Is it reasonable to thank God for protection from some natural harm if He is responsible for causing the harm ?

Haoxuan Li

doi:10.63313/LLCS.9002

Authors

Haoxuan Li The Experimental High School Attached to Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.63313/LLCS.9002

Keywords:

Divine responsibility, natural disasters, suffering, the-odicy, human accountability, faith, gratitude

Abstract

Throughout history, various cultures have invoked divine intervention to seek protection from natural disasters, while simultaneously attributing these calamities to divine will. This paradox raises the question: is it reasonable to thank God for protection from natural harm if He is responsible for causing it? This paper examines the theological, philo-sophical, and moral implications of divine responsibility for natural disasters. By analyzing scriptural evidence and philosophical arguments, this study explores whether it is justifiable to express gratitude to God for protection from natural harm. The findings indicate that human responsibility, the role of suffering, and the limitations of human under-standing of divine actions challenge the assumption that God should be blamed for natural disasters. Instead, the paper argues that thanking God in such situations has both theo-logical and psychological significance.

References

[1] Aquinas, S. T. (2014). The Summa Theologica: Complete Edition. Catholic Way Publishing.

[2] Augustine, A. (2015). The City of God. Xist Publishing.

[3] Carr, D. M. (2014). Holy Resilience: The Bible’s Traumatic Origins. Yale University Press.

[4] Davis, E. L. (2001). Society and the Supernatural in Song China. University of Hawaii Press.

[5] Hughes, J. D. (2012). Responses to Natural Disasters in the Greek and Roman World. Forces of Nature and Cultural Responses, 111-137.

[6] Holy Bible: New International Version. (2011). Biblica.

[7] Kendall, R. T. (2011). Thanking God. Hachette UK.

[8] Lazarus, R. S., & Folkman, S. (1984). Stress, Appraisal, and Coping. Springer Publishing.

[9] Mudakkar, S. R., Zaman, K., Khan, M. M., & Ahmad, M. (2013). Energy for Economic Growth, Industrialization, and Environment. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 25, 580-595.

[10] Mohamed, I. S. (2007). An Overview on Disasters. Disaster Prevention and Management, 16(5), 687-703.

[11] Oestigaard, T. (2018). The Religious Nile: Water, Ritual, and Society Since Ancient Egypt. Bloomsbury Publishing.

[12] Rehman, A. U., Malik, A. H., & Isa, A. H. B. (2023). Financial Inclusion and Industrialization on Environmental Sustainability. Social Responsibility Journal, 19(5), 906-929.