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Why did the hurricane Katrina happen?
Part 3:
Still more reasons
given by religious conservatives
Sponsored link.
 Reasons given for the 2005 tragedy by religious conservatives (Cont'd):
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Bridgett Magee, a resident of Louisiana, told the Jerusalem
Newswire that she saw hurricane Katrina:
"...as a direct 'coming back
on us' [for] what we did to Israel: a home for a home."
Newswire explains that:
"Magee sees the coming catastrophe as something the God of
Israel will allow in judgment upon the United States for its central role in
the expulsion of 10,000 Jews from their homes in the Gaza Strip and northern
Samaria [a.k.a. West Bank]."
She trusted that God will keep her safe;
she believed that Katrina would not kill her. She said:
"I have
asked God to pitch His tent of protection over my home. I believe there are
still things I need to do for Him with my life." 7
| | Chuck Baldwin is a conservative Christian
commentator whose op-ed pieces appear on Covenant News. On SEP-02,
his report implied that God did not intentionally steer Katrina to Louisiana
and Mississippi. Rather, God is "removing his hand of protection"
from the U.S. That is, God is simply allowing storms to wander blindly where
natural forces direct them; he is no longer directing them away from
populated areas. 8 Baldwin cites a number of reasons for God's displeasure:
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The American people and their government have continued their "sinful
ways" even after the 9-11 "wake up call."
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The federal government is "intoxicated with power."
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The American people are "intoxicated with pleasure."
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The churches and their pastors are "intoxicated with prosperity."
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"...no one is calling America to repentance."
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He writes:
"As a result, America has sown to the wind and is now
beginning to reap the whirlwind! Look no further than New Orleans and the
Mississippi Gulf Coast to see an example of what a whirlwind can do. I, too,
tremble for my country!"
The latter reference relates to a famous statement by
Thomas Jefferson.
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Walter Russell is another conservative Protestant commentator
whose writings also appear on Covenant News. 9 He notes that "Katrina"
means "blessed, pure, holy." He suggests that Katrina can be a pure
and holy blessing to followers of Jesus if they:
"...repent and turn to
God and shepherd our nation back to God. And, by the way, if you do not
think that the God of creation brings judgment upon the nations and
chastisement to His people, then you have not read His Word and do not know
Him."
Russell cites a number of reasons why God steered Katrina in order
to devastate Louisiana and Mississippi. He writes:
"Is it really a
coincidence that a city known for depravity was condemned (literally) by
God? That the casinos of another city were moved by the force of a storm
surge?"
He suggests that political leaders:
"...not invite Southern
Decadence, the biggest gay event in the South, which was to happen in New
Orleans on Labor Day weekend (but God obviously shut it down), to come back
to New Orleans (if there is a New Orleans to come back to). Do not rebuild
the casinos in Gulfport. Let us all turn our hearts toward God. What else
needs to happen to our nation before we will listen?"
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David Alan Black interprets the events in Louisiana and
Mississippi primarily as a sign of the approaching end of the world. He wrote:
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"Jesus said, 'When you see these things begin to come to pass, then
look up, for your redemption is drawing near' (Luke 21:28). 'These
things' does not refer to a great spiritual revival upon earth. Rather,
'…signs in the sun and in the moon and in the stars, and upon earth
distress among nations with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring,
men’s hearts failing them for fear…' (Luke 21:25-26). The New Testament
has a lot to say about the future, and it nowhere indicates a glorious
finish to this age. Rather, false doctrine and abating love, earthly
disasters and perilous times await us." 10
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Steve Lefemine of Columbia Christians for Life in
Columbia, SC was startled when he viewed a satellite picture of hurricane
Katrina. He saw an image of an 8-week old fetus imbedded in the weather
pattern. He said: "In my belief, God judged New Orleans for the sin of
shedding innocent blood through abortion." He put a message on his telephone
answering machine:
"Providence punishes national sins by national
calamities. Greater divine judgment is coming upon America unless we repent
of the national sin of abortion." 1
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Muhammad Yousef Mlaifi, an official of the Kuwaiti government,
wrote an article in the Arabic daily newspaper Al-Siyassa with the
headline: "The Terrorist Katrina is One of the Soldiers of Allah." He
wrote:
"It is almost certain that this is a wind of torment and evil that
Allah has sent to this American empire." 1
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Stan Goodenough, a Christian journalist
In Israel, noted the connection between Jewish settlers being forcibly
removed from their homes in the Gaza Strip and Americans being forced out of
their homes in Louisiana and Mississippi.
