Explanation of hurricanes has limits
Although we know a great deal about hurricanes, there still is debate over what causes them. Even when we predict them and estimate their power, we can be certain only in hindsight. Hurricanes seem to come in bunches approximately every 15 to 17 years, but the stronger, more numerous ones come approximately every seven to nine years. There is general agreement among specialists that the rise and power of hurricanes is affected by the slightest variation in climate, water temperature and atmospheric moisture. The one thing that is certain is hurricanes will be stronger over water than on land.
People of different religions have different views over the roles of God, nature, and human interference in the production and power of hurricanes. There are differences of view even among advocates of the same religions. It does seem the height of conceit, however, for anyone to claim to know the specific role God played in a particular hurricane. For example, to say that God (whatever we mean by the name) never uses acts of nature for specific reasons, implies that God has set nature adrift, totally independent of God’s will or control. That belief is called deism and it always has had its advocates, becoming prominent in this country among some of the nation’s founders, such as Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin. It is with us still, by perhaps an even larger number of people. The view opposite deism holds that everything happens because of God’s will. We heard much of this during the activity of Hurricane Irma.
Each of these opposing views has its obvious limitations. At the same time, however, devout Christians, Jews, Muslims, or persons of any religion, have the dilemma of believing that God does, from time to time, act in the world in various ways, but at other times leaves the world to follow its own natural laws. In fact, we cannot know which events are or are not God’s work. The more appropriate question is how adherents of any religion can help those of other religions, or of no religion at all, when they are overcome by tragedy. I simply do not believe the old adage that there are no atheists in foxholes. I suspect, rather, that in a foxhole, soldiers look out for each other without regard to a specific religion. Times of tragedy and devastation are times to follow our own religion’s teachings, acting not only for those who share those teachings, but for all who are hit. Moreover, if we look out for each other in foxholes or devastations, why not do so throughout life?
The Book of Genesis tells of humankind having been created not to control or exploit the Creation for personal or corporate purposes, but to care for it. God became aware, however, that human beings are as likely to devastate the Creation as to protect it. For purposes known only to God, consequently, God may use occasional droughts, storms or other events of nature that sometimes may be both beautiful and destructive. Our dilemma is not knowing which events God causes or does not cause. Every natural disaster, therefore, is a test for those caught up in it and for those able to help those caught up in it — a test of our willingness to help and of our humility that allows others to help us. Disasters, that is, are tests for all of us.
Gene Davenport is former Professor Emeritus of Religion at Lambuth University. Readers can send e-mail to him at email@example.com.