God and naural disaster

I do not believe God has any direct role in natural events.  The universe has been created and set into motion and there is little if anything the Divine can do or is willing to do to prevent the calamities and blessings the natural world has to offer.  The planet we live on is still cooling, still going through its natural evolutionary process.  When earthquakes strike, perhaps bringing with them tsunami waves or hurricanes wreak havoc and destruction it is just the nature of the universe.

I understand why ancient peoples had to look outside this world to understand what was happening; I can even sympathize with them.  The forces of nature are awe inspiring in their power and these people desired…no, they needed to be able to understand and explain the catastrophic effects they witnessed.  But, we now know what causes tornados, hurricanes, tsunamis, earthquakes and more.  They are just part of the geological and meteorological conditions of our world, no more no less.

When I hear reports of divine judgment resulting in dome natural disaster wielded like a divine weapon I am appalled. It always seems to be a fanatical fundamentalist Christian, Muslim or Jew that makes these ignorant and hateful claims.   It makes me ashamed to be a “child of the book”. I don’t think anyone is to blame, but if anyone is, it is all of us.  Humanity may well have done this to itself through global warming and climate change.