posted by Laurie Mulvey
I have spent my adult years piecing together an ecumenical spirituality in which I use the symbols and teachings of many religious traditions to help me comprehend the intangible and unknowable parts of Life that we all encounter. But I have never fully grasped the central idea of Christianity—Jesus as sacrifice. I’ve never understood how one person’s suffering could somehow liberate another person, how the crucifixion of Christ could lead me toward salvation.
Until the earthquake in Haiti. I don’t have to recount the misery that is taking place in that small island nation. We all know that it is simply too much for anyone to bear. It is a calamity completely outside any idea I have of fairness or a spiritual force that might guide our lives if we are in “right relation” to it.
But as I hold still and listen to the news and the jumbled voice of a Haitian friend standing in the rubble with his cell phone and pleading for me to understand something impossible to understand (“No horror movie is as bad as this,” he says), I feel things shift inside of me. I notice that I’m less concerned with my possessions, my ideas, my hopes, the things I think I deserve. I am more willing to give, to help, to care about someone else. “What would someone from Haiti do?” I find myself asking, as the question invokes the otherworldly anguish of the images and stories that have become commonplace broadcasts from this broken land. Time and again, the question pulls me away from self-importance and into alignment with things like caring and community.
Maybe we are in the presence of another crucifixion.
Please understand that I am not saying that the earthquake in Haiti was the will of the Creator, meant to liberate the rest of us, or that it was the destiny of the Haitian people to be sacrificed for the betterment of our souls. Life is a series of random acts and events—and the earthquake was one of them.
What I am saying is that acknowledging this suffering, knowing full well that I cannot relieve it (“No aid can compare to the magnitude of what happened here,” my friend tells me), and allowing it to work inside of me may just be what the symbol of the crucifixion is pointing towards.
I still think my Sunday School teachers got it wrong: Jesus didn’t die for me. But truly recognizing real suffering just may have the power to pull me away from my “sins” (you know, things like desire and jealousy, greed and selfishness).
So, whether it is the image of the cross or the ruins of a nation, maybe the simple gesture of holding the anguish of another in our mind’s eye can transform us—if we just keep ourselves open to it.
The idea of one person's sacrifice for the needs of the many is difficult to debate. What it really comes down to is the psychology of those people who are now suffering in Haiti is starts to become a blame game to where it would be God's fault, politician's fault, and buildings fault. Yet it doesn't matter whose fault it is but the only important part is the outcome. Should Haiti blame the government or the building codes to survive catastrophes like this it would only change the things in the future, should celebrities and large organizations not focus on a large part of Haiti when other disaster around the world continue to happen, we would hear about Haiti but would the people that grieve in America now still continue to get upset on something that does not have a large impact on them. Excuse me for being blunt; the fact of the matter is that most people only care for the degree of relation that they are associated to a disaster. Consider the following, some people had family in Haiti, which was killed somehow during the earthquake, their degree of relation is higher than that of most, losing a relative to a natural disaster that was well-liked and in good terms will be missed. But what for those people that do not have family/friends/relatives or simply people they now in a country of disaster, yet they'll feel sorry for the people that lost their families or this and that, but will they really be sorry? Most likely no, but this is where religion comes into play. Some of the Haitians were religious, which religion doesn't matter, if it was common to some person here who has no family it makes that degree of relation that much greater, they share a common interest. They are no longer just another random person struck with disaster but a name, a place, a face that is recognizable. Where they share a common interest they will be that much closer to help, should they become unimportant after all the aid that has been sent over is there they will remain to be unimportant to those with no degree of relation. The professor has admitted that he had a friend that runs a church down in Haiti and that each of the residents has been stricken with grief through the loss of a loved one or lost belonging or something of that nature. But would he speak the same way if he had no friend in Haiti who could not describe the firsthand accounts of what has been done, like the dead body and shatter house thrown and tattered across the streets. No, but the person who pushes themselves into another traumatic experience seeks only something like that of religion and the need to care for something, for those that donate and dwell on what they can do to help think of it as a present purpose. For those within the same or sharing religion that purpose is shared and will continue to be.
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I, in contrast to many other bloggers, did not attend Catholic school. Don’t get me wrong though, for many years I woke up earlier than I thought was fair, to head to church with my family. However, after years of moving and relocating, church seemed to be something that fell by the wayside. Faith was something for me that I struggled with. I believe that everything happens for a reason, and for me, that has been enough.
I recently struggled with what I thought was going to break me. My mother’s diagnosis with cancer was something I thought would reassure my faith or completely break it. It was the center of my universe and I felt that I had it worse than any of my friends. Then I saw the awful, disturbing pictures of the devastation in Haiti. I suddenly realized that I was in fact extremely lucky. I still had my mom, unlike many of the children. I have a roof over my head and food and water. These people are left with nothing. The fact that they even still have hope shakes me to the core. How can people who have lost absolutely everything go on?
So maybe there is a higher power. Maybe this disaster is there to teach us a lesson. We need to be thankful for what we have. For all the aid that is filling in should show everyone that there is hope and that maybe there is a higher power out there. People are there to help.
I agree with Laurie. This was a random act that is awful and utterly unthinkable to go through. However, maybe it is another sort of ‘crucifixion’. Maybe this awful tragedy is there to show the world of a higher power. That there is hope in this world and that there is still a sense of community and love that exists in this world. That is tragedy can bring me away from my ‘sins’. I care less now about a new outfit or the new iPod or that new pair of shoes.
My only hope is that after the pictures and stories of Haiti have dissipated that people remember what has occurred. People have lost everything and the aid coming in is there to remind us of the love that still exists in the world. We have to be open to the fact that material and superficial items are not going to get us through life. People need to internalize this tragedy and remember it forever. We can hope that something like this never happens again.
We are far better off than many other countries. Maybe this will wake people up to see that we can all make a difference. If we can remember this maybe we will all be better off as a human race.
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I've never been a very religious person at all, but I still respect people who are. I’ve always wondered why if God was such a special being, why would he “create” so much suffering. I know, obviously, the world can’t be a perfect place because then the world would be boring. Granted, when things are out of the ordinary, things can be fun and exciting and life can be more appreciated. But when it comes to tragedies and sufferings, I don’t believe in the fairness of “God” and his causing pain and anguish, especially when it happens to undeserving people. However, when it comes to crime, I believe people should be punished for their wrongs. But then I ask, why was crime even started? People get bored, want attention and do dumb things. It’s stupid.
I do believe there is a power to religion, even though I’m not a complete believer. I would consider my family to be pretty religious, but never forced me to be. We’re considered Buddhists, but I really don’t know what that really entails of. We don’t have church to go to every Sunday and there isn’t a bible to read. I know of Christianity through shows and movies but there’s not much on Buddhism, since it’s not very popular in American culture. There are temples that we can go to, but since we live in the suburbs of Philadelphia, there aren’t really any around until you get into the city. The few times I’ve been to temples are during religious holidays, big events or tragedies. A period of time when we went to temples a lot was right after the death of my father. It was tradition to go and pay respect every Sunday. I understood the significance of honoring my dad, but being there was not very fun. We sat in uncomfortable positions on hard wooden floor and would listen to the monks chant with the smoke and scent of incense surrounding us. I didn’t enjoy it. We also went right after I got into a car accident because my grandma believed there wasn’t enough ‘goodness’ around us and we had to go to a temple and pray. When that happened, I realized the importance that religion plays on people’s lives. I believe there is a power with religion that makes people just simply believe. Having a strong belief system is a good foundation in many people’s lives and I respect that even though I don’t have strong religious views myself.
When bad things happen, victims of tragedy tend to grow more, leading to life lessons and ultimately making people stronger. People can also relate to each other better and bond over their shared loss. Victims of Haiti are doing that now and this disaster is really bringing people together. It also makes others realize how important life is, to not take advantage of it and live life to the fullest while appreciating the people and things around them.
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This post really struck a chord with me. I have been thinking many times since first hearing about the devastating earthquake in Haiti how good my life really is and how lucky I really am. To see how much that Haitian people are struggling right now and to have it come as a result of a freakish occurrence makes all of my own personal “troubles” seem extremely trivial. The fact that I am a graduating senior who has yet to receive a job offer or a single guy who is currently on a cold streak does not seem to mean anything anymore. It all seems so trivial now. For the people of Haiti, their troubles are a matter of life or death. Things that all Americans take advantage of on a daily basis are much sought out “luxuries” in Haiti. It is unfathomable to think of not being able to go to a store to purchase food or to be able to locate any clean water to drink. I know I cannot imagine living a life like that. And anything I can do to help the situation, even if it be a tiny donation, in the grand scheme of things, that is as much a poor college student like me can afford, it is important that everyone contribute in their own way. Put yourself in the shoes of those in Haiti. Imagine what it feels like to go to sleep and to wake up hungry on a daily basis, as hard as that is to think about. While it is great that everyone seems to come together during a time of crisis, it is also sad that it takes something as devastating as the earthquake in Haiti to unite a nation, or even more to unite a world. With that said though, I am very proud to say I was a part of a class that raised over a thousand dollar for the aid of those in Haiti. I am proud that many people in our class realized how good they have it and how they feel that it was necessary and the responsible thing to do to part with a little bit of money to help out those who need it the most.
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I found this blog post to be very interesting and insightful. I like the fact that it touches on how it is very baffling that with the death of Christ we are able to live and be forgiven of our sins. Even though I am a Christian and believe in God and Jesus as his son who came to set us free, I often times used to wonder, why? Why did he have to go through that in order for me to live as I am living today, but after being in private school and learning more as to why it had to be done and the depth of his sacrifice. I do understand; and I am thankful and happy that I am able to live and that my sins are forgiven each and every time. Suffering and struggling are a part of life, I have come to realize that, and that has caused me to really appreciate all that I have.
