38% of Americans believe tsunami was sent by God

Lysander · 26 Mar 2011 at 11:14

http://www.publicreligion.org/research/?id=519

More than a third, that's a pretty large chunk. I'd have thought that even in a country as backward-thinking as America they'd have more sense. Obviously not.

29% believe it was a punishment for the sins of the nation. Well, America better have a bloody massive one coming its way soon then.

[TW]Fox · 26 Mar 2011 at 11:15

To be fair if you a religious person its hardly suprising you'd beleive that extreme weather events are part of gods will.

Squark · 26 Mar 2011 at 11:17

It always saddens me when people attribute horrible things like that to God

meghatronic · 26 Mar 2011 at 11:19

When it comes to America, nothing surprises me.

They think they're the freest, best nation on Earth. In reality they are anything but.

SideWinder · 26 Mar 2011 at 11:20

Squark said:
It always saddens me when people attribute horrible things like that to God

It shouldn't bother you that much. Each to their own. If people are happier if they believe in a religion, why try and change that?

dannyjo22 · 26 Mar 2011 at 11:21

[TW]Fox;18758732 said:
To be fair if you a religious person its hardly suprising you'd beleive that extreme weather events are part of gods will.

Exactly I don't see any issue really.

Squark said:
It always saddens me when people attribute horrible things like that to God

As above, why should he take credit for only the good stuff

I also don't ever see any evidence that Americans are more backward than us. We like to have this pompous attitude that we are better than them. You can find just as many clips of idiots in this country that would make them look good.

d_brennen · 26 Mar 2011 at 11:21

In the headlines today: 38% of Americans are idiots shocker

V4NT0M · 26 Mar 2011 at 11:22

Americans in being religious shocker!

Lysander · 26 Mar 2011 at 11:24

Squark said:
It always saddens me when people attribute horrible things like that to God

Being a religious person yourself, what do you think of it? Do you not think of it as sent by God?

Deific · 26 Mar 2011 at 11:25

SideWinder said:
It shouldn't bother you that much. Each to their own. If people are happier if they believe in a religion, why try and change that?

...because it seems slightly sick that the divine being they choose to believe in, and who supposedly spreads love etc. etc. they also attribute to simply choosing to kill thousands of people. It's almost like they get off in some way, thinking that their god has killed thousands of others and chosen not to kill them, and so fool themselves into believing that they are a much better person than those that died, and have a greater connection with god or that their god has a greater love for them.

To me, it borders on sadism.

One figure on that chart, is that 40% believe natural disasters are God testing peoples faith - is that really a god you want to worship?

At least there are some sane Americans:

'Only about 1-in-5 (18%) Americans say seeing innocent people suffer sometimes causes them to have doubts about God.'

mattyprice4004 · 26 Mar 2011 at 11:29

Lysander said:
Being a religious person yourself, what do you think of it? Do you not think of it as sent by God?

No, because God doesn't exist?

Deadbeat · 26 Mar 2011 at 11:31

mattyprice4004 said:
No, because God doesn't exist?

The question wasn't directed at you.

Derek W · 26 Mar 2011 at 11:33

d_brennen said:
In the headlines today: 38% of Americans are idiots shocker

I got a two day ban for saying something similar..... :rolleyes:

Morba · 26 Mar 2011 at 11:35

[TW]Fox;18758732 said:
To be fair if you a religious person its hardly suprising you'd beleive that extreme weather events are part of gods will.

This tbh.

PapaLazaru · 26 Mar 2011 at 11:37

mattyprice4004 · 26 Mar 2011 at 11:37

Deadbeat said:
The question wasn't directed at you.

It's a discussion forum, and I was discussing. :rolleyes:

Squark · 26 Mar 2011 at 11:40

Lysander said:
Being a religious person yourself, what do you think of it? Do you not think of it as sent by God?

Absolutely not, it's not how God operates, it's not in line with his character.
A tragic result of a broken world, not some act of judgement or vengeance, or even an answer to prayer.

[TW]Fox · 26 Mar 2011 at 11:41

Morba said:
This tbh.

Absolutely. I dont see why this is shocking or suprising. Nobody said anything when the people attributed, say, the floods in Pakistan to the will of god they?

It's what religious people do - they beleive god controls everything, therefore if something happened, it was his will.

This is not news, it's been this way for 10k years.

So why are the Americans 'stupid' but the other religions not?

Lysander · 26 Mar 2011 at 11:41

Squark said:
Absolutely not, it's not how God operates.
A tragic result of a broken world, not some act of judgement or vengeance.

Very refreshing. I follow the Hindu faith myself and I think similarly, nothing to do with divine retribution or vengeance.

[TW]Fox;18758901 said:
So why are the Americans 'stupid' but the other religions not?

No-one used the word 'stupid' in this thread. There's a difference between backward thinking and stupidity.

Deific · 26 Mar 2011 at 11:43

PapaLazaru said:

You know whats even more sick about that video? That she made another one in which she said she was trolling to purposely **** people off. I don't know if she just decided that her personal details being posted across the internet and thousands of death threats was too much, so chose to pretend it was a 'joke' in hope it would save her ass, but either way shes a damn *****

38% of Americans believe tsunami was sent by God

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