More on the question, "Where was God in the tsunami?"

More commentators have been weighing in on the question of God's presence/involvement or lack thereof in the recent tsunami disaster in south Asia. Columnist William Safire draws on the biblical character of Job to arrive at a threefold conclusion in his January 11, 2005 column "Where was God in this? It's an old question."

(1) Victims of this cataclysm in no way "deserved" a fate inflicted by the Leviathanic force of nature.
(2) Questioning God's inscrutable ways has its exemplar in the Bible and need not undermine faith.
(3) Humanity's obligation to ameliorate injustice on earth is being expressed in a surge of generosity that refutes Voltaire's cynicism.

Eastern Orthodox theologian David B. Hart also has an excellent response on the Wall Street Journal Opinion page for December 31, 2004 entitled "Tremors of Doubt: What kind of God would allow a deadly tsunami?".

This article on the Archbishop of Canterbury Dr. Rowan Williams' comments about the disaster gives a glimpse into his struggle with the question.