And just like the author there are people all over the world; me included who are sometimes too consumed with the world we live in to even stop and think about the next person and what may be going on in their lives. It’s sad that a tragedy is what it has to take for people to want to take the time to reflect and take a look at the way that they are living their lives and want to make a change or a difference. But no matter when or how the change comes, it really doesn’t matter, because there comes a point in everyone’s life where they will go through something that will in turn cause them to realize that there is so much more to the world than being so caught up on self. They are people all over the world who are struggling on a day to day basis and that the problems that they face are way more than the little ones that we complain about. Suffering and struggling are a part of life and I have come to realize that, and that has caused me to really appreciate all that I have each an everyday, and now especially when a tragedy hits that really causes as much heartache as this, it makes me even more happier to be able to say that I am truly blessed and really can’t complain about the little problems that may pop up in my life, because at the end of the day I have a bed to go to and a roof over my head.
At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter what causes a person to get that push to do something positive, long as they get up and do it and learn something from it that hopefully they carry with them throughout the course of their life that’s what counts in the end.
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I grew up in a Catholic home and during this time my family attended church regularly. At some point in my mid teens I had an epiphany and realized that I do not really see a reason to believe in a god or anything like that, it just seems pointless to me. That being said I don't think I can take the tragedy in Haiti as anything other than additional reinforcement of my beliefs. I can not really see it as something that is supposed to remind me of how I need to appreciate everything I have and how lucky I am, or as some kind of reminder from God about insignificant my problems are. In fact I think it makes any less to think of a God as someone who would use a tragedy like this to absolve humanity of its sins than it does to believe that one man should die horribly for the sins of his peers.
Tragedies like the earthquake in Haiti and Hurricane Katrina serve as stand alone reminders. They are reminders that all the stuff that we as average college age kids deal with with girls or friends or school and all that crap, are really meaningless and that very few people although they think their problems are significant, have any idea what real tragedy is. Unfortunately it does take things like this for us to realize how lucky we truly have it. There is suffering every day in the world, the likes of which we probably could not even comprehend, but since we do not hear or see it we are not forced to think about it. The tragedy in Haiti is everywhere you look and you can not avoid, people need to know about it.
Back to God, I don't think it makes sense to say that any God worth worshiping would punishing hundreds of thousands of people just to prove a point about how ever crappy you think your life is there are people suffering on an unimaginable level. When presented with a grand tragedy it makes sense to look for an explanation that is something more reasonable than there is no explanation, at least no more than whatever specific physical events in the Earth set the earthquake in motion. I think that to think that a God who would likely have control over all events like this, would allow such a tragedy to not only occur but to use it as a lesson, is more morbid than living in a world with no god at all. I personally think the idea of worshiping something is supposed to care and love people, while simultaneously using its people to send a message to appreciate everything, is depressing. I much prefer to live with the perspective that things happen at random and without purpose, and they are unavoidable.
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Coming from a Catholic family and being born and raise in Mexico the proper thing for a young boy is to attend church every Sunday and always do things the way god intended them to be. As a boy I attended catholic schools getting place into a religion that I had no choice of being in, because even before we have the conscious to make decisions we hade already been in the religion for 14 years or so because of baptism, which is the ceremony in which you enter the religion and then the rest of the requirements implemented by the church such as First Communing, ect. All processes which have to be completed for us to fine god and to direct us in the right path, which ever that path is…. I started to question y believes around my teenage years, how nothing that I was raise believing in made sense, and it seem like a fiction story written by a guy whom was high on crystal meth. Now I carry a cross chain around my neck why do I carry this symbol if I don’t believe in it? I do it because of a guilt feeling. I mean what if I am wrong and judgment day will really come, what if there really is a god and everyone who does not believe in him will go to hell as it says in the bible, but I mean what happens after we dye? Do we just wake up out of a dream and keep “leaving” or can it be that we are living in a dream, this are all questions which I would love to have answered for because it what I think about but that is thud, maybe its all just a game. I personally am scare of family members around me dying and for them I pray, because is the only thing that makes me feel secure for their health for their benefit not for my own good or for my satisfaction, I guess what I am trying to say is that yeah I am a hypocrite but this is the way I think. Religion in my life is just another excuse for people to fight one another, holly wars happen and god a symbol of peace is the cause of it so I ask what for? My ideas may not come too clear in my writing because of the confusion I have regarding this issue What happen in Haiti may pull that nation closer to they’re God, because that is who they believe in and in their eyes he is who gave them a second chance to live, but who has this answers, no one because its all it is a believe and nothing else.
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I would like to preface first by saying that over 85% of people in the world follow some sort of religion. Most religions provide a moral context by which its followers should live and rely on.
Laurie’s post highlights a fundamental flaw in the majority of human beings. The moral compass of many people is typically misaligned, having no point of reference, and must be extrinsically guided. Many people rely on religious text, primarily that of the Bible, Qur’an, and other texts, to guide their daily actions and provide them with a sense of moral direction. Others need to be “shocked” to find this proper alignment. Disasters, such as the earthquake in Haiti, often enable people to take a step back from everyday life and see the defining line of how to live their lives. In fact, the author specifically states “[It] pulls me away from self-importance and into alignment with things like caring and community;” suggesting that this disaster has given her moral direction.
“I feel things shift inside of me. I notice that I’m less concerned with my possessions, my ideas, my hopes, the things I think I deserve. I am more willing to give, to help, to care about someone else.” It is here that Laurie makes a truly significant point. She demonstrates how this disaster resonates with her, injecting her with compassion and empathy for other human beings. This is in contrast to what she and others naturally feel; selfishness and an unconcerned attitude. She goes on to say that perhaps this earthquake is a crucifixion except that it is outside the spiritual realm. The suggestion that humans find moral direction by personally or vicariously experiencing suffering and dismay highlights the flaw that many people do not have intrinsic morality.
Perhaps Jesus’ ultimate goal was not to die directly for our salvation but teach us that people should aim to do what is right and benefit others at all times, regardless of the conditions around them or rewards that await them. Perhaps the dominant figures of different religions truly were enlightened, through their intrinsic morals, in how to save humanity. Therefore, the human race will not truly find salvation and be liberated until it no longer relies on the crutch of religions and human suffering to guide its action. Judgment day will have arrived when all human beings are able to say that they selflessly sympathize and empathize with everyone, regardless of their ethnicity, color, religion, or gender. Salvation will not come by belief in any one religion, but by the ultimate realization that we are all equal human beings.
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I was never raised in a religious household. I don’t believe in much, but I do believe in the power of humankind. I believe that we were given certain rights as humans, and we must help the others. We must help those less fortunate, and we must always be willing to make change. It is in times like this that we must come together and at least hope that there is something more to help those who need it, but the last thing we need to do is find blame. The Crisis in Haiti is one that we must band together to better. We must come together and make a difference, because it is our duty as humans to help others who need us. While help may be needed at levels beyond what we alone can do, if we come together there is nothing we can’t accomplish. Anything is possible, and although the times are rough now, there is always a light at the end of the tunnel and we can help them find it. It is our job to help them find it.
I believe it is beyond ridiculous to blame someone for nature. To blame someone for a natural disaster is unfair. Rather than dealing with what is, it is finding another issue. We can’t blame someone for something that we can’t control. It is not acceptable to blame someone when blame is the last feeling we should be having. We should be worrying about how to help those who are in need, rather than worrying about who is to blame.
The people in Haiti need our help and we must give it to them. Thinking of ways to help is vital. For example, George Clooney is organizing a telethon to raise money for Haiti. Along with the help of many A-list celebrities, he is going to raise millions for those who need it. He is going to make a difference in the world. It is important to take what we have and share with those who don’t. Right now, they have very little and comparatively, we have the world.
If everyone shares a little of what they have, in the end we can come together and change a lot. We have the power to make a difference, and face the crisis head on.
I personally believe that blaming anyone for a natural disaster is just not dealing with the issue and that will not help anyone. Instead, let’s make a pledge to make change. Let’s decide that we can and we will make change. Let’s donate money, donate time, and donate heart to make Haiti better when they need it. They need us, so let’s be there for them.
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I was not raised in a very religious family so the thought that these people were possibly used as a way for us to start thinking more about others has never crossed my mind. The whole situation with Haiti is awful and since I grew up in a non- religious family I really only consider this as a natural disaster. I think that it is awful what happened but I don’t see it as anything other than a natural disaster. As far as I can imagine I only think of this as a movement of the earth that had a very awful location of occurring. The people of Haiti were totally wronged, but I don’t think that it was done by god I think that it was just done by the way that the earth was moving at the time. To blame this on god or be upset with god by this does not seem like an automatic thought to me.
If I think about the comparison of saying that Haiti was a way for us to stop being so selfish and think about others and this comparison to Christ I could possibly see. There are many people who take advantage of their situations and don’t appreciate how good that they have it. Having an extreme event happen would be so catastrophic to watch your whole nation totally suffer I cant even imagine actually being there and witnessing it. It is awful what happened though there is no way that I could even try to comprehend how awful that it could be.
The only other disaster that I could possibly think of that I could some how relate to the Haiti situation is what happened on 911. When I picture the devastation I look back on the faces that I saw on the tv after the attacks and I think that is the only way that I could possibly imagine the feelings or emotions that could be going through their minds in Haiti. I can still remember seeing that broadcast and exactly where I was when I heard about the terrorist attacks and I saw the devastation that was happening in New York. When I went to New York after the attacks happened and I saw the sight of the world trade centers I couldn’t help but cry. Just looking out at the totally empty areas where the trade centers had been totally shocked me. I cant even imagine knowing someone who had been there or lost someone during those disasters. My dad has a very close friend who lives in New York and I could see the fear in his face when we first heard about the events that occurred and waiting until we heard from her to find out what had happened and if he was okay.
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Many times in my life, I find myself asking the same question. “Does God exist?” I ponder on the same question sometimes when I’m doing the simplest things in life. For example, taking out the trash, watching TV, doing homework; by doing any random task makes me think of the same question. Every now and then, I come to a conclusion, there has to be a higher power. I have no idea what this higher power looks like or who he or she visually imitates. At times, I don’t know if I believe in a heaven or hell. The victims of Haiti probably did not all believe in heaven and hell.
