000 people are crushed to death by cement blocks?

[Athanasius]

God must have some part in causing the earthquake since HE is the one that created earthquakes in the first place. What's God doing when 100,000 people are crushed to death by cement blocks?

I think the reason God really doesn't answer the question "why?" (there are not a lot of answers given to the question "Why God?" in Scripture) is because upon hearing the reason why, we proceed to argue. Or we ask why because we want to accuse and confront. Now, that's not to say that events shouldn't be examined, even examined from a moral perspective. However, I think a lot of the time we wouldn't be able to comprehend the why even if we were told. Hence "faith". But I do know one thing; when disaster hit Haiti, God was with the people there.

I don't think any of us could answer the 'why' for you. What (hopefully) you might realize is that through everything, we have faith in God to do good things, even in the devastating conditions of Haiti (before, during and after). We aren't exactly the blind faith sort of people, either.

[republic15]

I think the reason God really doesn't answer the question "why?" (there are not a lot of answers given to the question "Why God?" in Scripture) is because upon hearing the reason why, we proceed to argue. Or we ask why because we want to accuse and confront. Now, that's not to say that events shouldn't be examined, even examined from a moral perspective. However, I think a lot of the time we wouldn't be able to comprehend the why even if we were told. Hence "faith". But I do know one thing; when disaster hit Haiti, God was with the people there.
I don't think any of us could answer the 'why' for you. What (hopefully) you might realize is that through everything, we have faith in God to do good things, even in the devastating conditions of Haiti (before, during and after). We aren't exactly the blind faith sort of people, either.

We all here at the forum will never understand how to personally build a nuclear bomb or a space shuttle, BUT it can be done by humans! Humans can figure out some of God's hardest creations and sciences so I think we can try to figure out God's reasonings on natural disasters and social problems. Here I will list all the possibilities why God allow concrete blocks to fall onto thousands of babies' heads and 150,000 others in Haiti. Join me in writing down all the reasonings.

1) God allow earthquakes so other humans can show compassion to help the needies.
2) We are being punished for Adam's and Eve's sins.
3) God is sadistic and like a good laugh at people suffering like a kid killing hundreds of tiny ants.
4) God doesn't care.
5) Haiti is being punished for their sins.
6) God want people to have more prayers toward him during crisis.
7) God want people to focus on Heaven and want to show this life is very short and futile.
8) God want people to build more earthquake-proof housings and buildings.

I will add more possible reasonings when I think of more.

[Athanasius]

We all here at the forum will never understand how to personally build a nuclear bomb or a space shuttle, BUT it can be done by humans! Humans can figure out some of God's hardest creations and sciences so I think we can try to figure out God's reasonings on natural disasters and social problems. Here I will list all the possibilities why God allow concrete blocks to fall onto thousands of babies' heads and 150,000 others in Haiti. Join me in writing down all the reasonings.

1) God allow earthquakes so other humans can show compassion to help the needies.
2) We are being punished for Adam's and Eve's sins.
3) God is sadistic and like a good laugh at people suffering like a kid killing hundreds of tiny ants.
4) God doesn't care.
5) Haiti is being punished for their sins.
6) God want people to have more prayers toward him during crisis.
7) God want people to focus on Heaven and want to show this life is very short and futile.
8) God want people to build more earthquake-proof housings and buildings.

I will add more possible reasonings when I think of more.

If you're serious about an answer, it's found near the end of the book of Job. But like any answer on the question of suffering, you probably won't like it.

[Jeffinator]

If you're serious about an answer, it's found near the end of the book of Job. But like any answer on the question of suffering, you probably won't like it.

Agreed, some things need to be done because they need to be done. Not always because we want them done.