Explain this to me like I'm 5 years old

[NMMNG]

If hurricanes are God's punishment for prostitution, gays, abortions and other depravity, why is it that they tend to demolish the "Bible-Belt" states? Why not Nevada, home of Las Vegas (aka "Sin City"), and Reno, home of legal prostitution? Why not Massachussetts or Vermont, home of liberalism and gay marriage/civil unions? What about Maryland, New York or California which have some of the most liberal abortion laws in the nation? One would think that a vengeful God would take these states out first, but he hasn't. What gives?:shrug:

[beam me up scottie]

1. Probably for the same reason

survivors are supposed to thank god for their good fortune.
I'm still waiting for that answer.

Arwalden started a thread about this in R&T, "Why Does God Hate New Orleans? I think it was.

It was locked.

[NMMNG]

6. If you ever get the answer to that question be sure and tell me

I've been wondering the same thing. :shrug:

[toddaa]

2. God can't get the hurricanes to hit Nevada

Kinda like he couldn't beat the Canaanites because they had iron chariots, which he hadn't planned for. God's a lot like GW. Pretends to be all powerful, clearing brush and such, but when faced with the daunting task of summoning a hurricane in the desert, he's pretty much useless.

[onager]

3. Pfft! He couldn't even keep burglars out of his own house...

According to the Old Testament "prophecies," heathens who entered the Holy Of Holies in the great Temple at Jerusalem would be smoted immediately.

But heathen conquerors strolled into the H.O.H. umpteen times and walked off with the priests' gold and other holy loot. Not one single smoting ever occurred.

The Romans did it TWICE, under Pompey The Great in 63 BCE and Titus in 70 CE. Pompey ordered the Temple left alone. Titus wasn't in the mood. Among other things, he had watched a large detachment of Roman soldiers burn to death on a Temple portico after a Jewish double-cross.

Oh wait! There was that one Certified Miracle, when the Assyrians besieged Jerusalem in 700 BCE. According to Ye Olde Ancient Prophets, God sent a plague that decimated the Assyrian army.

Or maybe not. Modern historians suspect the Assyrians might have just left, thanks to a massive payoff.

[Phentex]

4. If you were five and in my house.....

you'd understand that this is about the weather and god has nothing to do with the weather.

It's very interesting to me that my kids don't ever use god to explain anything. They have never had a reason to do so.

I thought my mom would choke when she told my son, "I'm so glad God gave you your grandfather's pretty blue eyes." And my other son said, "Uh, Nan, that's called genetics."

:headbang:

[NMMNG]

5. LOL

It's so hysterical when kids explain reality to adults, who should know better.

[onager]

7. That was funny.

I saw another example of it today, in the new HBO documentary about Breslan--the Russian elementary school besieged by Chechen terrorists, where hundreds of children and adults were killed or wounded.

A couple of kids had God explanations. "God is never mean to people." (!!!) One girl said "I wondered why God didn't protect us. I decided that he couldn't, so He took the best children with Him."

One boy about 7 or 8, who saw his father killed right in front of his eyes, just declared: "I don't believe in God."

This is an excellent, if absolutely heart-wrenching, documentary.

[NMMNG]

8. Isn't it always the way

People who believe in God, then get crapped on by him tend to rationalize it away. I haven't been "good" enough, I didn't tithe enough, it was just his time, it was part of God's plan or the all-encompassing God works in mysterious ways. :eyes:

What a crock.

[onager]

9. A crock indeed! That's why...

...believers always stumble on the "omnipotent" clause in their contract. And a few others.

I've brought omnipotence up in several threads dealing with Katrina.

Either they ignore you, or they post some tedious, rambling "philosophical" screed explaining why we non-believers just don't understand what "all-powerful" REALLY means.

And in the spirit of your thread title, they usually explain this stuff like they're talking to a 5-yr-old, and not a very smart one, either.

Baloney. Words like "omnipotent," "benevolent," "all-loving" and such have very clear meanings. They don't need to be explained at length by obscure theological references dating back to Origen and Tertullian.

The believers just end up sounding like used-car salesmen who are hoping you don't notice that oil stain on the ground.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

10. Ahem.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=105x3960251

[onager]

11. Comment added.

Thanks!