Our savior, Jesus Christ, came to Earth to abolish all the sins of the world so that man can live free from an impending doom of hell. I believe that Jesus came to Earth for the betterment of mankind. He wanted to show people that you can live a life without hate or fear, therefore, living a life a love and happiness. Many of Jesus’ followers believed his actions to be genuine so they wrote down his miracles for all to follow. As time passed, many so called “Christians” felt it was necessary to interpret the Bible differently. Some interrupted it with good intentions; on the other hand, many interrupted it badly. When the time of the medieval age came to be, humanity saw its most massive war yet over something holy. It was called the Crusades. I just do not understand how people call themselves true “Christians” can wage war on a foe just over land, Just because the land was where Jesus was nailed to the cross. The Bible (Jesus) wants every human being to live in harmony and not in war. Jesus would never want blood to be shed for land, money, etc. Thousands of innocent lives were lost in the nine Crusades. Humanity will always have conflict, but violent conflict is a dark demise for all that participates.
In recent years, I still see wars where people are dying because of different beliefs in the Bible and/or religion. For example, World War II was fought over the belief that one race was superior to all of races. Once again, many innocent people were killed in a conflict that was meaningless. Thousands a Jewish people were executed for their beliefs and religion. If any of the German soldiers were “Christians” they would know that every man is created equal. God does want humanity to kill each other for any reason. God wants everyone to work together, in order to benefit our own lives with each other. I hope in the many years to come on Earth and the life of humans, the violent conflicts will cease to exist. If that day comes, then God will have fulfilled his mission.
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When it comes to living in the United States many people do not realize that they have it made compared to other places. Many of us have homes, food, health care and get paid more than $2 a day, but still we complain about how hard it is to live here. We are so focused on our wants and not really thinking about what we need. We often complain and we don’t appreciate how good we have it living in the U.S. We sometimes are even so ignorant to only think of our own country and neglect to be aware of the other people in different countries who go to sleep hungry each night. That is, until a disaster happens and we finally open up our eyes and realize we might not have it that bad after all.
I will admit that I was and sometimes still am one of those people who are focused on the wanting rather than the having. In the past I would always spend my money when I had some or want some of the weirdest things just to have it. After I would buy it, it would make me happy for a few days, but then I would get tired of it and move onto wanting something else. It wasn’t until I took BiSci 3 last semester that I realized how I could find happiness with the items I had. I was so focused on this cycle of wanting, buying, having then wanting another item that the happiness I found was only temporary. I finally learned that my happiness is not going to come from finally getting what I want, but appreciating and being thankful for what I now have.
I feel as if many people do not understand this and will continue on the cycle of wanting, buying and having, to find happiness. Also, it bothers me that only when a disaster hits is when we all want to help people. I understand that the economy is hard right now, but a disaster should not be the event to bring different countries together. After all, we are all human and should be helping each other out either way. I am not saying that I am a saint and donate all the time to poor countries, but I do my best to help. I am active in my community and do a lot of community service to help those in need. I don’t do it just because a disaster hits, but because I believe we should all be helping each other. If the tables were turned and if Haiti weren’t one of the poorest countries in the world I believe this crisis wouldn’t have been so publicized. Evidence for this is that, just after Haiti was hit Venezuela was also, but did not receive as much hype as Haiti did.
I do believe that everything happens for a reason and what is meant to be will find its way, but I am still unsure if God was the reason for this disaster. It may have been a sign from him that in this time we need to stick together, but it is hard to think that when he was the one who died for us to be alive. Sacrificing other humans is not in his nature so it still puzzles me, but something or someone did make this happen.
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Dr. Kurland of the anthropology department here at Penn State said in one of his last lectures of his Biological anthropology class that the every religion answers the same question, “what happens to me when I die? ” Whenever I have any questions or doubts about my religion and its proper influence in my life, I always remember the point of my religion. I am a Roman Catholic Christian, and all of my great-grandparents immigrated to America from countries that are over 95% Catholic. In my heart, I understand that at a basic level, my religion gives me the comfort that should I live caring for my fellow brothers and sisters, and should I feel deeply sorry for my sins, I will go to Heaven. I rarely struggle over my religion anymore, because that would mean I don’t have faith. I don’t want to worry about the asinine details of what Jesus really looked like, the books in the Bible being altered, or the negative effects of people conquering the world centuries ago in the name of Christianity. I know that I do not have to feel responsible for problems that God created. All I can do is alleviate the pain of others when the opportunity arises and be a helpful friend and act in a way that is considered universally moral.
It is clear from your blog, Ms. Mulvey, that you never understood your faith, or that you found it too hard to believe. The point of God sending down Jesus was to send a message and an example to the world of how to live a content life. Jesus was not of a wealthy or royal background and he lived in a way that pleased God. At the time, people were not considered worthy of much if they were not wealthy; Jesus’ lifestyle was that of an average male at the time, and he showed that everyone was equal in God’s eyes and did not have to feel as though he or she had nothing to offer because of the restraints of society. THAT is the salvation. How many times have people worried about, spent money on, and judged other people by their clothes, their job, and their family’s image? It’s worthless to do that and everyone realizes that every so often. However, it is very easy for people to think those things are important and for people to be unhappy because of a struggle to obtain prestige.
People can spend their whole lives and livelihood focusing on things that really do not have a positive impact upon their fellow human beings. However, Jesus’ existence brought and reemphasized the idea that focusing on the image or happiness solely of oneself will never bring happiness or peace of mind. But what will give one a feeling of peace of mind is helping other people, and, to quote a line from Khaled Hosseini’s novel The Kite Runner, “Do Not Steal”. Most of the commandments, a character from the book said, are all saying that it is wrong to steal someone’s life, wife, truth or livelihood. These are the principles that Jesus emphasized. The Salvation that Jesus gave the world was in part allowing us to go to heaven, but also to alleviate ourselves from the mental restraints and pain that we put upon ourselves.
If it took an earthquake in Haiti for you to be “more willing to give, to help, to care about someone else,” then fine. I believe you are correct in that the effect of the suffering of those people in Haiti is similar to the effect of Jesus suffering for mankind. In each situation, it motivates people to act for the betterment of their fellow man and not to worry about the things that will help you feel like you have achieved something in society’s eyes.
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I want to start out by saying two things. First is that I believe that the disaster is Haiti is a horrific event that the world must come together to help fix and that I am deeply saddened by the suffering that is taking place there. Secondly I want to state that I am a Christian.
I’m going to touch on a wide array of topic concerning the disaster in Haiti but first to respond to the original post. In my belief and understanding of the Christian religion, the disaster in Haiti is not another “crucifixion”. In my opinion, nothing can come close to the torturous death of the Son of God. However an event such as the one that took place in Haiti can bring people closer to God, as Dr. Richards said. It does recalibrate our lives to what is important but I feel a sense of disappointment that it takes a disaster to do that. The love, generosity and support that I have seen over the past ten days should be just as prevalent in our society at all times. To sum things up in my opinion, this was a random act but it can still teach us the same moral values that the crucifixion of Christ does to Christians.
I have one comment for Dr. Richards about his post. Again this is my understanding of Christianity. Being generous, kind, helping and selfless are good characteristics to have in the Christian faith. So his death is a constant reminder to Christians to live their lives like that.
Still on the topic of Haiti, I heard some confusing reports on the news a few days ago. It was reported that initial when U.S. military forces arrived in Haiti that they went to work in a professional manner to help the victims. However, shortly after they arrived the Haitian government told them to stop their efforts. Since being told to stop they have been reduced to nothing more than securing the main airport in Point-au-Prince. The reason that they were told to stop was that the Haitian government felt like that the military had too much of a domineering attitude. What I got out of this is that the Haitians felt like they were “being taken over” by the United States military. Obviously that is not the intent of America. This makes no sense to me. The United States Military has the equipment, manpower and training to deal with disaster such as this. It is actually one of their planned purposes. I think that even though the Haitian government might not like the idea of U.S. military personnel “take charge” but that is exactly what that country needs right now. They need a professional organization trained to set up shop and get help to the people. Diplomatic negotiations have no place in a disaster like this. America has the money and means to help but they are being stopped.
This seems to me somewhat related to the whole race relations issue we are talking about in this class. I don’t think it’s a matter of black and white or anything like that but more of the idea that America is the bad guy, the same way America is perceived in the Middle East. I just think that it is sad that something like that comes before the welfare of people in need.
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My family was never what people would call religious, so anything that I know about religion, in general and Christianity specifically, came mostly from fellowship groups and peers and, though I've tried –hard– to do so, there is certainly no way I can believe that "'Jesus died for me,'" as you so eloquently put it.
What I can agree with are your statements concerning understanding, or at least the attempt to comprehend, the magnitude and depth of the suffering of others and how this may just be the shortest (for it certainly is not the best) route to bringing oneself closer to… I guess I'm not entirely sure what it brings one closer to. Is it humanity? God, whatever that's supposed to be? Or is it something more like what you mentioned: this practically enlightening recognition of one's complete helplessness to do more when such a vast number of resources are immediately and constantly available to us. It is this moment that awakens our conscience and allows us to loosen, if not altogether let go of, our hold on the petty and material.
I guess that's why I became so incredibly annoyed when I sat down to lunch a few days ago and discovered a spat of university administrators criticizing what some people are doing to help the relief efforts. Things like the transportation costs more than the donation items themselves and why would someone send sweaters or high heeled shoes to Haiti were mentioned, while others recounted how most of the clothes donated during the 9/11 attacks and Hurricane Katrina disaster were dumped rather than given to victims because they were not useful. The worst probably came when a late member of their lunch party sat down and conversation swiftly and deftly moved onto the rather pressing matter of the extraordinary length of the lunch lines.
I can understand the logical reasoning behind their assertions: it probably does cost a lot of money, as well as time, to get shipping crates full of unsorted goods across thousands of nautical miles to a small, destitute nation, the hot and humid equatorial climate does not seem to call for thick clothing, and in all likelihood, at the moment, the amount of time it takes to pick up a salad was probably a greater source of distress than the agony of Haiti's people. So I get it. I truly can appreciate the ideas these people were putting forth that much of the relief efforts are far from efficient. But it was no less aggravating to listen to their demeaning words, especially when these people are representatives of an institute for higher learning. In some way, I think I feel worse for the people who have this kind of response to disaster than the victims themselves. Although the victims must endure physical suffering and have lost much, it is these people who fail to see the big picture that I feel sorry for.
