The tsunami and God …

THE RESPONSE TO the tsunami tragedy by at least one high profile media evangelist perplexed by God's silence did not surprise me. But when Miroslav Volf struggled with the question, "Where was God?" ("I protest, therefore I believe," Feb. 8) I found myself questioning my own orthodoxy. I was perplexed by his perplexity.

I was and I am distressed greatly by what happened around the rim of the Indian Ocean. The devastation felt by individuals, families, households, whole cities, the physical destruction as well. But my faith in God was not shaken by that tragedy. Should it have been?

After watching the high drama of incomprehensible forces revealed in Hubble telescope pictures, I am more than a little puzzled as to why our earth has such life-nourishing immunity from the harshness and violence so common outside the bounds of our atmosphere. But I accept that reality with thanksgiving. If deep sea earthquakes and tsunamis cause me to question God, then I simply haven't understood the flip side of the freedom I enjoy. Questioning God and finding God affirmed in my very questioning, as Volf suggests, seems to me to be another unacceptable answer offered to Job.

Hal W. LeMert Jr.

University of Missouri,

Columbia, Mo.

Miroslav Volf recounts a discussion over dinner about the awful tsunami disaster in Asia. He was led to protest his interlocutor's claim about the impotence of God, since he believes God to be omnipotent. But an omnipotent God, especially a loving one, who would not use the divine power to prevent such tragedies as the tsunami is unacceptable and unbelievable. However, Volf's other description of a God who suffers with and helps the victims is both believable and acceptable. We cannot have it both ways.

Cliff Harrison

Frederick, Md.

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