Our holiday's have been interupted by news of one of the world's worst disasters in recent history. Even though the death toll of the recent earthquate and tsunami are continuing to rise the BBC makes it clear that this is far from the worlds worst catastrophe. That epitaph probably goes to the flood of 1887 when about 900,000 people died when China's Yellow River burst its banks. Of course, these days we are all so much more connected to these disasters with internet news, blogs and 24 Hour a day TV News coverage. With the tourist season at its height in many destinations it is a wonder more Western tourists didn't die- although we are nowhere near knowing the final number of casualties yet.

What is our response to all this?

I am sure that a Malaysian blogger was not alone in wondering Is God listening to our prayers???

For many such events are proof that there cannot be a loving all powerful God- Templeton the agnostic who used to rival Billy Graham as an evangelical preacher said his loss of faith occurred when viewing a picture of a starving African desperate for rain. Templeton explains "it�s impossible for me � impossible � to believe that there is any thing, or person, or being that could be described as a loving God who could allow what happens in our world daily." (thanks to Herbansprawl for the link)

Templeton remained enamoured with Jesus believing him to be the greatest person who ever lived. At the same time, he felt Jesus hadn't wrestled with the hardest question- how could a loving God allow suffering in the world?

There is an issue to be faced here but it is one with problems whichever side you come down on. If there is no God at all or if instead he is the God of the neo-liberals- no longer sovereign, all-knowing and all powerful then all is meaningless. Faith no longer becomes a comfort.

It is striking me that in these times of uncertainty, to contend for and examine the old faith once more in the face of the doubters is crucial.

I will not provide clear answers in todays post, but suffice it to say that I believe a hint of the key to this is found in another bloggers post who accuses us all of being selfish spoilt brats who are often not greatful for the comforts we take for granted whilst others are literally dying.

You see given the state of a world that could not even bother to invest in an early warning system to ensure that some of the worlds most poor people would not be swept away in this appalling manner, the wonder is not that God allows so much pain, but rather that he prevents so much.