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There are many horrible and inexplicable events that occur in the world daily. But these catastrophic events are some of the few times that people throughout the world of all different races and religions work together for one cause without questioning or judging one another. When such disastrous event occurs, like that of the earthquake in Haiti, everyone becomes aware of the uncertainty in life. You realize how important it is to appreciate everyone and everything that you and to help those in need and those who are suffering. As Laurie states, “But truly recognizing real suffering just may have the power to pull me away from my “sins”. When a natural disaster hits it becomes difficult to think of your worries as anything more than trivial. Stressing over your math exam or worrying about losing ten pounds seems petty when close to 100,000 people have died from the earthquake in Haiti.
When these events occur they give people a chance to step outside of their own world and worry more about others than themselves. It is reassuring to know that when people have their eyes opened to the reality of the world and the cruelty that occurs, they are ready and willing to do all of the good they can. In the U.S., even many of the popular actors and singers are working to accrue aid to send to Haiti. These gestures by influential people encourage positive behaviors and the spirit of giving among many people hesitant to act on behalf of Haiti.
Everywhere you look there is some form of support for Haiti. Turn on the television or radio, read the newspaper, or look up information online and you will find some opportunity to send aid to Haiti. Even though Laurie’s friend says that “No aid can compare to the magnitude of what happened here” there are still many people who have and many more that will have donated time, money, food, clothing or some other form of aid to those that have lost friends family and every semblance of home.
Laurie states that, “whether it is the image of the cross or the ruins of a nation, maybe the simple gesture of holding the anguish of another in our mind’s eye can transform us – if we just keep ourselves open to it.” I agree with this statement in part, but I do not agree that these images transform us so much as allow us a chance to show our true colors. There are many good people in the world that want to help out others they just need to be aware of how they can do it. So as she said we do just need to “keep ourselves open to it”.
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The first thing that comes to peoples minds in moments of intense tragedy and dispare, is why does god allow these terrible things to happen to his most beloved of creatures. It is in moments like this that it is hard to separate Gods divine plans and destiny of nations. From my catholic point of view, we must understand we must not ask God to take these things away from us, but to give us the strength to overcome all the challenges that we face in life.
Life is the sumation of all our good deeds in moments when we see nothing but tragedy and suffering around us. I did feel very sad when I sae the pictures of those who lost everything, and I feel that it is very important for us to know how fortunate we are everyday to have everything we have. And we must know that earthly matters can be lost in an instant. We know that what is going on is very sad, but we must remember that in this world we can only rely on each other, and we must attend to those that can not attend to themselves.
There are people in African nations, and in other parts of the world, that suffer everyday, but unlike this tragedy it is not brought to our attention everyday. Therefore, it is important for us to keep in mind the suffering of the world. This is not a crucifixion of a nation, it is an independent event that we must use to remember that we must not only think of ourselves.
The positive thing that we can draw from events like this, is that it makes people around the world ignore their differences and call upon their most noble part of their character, to help each other despite all our differences. Tragedy is something we can all relate to, because nobody wants to live through it. It is unfortunate that it takes events like this to remind us that we are all neighbors, and it is even more unfortunate that we blame a higher power for things we cannot explain.
There is a God, that created all of us out of love and compassion, we must not question what happens in his divine creation. This thought should humble us each an every day.
As unfortunate as it may be, we have to accept that as long as we live, life will always remain a mystery to us. We are cerated in gods image, but we are simply not meant to have the capability to understanding the events of life and the tragedies of existence.
It is really sad that the poorest country in the western hemisphere had to suffer something like this. But I can truly say that deep inside me there is an intense desire to be part of the solution of this great human tragedy. I admire Professor Richards for taking such an active role towards the solution in the healing of an entire nation, as insignificant as it may seem, every little effort we make can make a lasting difference in the life of someone so far away from our immediate reality.
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I grew up in Church listening to the words of God. I believe that God has his reason for everything. He also knows how to turn evil to Good.
With that said, I am not saying that it was a good thing for the earthquake to destroyed Haiti, However, it takes such a horrible, devastating ,deadly disaster to happen before the world realized that Haiti really needs help. When you look at the history of Haiti, you will see that they have been through series of devastating rebellions; including civil wars, poverty, and instabilities. However, there have been only little help given to them until now. After watching the news for the past weeks and seeing how the world, especially America, is working toward helping Haiti, it make me believe even more with what my pastor always used to say “Every Disappoint is A Blessing” As I write the paper, I am also watching “Hope For Haiti Now” on CNN; and I am amazed of how many American’s entertainers are involved with programs and activities to help raise money for Haiti. Just because an earthquake is a natural disaster, do not mean that God, nor Jesus Christ want the Haitian to suffer. Suffering is not a direct cause from God, we as human beings sometime leave to other and our own suffering. For example, we cause global warming, and other activities that led to natural disaster. It is sad that so many lives have to be taken away, but I believe that if the Haitians trust God, this may be their blessing for everyone to work together and built a better Haiti.
I was born in West Africa, Liberia; and I grew up with civil war in my backyard for ten years. I know how it feels like when all you have is “hope”. I know how it feels like to wake up in the morning and you have no food or water. I know how it feels like to lose love ones. I know how it feels like when you cry for help and no one is there to help you. Everyone need to help Haiti! You never know when you will be in a situation like the Haitians. Remember the Haitian did not ask for this!
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I completely agree with Laurie’s point of acknowledging suffering and allowing it to open our eyes. All I can hope for is that this tragedy will make many realize how truly blessed they are. The next time you are feeling down or upset over petty things think about all the things you have to be grateful for and you’ll be amazed.
I found these amazing short stories about different people who were rescued from under the rubble. One of the most remarkable stories was the survival of a baby girl who was 15 days. By the time she was rescued she was uninjured and had spent half her life trapped in rubble. Her grandfather was quoted “This wasn’t the way Jesus wanted the baby to die,” he said. “Everybody knew the baby was dead, except the Lord.”
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8459090.stm
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I don’t necessarily believe that Jesus Christ was the son of God and was literally able to die for our sins, but when dealing with faith nothing is literal anyway. But the concept of someone giving their life for other people makes those people realize what they have and to appreciate life more. If I were to say that I give my life for you and then die, you would be more inclined to appreciate life and to pursue more honorable or virtuous things. So anytime there is a great tragedy in the world a part of me feels that we should look at it as a wakeup call. Whether you look at is as a sign sent by God to save the rest of our sinful souls or the universe aligning to make earth function better or just random acts that stir something within you to be a better person, these acts although horrible are great creators of life reflection for the human race.
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The current situation in Haiti prompted many people to reflect on their lives and how they were helping to improve the global community. Some people have never seen destruction of this magnitude. Some didn’t even realize what a poor nation Haiti was or they pushed it to the back of their mind until this tragedy. The earthquake shook people into realizing how numb they had become to the problems of their brothers and sisters around the world. It made the people who were ignorant to some of the problems of the world more aware.
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When you make a decision to help others, and you put the majority of your time energy and thinking into it you realize how trivial some of the things in your own life are and makes it that much easier to let them go and continue on a path of betterment, the betterment of yourself and the betterment of the world. It is a sad commentary that that is what it takes for people to wake up and improve themselves. It’s great to know that the people of this world aren’t completely numb to the issues of the world, but it’s still discerning to know that it takes something that drastic to jolt the humanness out of us.
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In the wake of the crisis in Haiti, it is just simply impossible to fathom just how bad the situation is in Haiti. Like the blogger Laurie Mulvey quoted from her friend, “No aid can compare to the magnitude of what happened [there]. Although many of us have donated money (and many of us know that most college kids don’t have money bursting out of their wallets, which says a lot about our efforts to help the people of Haiti) and put our thoughts toward both the country of Haiti itself and the Haitian people, there is still only so much we can do, and that is the most disappointing part of the whole situation. No matter how much money is raised, and no matter how much food and clothes are collected, it still can not make up for the losses that have already occurred. It truly is the greatest natural disaster and travesty to affect the modern world. Though our hearts, tears, thoughts, money, supplies, are all invested in the Haitian country and people, all of us can still never comprehend exactly how bad the situation is. It is one of those situations that no matter how much we research about it and no matter how much it is covered in the news, no one can truly understand what has happened unless they witness the destruction and desperation that has plagued the tiny country of Haiti. Thankfully, most of us have never encountered first hand a devastating situation like this and hopefully none of us will ever have to personally live through a travesty like this, but the fact is, is that there are people all over the world living like this and there is only so much we can do. This is not an effort to try and get people to put more of themselves into others, but an effort for people to just realize exactly how messed up the world is, and how lucky we are to live in a safe and prosperous country that many of us take for granted. And it truly is daunting that this is neither the first nor last major disaster that the world will see. Although the Haitian people need the help of the world now, it is only time before another poverty stricken country needs the help of the world. As Dave Mathews says in his song Funny the Way It Is , “Funny the way it is, its not right or wrong,” that’s how I think about situations like this. There are so many helpless people in the world and so many tragedies like this all around the world and we just go on everyday living our lives, it’s not right or wrong, its just the way it is. Hopefully we can help ourselves by not taking for granted how privileged we are to live where we do and how we do.
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Silence over takes my thoughts and speech, as I sit back and here more and more about the tragedy in Haiti. The stories become more and more intense. Trying to paint a picture in my head of how big of a catastrophe this natural disaster has effected the island of Haiti is still hard to conceive in my mind. I know its bad,from others, from stories heard from broadcasters, to stories heard from my own family in Haiti. Why, how, and what are the questions running through my mind. Why did the 7.0 earthquake strike the poor city of Port A Prince. The city didn't have that much infrastructure to begin with. Monuments, along with government institutions, and aid was the central source for many people in the country of Haiti which was all located in Port A Prince. The nation's capitol is where everyone throughout the country ventured to, in order to recieve the benefits of modern advancment in technology all the way to modern medicne. This city was the heart of the nation. There is where the source of hope started then distributed throughout the country. Why do these horrific, intensence, unimaginable natural disaters always seem to find Haiti. A country of low wealth and value. How did this natural disaster come at such a surprise. Couldn't something at such great stregnth be detected or forscence. If many people in china can jump at once and cause an earthquake couldnt geologist conclude that Port A Prince was an earthquake zone. Years of research could find this stament to be true. How did many people survive then die. Was that god's way of giving them one more chance? What will the people of Porte A Prince do now, what will they eat two months from now, what are families doing now to keep the hope, what can I do, what can you do, what can we do, what can haiti do, what can God do? As a true beliver in Crhirstianity I quote if we are going to pray don't worry, its all in the hands of the beholder. Is this another crucifixtion, just with thousands of saints. My opinion is that this is not just a test for the people of Haiti put for all God's children. Is this a lesson of how one should love all their brothers and sisters who are children of God. We are taught lessons from day to day ranging from small to big. Haiti's crisis is just a big lesson to be learned by all. I know this comment may sound dry but after denial and hurt comes understanding. Who knows what God has planned, all that needs to be said is to keep faith and hope in God cause only he can touch the the untouchable, or seen the unseen, and create nothing into something.