He wrote in a column for
the Web site Jerusalem Newswire:
"Is this some sort of bizarre coincidence? Not
for those who believe in the God of the Bible....What America is about to
experience is the lifting of God's hand of protection; the implementation of
His judgment on the nation most responsible for endangering the land and
people of Israel." 1
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Chuck Kelley is president of the New
Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, and is one of the hundreds of
thousands of people that Katrina made homeless. He suggests that God
exhibited mercy on the residents of the city by precisely steering the
hurricane to reduce the number of deaths. When interviewed by Baptist Press,
he said:
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"Imagine what would have happened if [New
Orleans] had taken a direct hit. The levee did not break until after the
storm was clear and the winds had died down and the rescue workers were
able to get out. If the levee had given way during the hurricane] untold
thousands of people" [would have died]...It's a terrible tragedy and we
still don't know the scope of it -- but the evidences of God's mercy are
there. We rejoice in the fact that He has got the whole world in His
hands, including the city of New Orleans and [the seminary]....When we
get to the end of this story the last paragraph is going to be a
testimony to the greatness and glory of our God, who is able to do all
things well, and able to provide every need." 2
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Michael Marcavage ia director of Repent America, a Fundamentalist Christian para-church organization
which opposes gay rights and abortion access. He wrote:
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"Although the loss of lives is deeply
saddening, this act of God destroyed a wicked city....New Orleans was a
city that had its doors wide open to the public celebration of sin. From
the devastation may a city full of righteousness emerge...We must help
and pray for those ravaged by this disaster, but let us not forget that
the citizens of New Orleans tolerated and welcomed the wickedness in
their city for so long. May this act of God cause us all to think about
what we tolerate in our city limits, and bring us trembling before the
throne of Almighty God." 3
References used:The following information sources were used to prepare and update the above
essay. The hyperlinks are not necessarily still active today.
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Alan Cooperman, "Where most see a weather system, some see
divine retribution," Washington Post, 2005-SEP-04, at: http://www.washingtonpost.com/
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Jody Brown and Allie Martin, "New Orleans Residents: God's
Mercy Evident in Katrina's Wake" Agape Press, 2005-SEP-02, at: http://headlines.agapepress.org/
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"Hurricane Katrina destroys New Orleans days before 'Southern
Decadence'," Repent America, 2005-AUG-31, at: http://www.repentamerica.com/
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"Pat Robertson's statement regarding terrorist attack," Christian
Broadcasting Network, 2001-SEP-14, at: http://www.cbn.com/
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Manuel Roig-Franzia and Spencer Hsu, "White House shifts blame for Katrina response. Administration, embattled FEMA chief
point to state, local officials," The Washington Post, 2005-SEP-04, at: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/
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Deborah Caldwell, "Did God
Send the Hurricane? This natural disaster is bringing together a perfect storm
of environmentalist and religious doomsday sayers," Beliefnet, circa
2005-SEP-03, at: http://www.beliefnet.com/
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"Katrina," Hungry Heart Ministries, at: http://www.hungryheartsministries.com/
- http://www.hungryheartsministries.com/id160.html
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"Qeren," the royalist movement of Israel, has its home page at: http://www.qeren.net/
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"Bishop Spong Q&A on Pat Robertson," Weekly newsletter for
2005-NOV-16. Signup at: http://secure.agoramedia.com/ We have edited his answer in order to
prune it below the 500 word limit which is allowed under copyright law.
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Copyright © 2005 to 2014 by Ontario Consultants on Religious
Tolerance
Originally posted: 2005-SEP-04
Latest update: 2014-MAR-14
Author: B.A. Robinson 
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