God's Will

What is the difference between a Christian saying that it was God’s will to have New Orleans completely destroyed by a hurricane and having a Muslin say the same thing about the attacks of September 11th?

There is no difference, both groups think that they are the enlightened ones, but at the core they are completely the same.

I heard the first comment today, on the anniversary of Katrina, as I drove to Baby Girl’s school for a PTO meeting. I could not believe that someone would say, on the radio, that the hurricane that killed thousands of people in New Orleans was planned and carried out by God to punish them.

The second comment I heard as I watched a documentary on the use of the internet by terrorist groups. A Muslim said that they did not understand why the United States was so wrapped up in finding Osama bin Laden. He said that Osama had nothing to do with the attacks on September 11 and that if they did capture him there were others ready to take his place. He continued by saying that - and this is where everything came together for me and I finally understood – if God did not want the destruction that happened on 9.11 then he would of stopped the attack. Just like he stopped the Richard Reid (shoe bomber) and the terrorist ring in the UK, it was not in God’s plan. Great! I thought, we are not fighting against terrorists, we are fighting God! That is a tough battle to win. We are fighting against a God they believe has a will, a plan, and really, really, hates the US. Great!

Both groups are giving God too much credit. I have always hated to hear someone say “God Willing”. The phrase seems like a cop out. I wonder, how come people do not say God willed someone to get raped, murdered, or killed by a drunk driver on their 18 birthday? If God’s will is what rules the world then why are there criminals in jail? Isn’t God is supposed to be taking care of the bad people?

Maybe there is a big difference between God and his prophets – Jesus and Muhammad – because if I remember correctly both men preached about the Golden Rule.

Christianity - All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye so to them; for this is the law and the prophets. Matthew 7:1

Islam - No one of you is a believer until he desires for his brother that which he desires for himself. Sunnah

I just hope that in remembering Katrina people show some compassion for those that lost so much because of no fault of their own.