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Sometimes I feel thankful to be alive to witness these calamities so that I myself can learn to appreciate life more. However, I feel so deeply for the people who actually have to live through it. That is a true test of strength and hope and I pray for the people in Haiti everyday.
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It’s hard to put into words the sadness and destruction that the Haitian earthquake pictures convey. Along with the rest of the nation, I’ve watched news clip after news clip and read numerous articles about the 7.0 quake. When I first heard and saw, I thought this was the most televised natural disaster I’ve ever seen but after I gave it a closer look I realized America has never seen such exposure to a third world country. People go on with their day to day lives not thinking that there are other humans out there who don’t even have clean water to drink or shoes to wear. By no means am I trying to make light of the earthquake that devastated the already impoverished nation but there were serious problems there, even before the disaster struck. In a way maybe Laurie is right. Salvation may come to Haiti now, but it took great destruction for the media to finally pay attention.
The media can be a tool used to inform and expose the world with news but it can also insert religious propaganda. What happened in Haiti is terrible but in my opinion it is Mother Nature. No act of god or agreements with the devil caused this destruction. People are so quick to blame or suspect the supernatural. Of course it is much easier to say “we’ll never understand why this happened,” or “by some act of God so many were saved” (Both Fox News quotes). To me, this is just an easy way out for so many. No one wants to concentrate on the facts and find a “real” answer. Haiti is situated on a fault line which means that the area is susceptible to earthquakes. With this knowledge, it is no mystery of science why this happened. My point is, let’s concentrate on how we can help instead of playing the religious blame game.
It is an overwhelming feeling to see all of those disaster relief teams there trying to rebuild and rescue so many of those in need. Religious or not, people need to work together to help each other and to provide better futures for the upcoming generations. Disasters like these remind us all of how human we really are. There are some things that are going to be out of our control which is why we need to realize our own ethnocentrism and work together. We need to step outside of our comfort zones to see and feel what others may be going through, not just in this situation, but globally. Let this be a sign and not a religious one, but more of a humanitarian sign that we need to start thinking about the world around us.
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It’s hard to put into words the sadness and destruction that the Haitian earthquake pictures convey. Along with the rest of the nation, I’ve watched news clip after news clip and read numerous articles about the 7.0 quake. When I first heard and saw, I thought this was the most televised natural disaster I’ve ever seen but after I gave it a closer look I realized America has never seen such exposure to a third world country. People go on with their day to day lives not thinking that there are other humans out there who don’t even have clean water to drink or shoes to wear. By no means am I trying to make light of the earthquake that devastated the already impoverished nation but there were serious problems there, even before the disaster struck. In a way maybe Laurie is right. Salvation may come to Haiti now, but it took great destruction for the media to finally pay attention.
The media can be a tool used to inform and expose the world with news but it can also insert religious propaganda. What happened in Haiti is terrible but in my opinion it is Mother Nature. No act of god or agreements with the devil caused this destruction. People are so quick to blame or suspect the supernatural. Of course it is much easier to say “we’ll never understand why this happened,” or “by some act of God so many were saved” (Both Fox News quotes). To me, this is just an easy way out for so many. No one wants to concentrate on the facts and find a “real” answer. Haiti is situated on a fault line which means that the area is susceptible to earthquakes. With this knowledge, it is no mystery of science why this happened. My point is, let’s concentrate on how we can help instead of playing the religious blame game.
It is an overwhelming feeling to see all of those disaster relief teams there trying to rebuild and rescue so many of those in need. Religious or not, people need to work together to help each other and to provide better futures for the upcoming generations. Disasters like these remind us all of how human we really are. There are some things that are going to be out of our control which is why we need to realize our own ethnocentrism and work together. We need to step outside of our comfort zones to see and feel what others may be going through, not just in this situation, but globally. Let this be a sign and not a religious one, but more of a humanitarian sign that we need to start thinking about the world around us.
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I don't know much about various religions, so I cannot relate to a lot of people who think that this catastrophe in Haiti is related to God's doings. With that said, I'm not an Atheist either. When I read the first paragraph, I could relate to the author that I never really grasped the concept of Christianity either. I can also relate to her when she said that she had forgotten about everything except the desire to help those in need while her friend was talking to her about this disaster. I don't know about the religions that Haitians follow, but I understand that many of them and us rely on a religious figure to help get us through these trying times. These people need all the help they can get.. and when Mulvey says she can't think of anything other than to help these people, I still feel like I'm in that state of mind every time the topic comes up- and since this whole thing is still fresh, it comes up very often. I know there are some people who are tired of hearing about it, but that only goes to show how ignorant people can be. To be able to relate to someone who's been through and/or going through what the people of Haiti are going through right now is impossible unless you have been there with them and lived with them. These people need all the help they can get. Every bit of help counts. So, no matter what religion we follow or if we believe that a religious figure had something to do with this, just know that any contribution to people in need is always appreciated.
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I was raised in a Christian household and attended church as well as Sunday school from a very early age. I believe in the Christian faith and that Jesus sacrificed himself on the cross for the salvation of all of us. I also understand and accept that not all people share my beliefs and that not all people truly believe in religion, but instead use it as a way to explain the inexplicable. In a way I suppose that is what many people do, just to varying degrees, with the exception of those who reject religion all together and those who truly believe in their religion and creation from a higher power.
I would agree with the fact that life is a series of random events, but I also believe in God’s plan and that he oversees all things. I do not think that the tragedy in Haiti is another disaster of the magnitude of the story of Noah’s ark, in that it was meant to be a new start for people. However, it could be seen as a new start for the people of Haiti since nearly all of them were left with nothing and have no choice but to start anew. There is no doubt in my mind though that this disaster has been a huge eye opener to people around the world.
I cannot begin to imagine what the people of Haiti are going through right now, nor would I want to ever find myself in that position. How could anyone want that? I feel great sorrow for what the Haitians are going through, but I cannot fully sympathize with them, for the sole reason that I have never been in any situation close to the horror that they are faced with today, so in a way I lack the emotional capacity. People have lost their homes, their families, and even the simple things like food and water that so many of us take for granted. I have no doubt that I would be completely lost if I were to step into their shoes.
I’m also in agreement with the statement that, for those who it hits home with, people become much less focused on themselves and are far more willing to reach out to those in need when something terrible like this happens. I am certainly more compelled to donate to the cause of aiding the Haitians than I was to helping others before this that are in need of assistance just to survive. This calamity can be viewed by many as a sign, and it is a shame that it takes something of this magnitude to make people realize here in the United States how badly others have it around the rest of the world.
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We are so consumed by our own daily BS that sometimes we forget that the world is so much bigger than what we are able to see. There are bigger problems in the world than that of our own. It's sad that it takes a tragic event like the earthquake in Haiti to shake us loose. To help us realize and appreciate the things that we have and take granted for everyday like family and the people in our life. Tragedies help unit us as a whole to help one another and to help the less fortunate, but how long does that unity last. The relief effort and donations will help rebuild the country, but than what? Few month from now Haiti would just be another unfortunate event in most of the people's mind. Another story or another tragedy would have taken its place and most would be back to being consumed with their own problems. I am not saying to just move on and forget about the people in Haiti, in fact we should help out in anyway we can. I have never dealt with any kind of death in my life until recently when my grandfather passed away. It was by far the hardest thing i have dealt with so i can't even imagine how it would be to loose everything or understand what is going through the minds of people in Haiti. If you are religious pray for them, If you have the means to donate than donate.
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I can never really say that I have experienced such a traumatic ordeal as Haiti's calamity in my relatively short life thus far. Nor can I say that I know the pain, agony, grief, despair, confusion, worry or anxiety that the people there have to endure during this tragic time of rescues and relief. I can however sat that i have been able to witness a remarkable, sweeping tide off activism and altruism across the United States. It brings a smile to my heart to see such action. I just with it were always like this an not only in the face of disaster.
Of course there have always been people, projects, and organization specifically with the goal and aim of helping someone else out in need. But because of the overwhelming amount of media coverage and published images of this ghastly tribulation Haiti is dealing with, the average American cannot help but be exposed to this unimaginable horror. It is in their face. They cannot say that they didn't know about it. I feel as though that is why more people are filled with a great compassion to show kindness and goodwill to their fellow man. To me, that is a good thing. I do not mean that seeing someone else suffer is a good thing. I mean that this jolt to the world was a good thing because it cause people not to focus so much on themselves but on the suffering of someone else. In spite of the fact that this earthquake has caused more damage of a greater magnitude than any amount of aid can solve, I still feel like many people want, wish, hope, and pray that the people of Haiti not have to struggle anymore.
Now, I must admit, I have given to and I want to do more for the people of Haiti. However, I am no where near the place where I am willing to offer all that I have (including my life) to restore Haiti. But I know a savior who did. Yes, I have faith in the life, death, and resurrection of Christ. I do not believe that he died just so that we could all not focus on our "sins". Actually he came to overcome the power that sin had and to free us from that sin. We must first face our sins. So although the image of Jesus in complete anguish on the cross is one that can cause transformation, I think the real transformation begins where we realize that he was in ruin because of our sins. In the end, I understand the point that looking at someone else's sorrow causes you to stop focusing on your own selfishness, but I believe Jesus' crucifixion was to do more than just make you look at his agony. he want you to see all sin was taken upon him and that we could live a greater life because of him. That's transformation!
