Ross Mackechnie, a 9/11 survivor, claimed: “In less than two hours Aquinas’ proofs of God were blasted, seared, chocked with arid smoke and snuffed out forever along with more than 3000 lives now reduced to powder in the rubble of Ground Zero.”
Many Americans agreed with the sentiment of Ross. They simply could not believe what they saw on that day and found it impossible to reconcile the events alongside their Christian concept of God.
On the other hand, others were able to see God working very actively. Dave Ahl wrote this:
http://www.swapmeetdave.com/United/Where.htm
Would 9/11 fit with Augustine's or Irenaeus' theodicy? Was it simply an absence of good in the hearts of the terrorists or was it an opportunity for people to show just how good, loving, kind and generous they could be?
I visited St Paul's Chapel when I visited New York in 2011. It's an amazing place, right next to Ground Zero that survived completely from the nearby disaster.
It's full of stories from survivors, rescuers and people around the world who sent their love to NY over the days, weeks and months post-9/11. It's a very special place.
As Bruce Springsteen sings in this song, which became an anthem of survival for NY:
"With these hands,
I pray Lord...
I pray Lord...
Come on, rise up"
9/11 was absolutely devastating but I don't think it can be said that God 'allowed it to happen'. God gave mankind free will and it is up to us what we do with that free will. The people who carried out the terrorist attacks abused the free will they were given. Yes, God is omniscient and so would have known what was going to happen but at the same time, the human race needs to learn from their mistakes.
ReplyDeleteI had never thought about it that way.People like the person who wrote about where God was in 9/11 really fare inspirational being able to see good even in the most deverstaing situations .
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