My fellow blogger Cenk Uygur wants to know where was God when Cho went on that rampage. Yes, that's right. It was Cho's rampage. So I don't thnk God gets the blame. Uygur wants to implicate God indirectly. Surely God could have stopped it, right? Then why didn't he?
This is a deep question about God's hiddenness in the world. Why doesn't God make himself manifest, especially when there is tragedy to be averted? Here's one possible reason. Imagine if there was divine intervention to prevent Cho from doing what he did. Leave aside the issue of what happens to human free will. Just focus on the consequences. Cho would have been--let us say by miraculous intrusion--disarmed, the shootings would have been prevented, and life would go on.
In short, life would proceed as if God had not intervened in the first place. So God in this view becomes a kind of cosmic errand boy, who is supposed to do our chores and clean up our messes and we then wish him a very good day and return to our everyday lives. But perhaps God's purpose in the world (I am only thinking aloud here) is to draw his creatures to him. And you have to admit that tragedies like this one at Virginia Tech help to do that!
Once again, it's absurd to blame God for what happened. Blame guns, blame Virginia Tech's security system, most of all blame Cho. But not Allah or Brahma or Jesus. Even so, it's not unreasonable to suppose that there's a providential purpose behind history, and if human horrors show us our dependence on God's love and restorative powers, that's not such a bad thing, is it?
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3. No comment on your using human tragedy to slander atheists, Dinesh?
Brian Westley at 9:09PM on Apr 19th 2007
4. Wow, so God needed to torture a young man's mind for years and to kill 32 or 33 people to bring us closer to him? He couldn't just email us or send flowers?
My Goodness what a stupid being YOUR God is, Dinesh.
R Greene at 9:47PM on Apr 19th 2007
5. I love the way warped minds work. It is written, Answer not a fool according to his folly lest he thinks that you're like him. Answer a fool according to his folly lest he be wise in his own conciets. And again, the fool has said in his heart there is no God, so for those who missed it, happy April Fools Day!
dalosophy at 10:11PM on Apr 19th 2007
6. This massacre was part of God's plan to bring us closer to him? These people had to die to teach us a Bible lesson? God doesn't sound very pro-life. And you're sounding demented, Dinesh. Demented, and sort of evil, when you think about it, because whether you realize it or not you're actually suggesting that God wanted these people to die. To draw us closer to Him. It's part of a "providential purpose behind history." Thanks God, for keeping your eye on the big picture! Message received, loud and clear!
sal at 10:23PM on Apr 19th 2007
7.
I find your assertions about God very odd. When something good happens, it is his divine intervention through a miracle. When something bad happens, it is not his responsibility to deal with the everyday facets of human existance. Why does he pick and choose when we are all his children? He chose to take my father from me, yet it was a miracle that he saved the girl scout lost in the woods for 4 days from dying. Where do you get this logic from, exactly?
Peter at 10:32PM on Apr 19th 2007
8. God did you say where was god??? just keep sending your money to your local parish so your parish priest can continue to live like a king. Where is God when a homeless man finds shelter in the rain on the church steps and your priest calls the police to have him removed? Grow up and get a clue. The actions of that punk were just that, he was a punk, a coward , just another kid that had no life because he was an asshole,who finally got his 15 min. of fame...........
martin at 10:53PM on Apr 19th 2007
9. Blame guns? I find it hard to blame inanimate objects for crimes. Blame the shooter, because HE pulled the trigger. American Society is becoming more and more of a 'blame someone else' society anymore; when personal responsibility leaves us, our country will fall.
Death of Reason at 10:57PM on Apr 19th 2007
10. Dinesh,
I appreciate your thoughts, and I understand what you're saying. Humans make choices. God doesn't control us like we're puppets. Children are molested, people are murdered, hearts are filled with hatred; and God is grieved at how we treat each other. He does let us choose, though, how we will live out our lives here on earth. Many of our choices make others suffer.
What gives me the strength to keep going when evil surrounds me is knowing He is perfectly just. He sees it all--the ones suffering and those who oppress them--and one day He WILL hold all of us responsible for our choices. He WILL hold Cho responsible for taking all these precious lives.
And I don't want to think about the things I've done that He'll hold ME responsible for. But the God whose name is "I AM" (Attention atheists--He calls Himself that!) is merciful beyond comprehension, even in His perfect justice. To those that seek Him, He is found by them, and He sees them as blameless if they cling to His Word.
I don't think God wanted Cho to murder these dear ones so people would know Him; rather, it's a natural progression: Cho made a horrible choice. Either we turn to God in our pain, or we turn away from Him. (Dinesh, I think this is what you were saying, too.)
It's these awful times that are unfortunately the times when our hearts cry out the most for a Savior, a Helper, a Hero, a Comforter...and we begin to learn of Him.
He's my Hope; I know He'll make this right one day, and I pray that He will sustain the families and friends of the murdered ones during this grievous time. And may He have mercy on Cho's soul.
Cathy at 12:05AM on Apr 20th 2007
11. If there is a God, why did he write such an inane book? He rested on the 7th day? What? What does that even mean?
Sadaqat at 1:08AM on Apr 20th 2007
12. Keep reading!
Cathy at 1:16AM on Apr 20th 2007
13. "But perhaps God's purpose in the world (I am only thinking aloud here) is to draw his creatures to him. And you have to admit that tragedies like this one at Virginia Tech help to do that!"
Well, let's all put on our party hats and stop being sad!
Wow.
Just...
wow.
andy at 1:17AM on Apr 20th 2007
14. Dinesh gave us something to think about and he made good points. Don't insult him for entertaining a different thought. Read it, think about and decide for yourself. He's not telling you to think like he does; he just saying "what if". All of you have your opinions and your beliefs.
Think about "Free Will". God gave us "Free Will". So don't fear how He will judge you for the things you've done in your life. That's the church's way to control you through fear. Don't ever fear God. He will never judge us and forgives all-everything. His love for us is so profound. There is nothing he will not forgive. That also doesn't mean you should go out and be evil. Nothing good comes from that. Not for you or those who suffer because of evil acts. God wants for us the highest, most grand experience of who we could be in this life. In the life, the "Eternal Life" he gave us- the other awesome gift from God. So think about "Free Will" and "Eternal Life". As horrible and act as Cho committed upon his fellow students he did and does not have the power to end their life. They live. They just live in a different way. Not Cho, not anyone can take away what God has given us.
JO at 1:42AM on Apr 20th 2007
15. Wow..there are some really narrow minded people commenting about Dinesh's offer to explain Why God is "hiding". I would hide to if I wasnt wanted. Tey take prayer out of schools and then when dissaster occurs everyone wants to know where their savior is! God is here to ASSIST us in making better decisions. Stop playing the blame game.
ANGIE at 8:03AM on Apr 20th 2007