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As so many have stated before me, I was born and raised Christian from the time I left the womb. During my younger years, Sunday school teachers impressed upon me the idea that Jesus died for our sins. Despite the number of times I have heard and repeated that phrase, I am not sure whether I ever truly understood what it meant. I went through Sunday school, as well as many other parts of my life, listening but not really listening. I have gone through a lot of my life only halfheartedly paying attention, without ever critically thinking about or questioning anything. I went to church camps that taught me to pray a lot. It felt good for a while, until I started to question it. Once I reached high school, I began to grasp an understanding for the importance of intelligence and thinking. In college, I am starting to understand that life is not about getting good grades. Knowledge is something that will fulfill my life and allow my to actively and meaningfully participate in society. I have the power to do whatever I want with my life.
However, amidst all of these new realization and experiences in my life, I am more lost than ever. The more I learn, the more I question my own life and practices. How can I worship a God who allows an earthquake to kill hundreds of thousands of people? I think my own confusion with the church is a lot like the situation in Haiti. Most of us do not know what to believe. For most of my life I have believed that everything happens for a reason. Except when it comes to natural disasters. It is a heinous situation that none of those people deserved. Like they say a picture tells a thousand words. Looking at photographs shows the true magnitude of the tragedy and almost brings me to tears.
One important thing Christianity taught me was the value of giving to and helping others. I have been on a lot of service project trips from Honduras to Mexico. These are always enriching experiences that remind me of how lucky I am and to be thankful for all that I have. For me it was not necessarily the image of Jesus on the cross but the people I met on the trip. The Honduran girl wept as she told us about her abusive parents and thanked us for building the children’s home. The Pastor thanked each one of us for helping to build a church so his congregation would no longer have to meet in a tent. Witnessing the suffering and hardship of these people really does transform me. As Laurie said, “the simple gesture of holding the anguish of another in our mind’s eye can transform us—if we just keep ourselves open to it.” After coming back from the trips, I always felt like and acted like a better person for a while. I am nicer to my family, help out around the house more, focus on my schoolwork, and care less about owning the cool new pair of shoes. Unfortunately, those feelings do not last forever.
Over time those thoughts of selflessness and thankfulness gradually drift away and I revert back to the person I was before. This also seems to be true for aid to others. Right after the fact everyone is so willing to do whatever necessary to help. The Haitians will be suffering for many more years. However, I highly doubt all of the aid will continue that long. As someone mentioned earlier, how long does it take for us to go back to our normal state of not caring about others? Do these disasters (or for me experiences in poverty stricken areas) have to happen for us to realize all that we have? Is there a way we can hold on to these feelings of selflessness and altruism?
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As so many have stated before me, I was born and raised Christian from the time I left the womb. During my younger years, Sunday school teachers impressed upon me the idea that Jesus died for our sins. Despite the number of times I have heard and repeated that phrase, I am not sure whether I ever truly understood what it meant. I went through Sunday school, as well as many other parts of my life, listening but not really listening. I have gone through a lot of my life only halfheartedly paying attention, without ever critically thinking about or questioning anything. I went to church camps that taught me to pray a lot. It felt good for a while, until I started to question it. Once I reached high school, I began to grasp an understanding for the importance of intelligence and thinking. In college, I am starting to understand that life is not about getting good grades. Knowledge is something that will fulfill my life and allow my to actively and meaningfully participate in society. I have the power to do whatever I want with my life.
However, amidst all of these new realization and experiences in my life, I am more lost than ever. The more I learn, the more I question my own life and practices. How can I worship a God who allows an earthquake to kill hundreds of thousands of people? I think my own confusion with the church is a lot like the situation in Haiti. Most of us do not know what to believe. For most of my life I have believed that everything happens for a reason. Except when it comes to natural disasters. It is a heinous situation that none of those people deserved. Like they say a picture tells a thousand words. Looking at photographs shows the true magnitude of the tragedy and almost brings me to tears.
One important thing Christianity taught me was the value of giving to and helping others. I have been on a lot of service project trips from Honduras to Mexico. These are always enriching experiences that remind me of how lucky I am and to be thankful for all that I have. For me it was not necessarily the image of Jesus on the cross but the people I met on the trip. The Honduran girl wept as she told us about her abusive parents and thanked us for building the children’s home. The Pastor thanked each one of us for helping to build a church so his congregation would no longer have to meet in a tent. Witnessing the suffering and hardship of these people really does transform me. As Laurie said, “the simple gesture of holding the anguish of another in our mind’s eye can transform us—if we just keep ourselves open to it.” After coming back from the trips, I always felt like and acted like a better person for a while. I am nicer to my family, help out around the house more, focus on my schoolwork, and care less about owning the cool new pair of shoes. Unfortunately, those feelings do not last forever.
Over time those thoughts of selflessness and thankfulness gradually drift away and I revert back to the person I was before. This also seems to be true for aid to others. Right after the fact everyone is so willing to do whatever necessary to help. The Haitians will be suffering for many more years. However, I highly doubt all of the aid will continue that long. As someone mentioned earlier, how long does it take for us to go back to our normal state of not caring about others? Do these disasters (or for me experiences in poverty stricken areas) have to happen for us to realize all that we have? Is there a way we can hold on to these feelings of selflessness and altruism?
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I agree with the fact that we should keep other people's sufferings in our heart and minds at all times. We should do this, not to bring ourselves down or make ourselves unhappy, but to keep in mind what is truly important- kindness in the world. The world today is so fast paced that sometimes we loose sight of what really matters. I was brought up Catholic. I did not go to Catholic school, but I went to CCD and I attended church every week with my family. My parents and oldest brother still go most Sundays. However, I started to question my beliefs in God and Jesus a few years ago and I stopped going. It's not that I don't have faith in a higher power, because I totally do. It's just that I don't believe that one religion is the truest and I would not be comfortable attending a service where only certain thoughts are preached. I also really agree though with the whole Jesus comparison. Thinking about another's suffering makes you ultimately a better person even if it only makes you really appreciate what you have. I am so lucky to live where I am with the people I do. It makes me sick to think about what happened in Hati and if anything question if there is a god out there. I do not really believe that life is random acts because then it makes me wonder what the point of life really is. I do believe in kindness. People helping people. Thats what life is all about ultimately. I think that we should know and keep in mind what happens to other because they make us realize how good we have it and how lucky we truly are. Whether or not God exists is not really the question in the matter. It's what people are doing to help others in their times of need that is important. It is a shame that something like this has to happen for us to take time out to really think about other people and each other which are really the most important things in life. It is a terrible thing. It is a horrible thing. Yet, we in the end become a better people as a whole because of it. We think about the things that are important in life. I know that many people who posted on here were also raised Catholic so it is interesting to see what others think about Hati. It makes me wonder how people can be Catholic and still believe in God after things like this happen. Why would God do this? Why would he create a world just to destroy it. It boggles my mind that this can happen and people still have faith. I still do believe in God, but I think it is most important in life to believe in human kindness. That is what matters in the end. Because there will be an end whether it is tomorrow or one hundred years from now, it is bound to happen.
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Since the moment that I was born, I was raised to believe that there was a greater power. Throughout my entire academic career, I have been lead to believe that Jesus was sacrificed for the good of mankind, that we were saved despite our sins, and that everything happens for a reason. Although we are all unaware of whether these teachings are true or not, Laurie makes a good point about sacrifice. I believe that the crucifixion of Jesus was a monumental sacrifice, but I also believe that sacrifice and crucifixion can come in many ways and forms. I think Laurie’s post gives us a chance to reflect on the events that took place in Haiti.
Geographically, Haiti is a country that isn’t considered to be “safe”, by any means, from a natural disaster such as an earthquake. So theoretically, and most probably, it was just a coincidence that this massive earthquake took place at all. The most powerful countries like the United States never seem to have disasters so monumental, and the disaster that Katrina created is just a fraction of what the earthquake in Haiti has induced. So it just seems wrong to inflict so much pain on an already hurting country. Although we can debate why the earthquake took place in Haiti, and not in a country that some would consider more deserving, the truth is that it did take place there, and no one will ever know why.
When Jesus was sacrificed, it was said that he saved the human race. Today, many of us are so focused on materialistic things that we believe are “necessary” to live. Laurie talks about self importance and the realization of this disaster. After she talks to her Haitian friend, she describes that she no longer needs her possessions and her hopes. Perhaps this disaster was meant inform us that we are all too concerned with our own well-being, and this sacrifice was meant to better our own souls. Perhaps no higher power was involved in this disaster, but either way, the earthquake will benefit the rest of man-kind in that it will help us realize that some things are unexplainable in terms of their reason and their magnitude. I believe that the suffering of the nation of Haiti will help us all realize that there are more important things in our lives then our own possessions and dreams, as Laurie does. I do believe that it will pull us away from our own sins that are greed, jealousy, and desire and a list of traits that goes on and on.
In the end, I don’t necessarily believe that this earthquake was caused by God. No one will ever know. The suffering in Haiti is monumental, and maybe, hopefully, mankind will sacrifice some of their greatest desires, which are their greatest sins, to help aid this suffering country. Maybe the human race will learn from this terrible disaster, if nothing else. Disaster of this proportion may be hard to fathom and reason, but it is something we can all help relieve no matter who summoned this monstrous disaster.
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As many of you have already mentioned what happened in Haiti was a terrible thing that no country deserves to go through. You would think they would get a break from all the suffering that they have undergone being the poorest country on the western hemisphere, but then this happens and you wonder why? I agree with Laurie that these things happen randomly. But I feel that in times of tragedy many turn to religion, because they need to find explanations and that’s where I feel that the ideas of “it happens for a reason” or “its God’s will” come into play. Sometimes people find comfort in the fact that some things in life are meant to be and are not random. (Although I don’t understand how this tragedy could possibly be God’s greater plan).
