4thought.tv

This makes me feel angry. It reinforced what I already believed.

I don't understand the speaker's point of view at all.

This is irrelevant, yes faith is a nice way of thinking in a few religions but honestly there was no plan for what happened in Japan it was just the earths natural movements and unfortunately Japan was caught up in it. And if there is a god what good possible reason is there for killing thousands of people and subjecting millions to poverty? none, this belief is just a way of blocking out the real problem. what japan needs to do is recover economically and become even better than they were before.

Faith in God is without doubt incredibly important in giving people the strength, not only in their darkest moments, but in their day to day life. However, I do not think religion is necessary to do good deeds, or to overcome adversity. I believe people need faith and religion, more than God needs people.

I actually find it distressing that people can justify god's inaction, which leads to so much unnecessary suffering and misery. To suggest the disaster was part of some divine plan... the logic is so grotesque and twisted all it does is reveal the extent of the pathetic desperation humans have to believe in a higher being, against every shred of evidence and reason. Even if I knew god existed, I would still not worship him (well perhaps I'd fake it, but out of fear and not love, because of the threat of eternal pain), because he is so seemingly cruel in his reign and so silent in justifying it.

It is beautiful to see that human nature enables us to find comfort in an idea.

The Japanese are a pragmatic people - different surveys put the numbers claiming no personal religion between 70 and 85%. If anything, this tragedy will increase those numbers. From the Japanese Constitution - Separation of Religion and State: The state is prohibited from granting privileges or political authority to a religion, or conducting religious education (Article 20). We could do with that here. On a more personal note - well done to Ray Cousins and collegues for your efforts in what must have been horrible task and, of course, for the job you do here.

I don't understand the speaker's point of view at all.

I find it amazing that someone can believe that an event that killed thousands and caused misery to millions is part of a god's plan. What sort of god would that be? Even if it was the intent of such a god to test the people affected and to provide adversity over which they might triumph, that is not a benign and merciful act. And how utterly condescending and patronising of Ray Cousins to suggest that as they died, the victims of this horrible act of god actually saw the sense in it and were in some way reconciled - and Ray clearly had the christian god in mind, for a population that is predominantly non-christian. I suppose one has to admit the right of misguided thinkers (no, that's not thinking, it's delusion) such as Ray to have their say, but I for one would find it hard to defend that right to the death! Let's hope others this week provide an antidote to such piffle.

This makes me feel confused and bemused. I don't understand the speaker's point of view at all.

God is not a man. God does not control life or death. Birth and death are part of nature.

This makes me feel humbled.

Well done to Ray and other brave men who went out there and did their best in such a terrible situation. I am not sure, however, that it was God's plan to have caused so many deaths.

yes they are somewhere with no more pain, its called being dead, its the end, there is nothing more. the reason you don't know why god did this is simple, because he doesn't exist. good on you for the work you do, but don't ruin it with ignorant beliefs.

This makes me feel bemused. I don't understand the speaker's point of view at all.

I applaud Ray for the work he did in Japan, and work he obviously does elsewhere. Nothing can take that away from him. However, I fundamentally cannot agree with his view that this is part of some grand plan.