wanting to understand

God's goodness difficult to grasp during tragedy
Sept. 7, 2005
by SCOTT RASNIC, guest columnist


As we reflect on the unspeakable devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina, a valid question comes to mind for many of us, including those who dare to call ourselves Christians.

Where was God?

Who can view the wrenching images we see in the comforts of our homes and not ask this question?

We should remind ourselves, though, that questions of evil and suffering are not new.

Theologians and philosophers have struggled with these seemingly unanswerable problems for centuries.

Answers to these problems abound.

Physical suffering is simply part of our fallen condition, some will offer.

Others suggest that such suffering doesn't actually even exist, or exists in order make us better people.

Everyone from St. Augustine to C.S. Lewis has attempted an answer to this most basic of questions.

After years of formal study in theology and philosophy, I've come to one undeniable conclusion.

The answers just don't cut it.

Those of us who have grown up as citizens of the United States have, by and large, been shielded from the horrors that several of our brothers and sisters in the Third World endure on a daily basis. Only when confronted with such an anomaly as Hurricane Katrina do we see the realities of disease, dehydration and displacement that are ever-present for far too many people.

For those antagonistic to the faith, such disasters only confirm their suspicions: If God is supposedly both good and omnipotent as Christians claim, why does such suffering persist? I've been a Christian for most of my life, and I confess that I often find myself on the same side as the skeptics.

Why indeed?

Rather than accept such criticism as the coup de grace in God's demise, I remind myself that Scripture itself is replete with those aware of such suffering, in spite of God's goodness. Indeed, the authors of the Bible did not simply bury their heads in the proverbial sand.

They knew suffering.

Few of them wrote from a position of comfort, yet they clung to their faith.

Even a cursory reading of Scripture reveals that faith and doubt are not strange bedfellows.

Lord I believe; help my unbelief.

Ultimately, ivory tower answers to real world problems will be found lacking.

This lack, however, does not relieve us of the burden to wrestle with the philosophical and theological problem of evil. We have an obligation to use our minds in our struggle for understanding and peace.

We should remember, however, that Scripture itself does not offer a detached, cerebral response to questions of human suffering. The God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and the crucified Christ is not a detached Prime Mover. God suffers both for us and with us.

As believers, we believe and doubt, praise and lament, often in the same breath.

While we are meant to enjoy the goodness of God's creation, we must affirm, finally, that this world is not our true home. Disasters such as Hurricane Katrina function all too well as reminders of this.

Where was God during Hurricane Katrina? Why did and does God allow such suffering?

Honestly, I don't know, and I don't believe anyone who tells me that they do.

My mind tells me that God's goodness doesn't depend upon our changing circumstances, that our subjective experiences do not dictate or alter the objective reality of who God is.

Still, my heart cries out for mercy and justice. So many affected by this disaster are simply the dross of our society, those who couldn't afford to vacate what little they had.

Aren't you the God of the poor, the weak? Aren't these the least of you? Where were you?

God's silence is deafening.

Perhaps we should consider the possibility, though, that during times of unquenchable suffering this silence is God's gift. God loves us enough to listen to our cries, and he does not offer trite, saccharine responses, as do so many of his defenders. For those of us who have endured the ineffable pain of loss, we know that mere words are insufficient.

No platitude can rescue us from the despair of losing a loved one to violence, to cancer, or, in this case, to creation itself. Comfort will come, from loved ones, from Scripture; houses will be rebuilt and families will endure.

God is good, and God does love his children, but in times like this, I admit, it's hard for this child to see that. Hearing people quote Romans 8:28 just isn't enough for me yet.

I do know, however, that God mourns for us and with us. Yes, our suffering is God's suffering. Someday, though, Christ's resurrection will be our resurrection.

For now, that's enough.

Scott Rasnic is a Ph.D. candidate in religion and literature. He also teaches in the English department.