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What is remarkable to me is that when disasters like these occur, it brings people together, and nations together, and it proves that deep down we can be generous. There might be a lot of hatred in our kind, but when a brother and a sister are in need it is evident that compassion exists among us. But then I ask why do we have to wait for a tragedy to occur to help those who were already in need? Like someone mentioned in another post before this tragedy when you would ask people to donate money for Haiti they didn’t really care, but now everyone wants to donate (which is an amazing thing, because Haiti is very much in need of all the help) but why weren’t we helping before?
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Hopefully this astronomical disaster will spark the world to better themselves and that the attitudes of people all over the world and that it will continue until the end of time. Hopefully the world will not regress into the state that it was in before the earthquake. Although the earthquake was indeed a calamity, if its effects cause the world to become a better place it was beneficial in that it will prevent things like this from happening ever again because if Haiti wasn’t in the state it was in before the earthquake, the effects would never have been so devastating. We as the human race should take this as a learning experience and grow from it as much as we can.
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I can never really say that I have experienced such a traumatic ordeal as Haiti’s calamity in my relatively short life thus far. Nor can I say know the pain, agony, grief, despair, confusion, worry, anxiety that the people there have to endure during this tragic time of rescue and relief. I can however say that I have been able to witness a remarkable, sweeping tide of activism and altruism across the United States. It brings a smile to my heart so see such action. I just wish it were always like this and not only in the face of disaster.
Of course there have always been people, projects, and organizations specifically with the goal and aim of helping someone else out in need. But because of the overwhelming amount of media coverage and published images on this ghastly tribulation Haiti is dealing with, the average American cannot help but be exposed to this unimaginable horror. It is in their face, and they cannot say they did not know about it. I feel as though that is why more people are filled with a great compassion to show kindness and goodwill to their fellow man. To me that is a good thing. I do not mean seeing someone else suffer is a good thing, I mean that this jolt to the world was a good thing because it caused people not to focus so much on themselves but on the suffering of someone else. In spite of the fact that this earthquake has caused more damage of a greater magnitude than any amount of aid can solve, I still feel like many people want, wish, hope and pray that the people of Haiti not have to struggle anymore.
Now, I must admit, I have given and I want to do more for the people of Haiti. However, I am no where near the place where I am willing to offer all that I have (including my life) to restore Haiti. But I know a savior who did. Yes, I have faith in the life, death and resurrection of Christ. I do not believe that he died just so that we could all not focus on our “sins”. Actually he came to overcome the power that sin had and to free us from that sin. We must first face our sins. So although the image of Jesus in complete anguish is one that can cause transformation, I think the real transformation begins where we realize that he was in ruin because of our sins. In the end, I get the idea that looking at someone else’s sorrow causes you to stop focusing on your own selfishness, but I believe Jesus’ crucifixion was to do more than just make you look at his agony. He wanted you to see all sin was taken upon him and that we could live a greater life because of him. That’s transformation!
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Suffering; such an intense emotion with an interesting affect on people that causes a range of reactions. It can be debilitating, motivating, horrifying, unifying, numbing, and frustrating all at the same time. I cannot begin to imagine the utter brokenness and myriad of emotions that the Haitian people are feeling at this time; but it's somewhat encouraging to see people from all over the world join forces to help the poorest country in the western hemisphere. And it seems that suffering tends to cause people to react in this way – that it brings people together. All the relief that poured into Louisiana after Katrina and the tsunami in the Indian Ocean in 2004 are two examples of how disaster and suffering unites people (I am not trying to say that enough relief was given to these peoples, merely I'm pointing out the combined efforts.)
There is something about suffering that stops us all in our tracks and speaks to our souls. It forces us to think outside our lives and opens our eyes to the pain of others. As Laurie previously mentioned in her blog, "I notice that I’m less concerned with my possessions, my ideas, my hopes, the things I think I deserve. I am more willing to give, to help, to care about someone else." In this way I think hardships are strangely beneficial. Obviously not beneficial for those involved in the situation, but for the outsiders that allow the given catastrophe to affect them it can be life changing. This is because those outsiders who maybe have never experienced such a catastrophe, can for a moment in time put others before themselves. People don't do this enough – think of the needs of others before themselves. As Americans, we live in such a wealthy nation, which makes it easy for us to forget about the misfortunes of the billions of people living in what we would consider barely tolerable conditions. So this indeed is a beautiful thing, when individuals can put someone else's needs above their own because compassion and mercy are the byproduct. And the combination of compassion and mercy can go a long way during a time of need.
While there are positive aspects that result from suffering (like unification and humbleness) this does not mean I believe suffering should be praised or encouraged. It is devastating that wrecks lives, families, economies, and environments – as depicted in Haiti. But because it is inevitable, it's important to learn how to handle these situations when they come about. I do not understand why suffering exists, but I know that when it happens it speaks volumes to people. It's important to find the good in every situation, right? Optimism? Perhaps.
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The issue of religion has always been one I have been interested in. More specifically (and related to this post) I have always been interested in what seems to be the common practice of becoming 'religious' when one is in times of need. In my life I have noticed that people tend to become more interested in religion when they are suffering through hardships. This does not have to be a hardship of the magnitude we are seeing in Haiti, but something as 'small' as a death in the family. Either way, it seems that in these times of need, people turn to God for the answers.
I am really interested into why this is. Many of the people who follow this routine are the very same ones who fail to think about God during their times of prosperity and happiness. I am not condemning the people. I have done the same things during times of hardship in my life. I am more interested in why this seems to be so common in people all across the world. The new found 'religious devotion' can take many forms. Some react harshly, and seek answers from God. While others use these times to thank God for what they still have. I think it is this self reflection that is the commonality between all people who follow this path. When faced with hardships. one must examine what is truly important to them. It is often during this time of self reflection that people may open up to God and realize that he has been absent from their lives. I also find it very interesting that religion tends to be more common amongst less wealthy people around the world. Some attribute this to lack of education and exposure to scientific thinking. While this may be true, I can't help but wonder if religion is more popular amongst the poor because they are not preoccupied with the meaningless things in life. By not having to worry about a cell phone call or facebook message, they have more time to think about what is truly important to them. These people also tend to put more time and effort into their families than some busy, wealthier people. I think it is important for everyone to take time out of their days no matter how busy they are to think about this kind of stuff. To figure out what is truly important in your life and to act on it. Not just in times of need, but in times of prosperity too. THinking about this has made me strive to acknowledge God in all parts of my life. Both good and bad. In doing so, I hope to set myself up better to face the inevitable hardships what I will encounter in the future.
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The last time I witnessed Americans care this much about other people was probably the attacks on 9/11 and Katrina. I do believe that it really takes some unimaginable disaster to wake up a nations heart and make them actually start listening, learning and doing whatever they can to help these people. Its just hard to believe that this is what it takes to make a person care. It takes the suffering of others like the devastation in Haiti or say a crucifixion to make people stop, think and take action, not for themselves, but for people that they don't even know.
I can fully relate to the thoughts that were going through Laurie's mind when she had to wrap her mind around all of these helpless people in Haiti that are struggling just to stay alive. The first time I even heard about what was going on over there was in my race relations class. During a moment of silence we had before class I couldn't help but think "how could something like this happen to a country like that?" like Laurie said "something shifted" I felt for all the Haitians and I wanted to help them in any way I can.
When you live in a place like America its hard to even imagine the pain (REAL pain) that all these people are experiencing, no ones left unhurt. There's no shelter, food, clothing or any of the other luxuries that (compared to them) we have handed to us.
The other day, I turned on the news to discover that the Haitians' death count was pretty much unknown, "anywhere between 50,000 and 500,000" I couldn't believe it. I do really think that this devastation is bringing a lot of people all over the world to care and help in any way they can too. So its extremely bittersweet (for lack of a better word) that it takes a disaster, thousands dead, and millions hopeless to remind the world what compassion is and to remind them that we're all in this together and that we all should be helping each other through it.
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From a religious standpoint, I disagree with your statement about another crucifixion (if I m correct, Haiti is not even a Christian country). However, I certainly understand and agree with the overall point that you have made. Far too often it takes a devastating event such as the earthquakes in Haiti to make American’s realize just how good we have it. We take so much for granted and complain about problems that suddenly seem so insignificant when we turn on the television and see the devastation. It certainly makes my own problems vanish and makes me stop what I am doing to pray for those in Haiti.
I think that the news media has played a large role in the impact that the earthquakes in Haiti have had on Americans. I have recently been checking the New York Times Web Site and the Los Angeles Times Web Site and have seen terrifying pictures. The pictures have included decomposing bodies lying on the streets, children starving, lost from their families, dead bodies under piles of rubble and a man who had been shot by the police laying on the street in a puddle of blood. These types of pictures are not something that you would normally see in the news. In fact, this is an issue that is highly debated in the study of journalism ethics. Do you show the gruesome pictures and expose Americans to the truth, or do you run less disturbing pictures in the interest of protecting viewers, especially young children? Many would say that the most gruesome and disturbing pictures should not be run. However, in the situation of Haiti, I think that they should be. The American public needs to see those pictures; they need to know the truth about what happened in Haiti. Simply telling the public how bad something is won’t do the trick. It is the pictures that really hit home. I think that as Americans we need to know the truth, we need to realize how much people are suffering in Haiti and we need to realize how blessed we are to live in the United States.
This brings me too my next point. Ever since the earthquake, a huge amount of attention has been places on Haiti and how much the people are suffering. The truth is that Haiti is one of the poorest counties in the world, and that the people who live there have always been suffering. No, they weren’t suffering to the extent that they are now, but there were still people who were unable to get proper health care, there were still children who were living on the street and starving to death. They lived in shacks without proper food, water or sanitation. The U.S. is rushing over aid now that the earthquake has occurred and people are donating thousands of dollars, but where was the aid before the earthquake? The people of Haiti needed it then too. Unfortunately there is no good answer to my question. Third world countries all over the planet desperately need aid, and there is no way that the U.S. can afford to help all of them. All I can hope is that the American people take some time to really think about their lives and truly be thankful for them, and that we continue to do whatever we can for Haiti and for those all over the world who are in need.
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iunlearn Reply:
January 25th, 2010 at 5:10 am
Actually, Haiti is a Christian country. Most people identify as Catholic, although protestantism is strong.
