ARE WARS, DISEASES AND NATURAL DISASTERS JUDGMENTS OF GOD? - October 31, 1987

From the Wichita Eagle-Beacon, October 31, 1987

ARE WARS, DISEASES AND NATURAL DISASTERS JUDGMENTS OF GOD? 

My response: 

     Some streams of Jewish tradition have portrayed God as a judge who rewards the righteous and punishes the wicked. Many people believed that there is a divine purpose behind wars, diseases, natural disasters and the suffering and death that result. Still, rabbinic tradition stated that God knows the path each person will take, but we control our actions. Therefore, human beings choose to wage war and bear the full responsibility for the tragic consequences that follow. 

   While insurance companies call natural disasters "acts of God," we can view earthquakes, tornadoes and diseases as acts of nature. Rabbi Harold Kushner has said that there are no judgments, only consequences of nature and human action. God does not let things happen or cause everything that occurs. We can discover true acts of God in the courage of people to rebuild their lives after facing disease or disaster and in the rush of human assistance to the victims. God is the source of strength that helps people overcome adversity and go on living with faith and hope.