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The recent death of a friend has brought me to a realization that is in some ways similar to the feeling that Laurie is getting in her blog “Haiti’s Calamity.” Through out my childhood my mother always told me “You attend a funeral for the living.” The saying isn’t meant to apply to every situation but usually when I was wondering whether to go to a funeral of someone’s relative that I had never met. Unfortunately I had attended almost a dozen funerals by the time I graduated high school, many of these funerals were not ones that I would be expected to attend by social norm. I would often ask friends if they were going to funerals of people our age that had passed away and they would respond something along the lines of “Well I didn’t really know them.” I don’t think that my friends did this because they didn’t feel like going out of there way to mourn someone but rather because they were afraid the close friends of the person that passed away would look at their appearance at the funeral as a way of people claiming friendship. Which I feel would be almost never the case. If a family member of mine passed away I would be deeply grateful to anyone that came to pay tribute to my family member and console my family. The death of this friend has opened my eyes to the fact that my or anyone else’s social reputation is so far less important to the good that I can do whether how small it is for someone that is in such great pain. I agree and believe in what Laurie has said, in that it is hard to grasp how one person’s suffering could liberate another. My friend’s death has been able to lift me from my selfish desires to see what good I can be doing for those that need it. I would not call his death sacrifice but I did gain from it. It may not need to be as great as a serious tragedy that can help open our minds and relieve us from the foolish things that we let get in the way of what is important. What is important being peace, happiness and trying to make sure that everyone can achieve them. But especially those of us that are so fortunate that we can let these desires block us, we should be the ones to be thankful and help those that need us. Hopefully the tragedy in Haiti will help open the eyes of many Americans like it has Laurie’s. Anything that we can do would be at little expense to us, and great gain for those in need in Haiti.
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People are consistently realizing that they don't know what they had til it's gone. And often times, it's not until that point that they understand how fortunate they really were. That feeling of loss can bring out a lot of sadness that at the time, very easily overpowers feelings such as greed and jealously, (all those feelings we have because we are 'sinners'). When a tragedy occurs, it is a time for people to gather in remorse. We realize just how lucky we are, and forget about the simple things in life that upset us. It is human nature. However, it's also perfectly normal to be selfish under normal circumstances. The majority of people put themselves first, naturally, to protect themselves. As we grow up, the selfishness becomes more superficial and we rely on material items. We compare ourselves, our valuables, with neighbors and friends. And along comes jealously, greed and the like. When we're not jealous, we're satisfied. Opposites exist. I find it extremely hard to believe the biblical stories such as Adam and Eve. The world was never a perfect place, and never will be. If a feeling of joy forever existed then so did/will pain.
Back in the early centuries, simple crimes meant death. Crucifying was a normal death penalty. Watching a criminal die did not make people fortunate for their own lives. However, Jesus was different. To my knowledge, he was a real human. He lived and breathed on this Earth and he was in fact crucified. I believe he was a man with a lot of hope and charisma. An extremely kind person. And to watch him die was painful to many people. Then, as generations passed, stories expanded and today we have the bible.
I also agree that no one died specifically for me, but when I am aware of innocent people dying and suffering around me, I find myself appreciating much more about my life. It makes me thankful and allows me to look forward to tomorrow, and the life I know I can be capable of. That's what religion does for many people. But the tragedy in Haiti does that same thing. Both the destruction and religion have served the same purpose: made us realize how fortunate we are, whether in the eyes of God or the beauty of this planet. Of course, religion gets far more complex than that. But fairytales and stories can create complexity. What it all boils down to is about giving us hope, and bringing out a more positive side to all people. I absolutely agree with Sam's opinion.
People need to experience the bad things in life. It shows them to appreciate things when they are good, and shows other people how good they really do have it.
No force in this world can take away sin, for it is an opposite, and without it, no good would ever exist.
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Extra Blog #1 –
Laurie Mulvey really inspired me with this article because I feel the same way as her. You never really understand and really think about problems in other places until it affects you in one way or another. In this situation it did not effect her directy, but she had a friend there that she cares for. That is why she is really feeling the pain of the Haitian nation. If this were me and I had a friend there I would be doing everything in my power to help out as best I could, but the fact that I have no connection to Haiti does not make me say O well it just makes me less in tune to it.
I mean, I donated money in our socialgy class, but If that bag of money was not put in my face like that, I hate to say it I probably wouldn't of donated. It's not because I dont care, it's the mere fact that I just don't take the time to go out of way for things when I have a million other things on my plate. I know this kinda sounds selfish in a way because I am thinking more and more about this as I write, but I am not a selfish person.
I think if everyone stopped and did pay attention to things like this and helping other countries out then maybe there would be more equality in the world. I dont know.
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I was raised Catholic, went to Church every Sunday followed by two hours of Sunday school, called CCD (which my friends and I nicknamed ‘Children’s Catholic Dungeon’ and I to this day do not know the real words for). Not until I was old enough to “make my own choice” about attending services (about age 17) did I stop going to regular services, and instead only attended the usual twice a year, Christmas and Easter. And I too, never really believed or even understood the whole Jesus dies for our sins concept. It’s not that I am not religious, or that I don’t believe in a higher something, but the teachings of the Catholic Church, in my opinion, are outdated and altogether a little hard to grasp. Really, seeing the destruction and sheer devastation that has just occurred in Haiti, the number of lives lost in past disasters such as Katrina, or the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami… It makes me wonder how, if Jesus died for our salvation, died for us as human beings, then how could these types of utter devastations even occur? Tragedies like the recent earthquake in Haiti make me wonder if a “higher power,” or a “God” is even up there. When I was much younger, I used to think that verbalizing that thought would get me struck down by a lightening bolt, yet still the thought existed even then. It is the fundamental question, how can a “God” who is supposed to love us, protect us, watch over us, care for us, etc., allow such horrific things to happen in our world, to thousands upon thousands of innocent people. For that matter, especially to a weak country, the poorest in the Western hemisphere, whose situation was already borderline disastrous and then this earthquake hit and their level of poverty and devastation is increased tenfold, if not more, why punish people that through their poverty-stricken situation are already being punished daily? On a different note, I agree with this blog about feeling less inclination towards material items, towards the small things in life that two weeks ago may have upset me but that now I try to look instead at the bigger picture. As Sam always says, “we’re all going to die,” and this tragedy in Haiti, in which people there woke up on Tuesday, January 12th and had absolutely no idea what was about to be in store for them, they had no idea that this was the day they were going to die. So maybe it could even be argued that “God” wanted us all to realize not to “sweat the small stuff,” to live each day how we want to, not to get wrapped up in the consumerism, the materialism, but focus on our relationships with other people, focus on what’s important, because we never know what day might be our last—could be taken as a depressing thought, but also as something to live for and live by.
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I think that Sam brings up a great point here. The earthquake in Haiti is a terrible tragedy that didn’t happen for any other reason than a random act of Mother Nature. If Jesus is real, maybe the reason for his crucifixion was to make people sit back and think about all that they have. Just like Sam, ever since the earthquake, I have found myself thinking about everything that I do have and truly value. Along with many other people I’m sure, I used to find myself always wanting more and more. In comparison to everyone else in the world though, especially the people in Haiti, I have so much. Although it is hard to give meaning to all the lives lost in Haiti, I believe it makes everyone stronger and brings people closer together. It makes people “count their blessings” if you will.
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Growing up, I attended Catholic school for seven years. We would have daily religion classes, attend church once a week, weekly gatherings during Advent, attend the Stations of the Cross before Lent, and pray before classes and lunch. During mass while the priest is blessing the Eucharist and at the conclusion of the Stations of the Cross, the priest says something along the lines of how Jesus died on the cross to free us from our sins. Before reading this Blog entry, I never thought about how Jesus dying on the cross liberated us from our sins. This blog entry also spiked my curiosity of the symbolism in erecting a cross in the rubble after a tragedy like the earthquake in Haiti.
After disasters like the earthquake in Haiti, September 11th, and Hurricane Katrina, people either question their faith in God or embrace it to ease the pain. The individuals who are cynical of God typically question why and how God could allow this tragedy to occur. If he is all mighty and powerful, why is he allowing these disasters occur which cause so much pain and suffering. I agree that it was not the will of God to have Haiti suffer through this horrific event. I don’t think God has control over natural disasters. Also, natural disasters do not occur as a result of karma. These unfortunate events are a part of the course of life and the world. No one will ever know why these disasters occur and why they target a particular region and population. For those who maintain a strong tie to God especially during this time of need, God offers them strength, compassion, hope, and comfort. God’s duty is to help those in need.
According to the Bible, masses, and religious school teachings, Jesus died on the cross to save us and bring us salvation. Jesus unselfishly suffered for us. The crucifixion may liberate us from our sins, but I agree with the author of this blog entry. I think it truly represents compassion and selflessness. His crucifixion was to inspire the human race to not act selfishly and help others especially in times of need. Acting with compassion and in an altruistic manner will allow us to achieve salvation.
In all of the destruction in Haiti, a cross was erected. It symbolized as a call to the human race to walk away from their selfish ways and insignificant problems and to extend their aid and resources to Haiti. Compassion is what will help heal this tragedy. Last Friday, the Haiti telethon raised over $58 million dollars. Also, doctors and social workers have traveled to Haiti to help the hurt and ill and bring orphans back to the United States. I don’t think Jesus dying on the cross frees us from our sins. I believe that Jesus’ crucifixion is to teach us that the path to salvation is to act unselfishly and with compassion.
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When times get tough we all need someone to turn to, whether it be Jesus, Mohammed, Ghandhi, Buddah, or who ever we go to to find hope. We need someone who will be there to put our broken pieces together when we fall apart…Someone who will reach out for our hand when we need to be pulled out of our dark times. With any disaster or tragic even no matter how big or small we look towards others for help, when it comes to events that are on a larger scale such as September 11th, Hurricane Katrina, or currently Haiti we do what we can do as individuals to make a big difference collectively. No effort no matter how small goes unnoticed. I noticed this when it came to collecting money for Haiti recently. College kids like myself, who have to pay for things like rent, bills, insurance, groceries, books or whatever obligations they may have reached deep into their pockets to find any money they may of had at the time to help out. This shows you that we can put our differences aside for a day, for one thing, why can't we do this every day?
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