God and the terrorist attacks.

• Author: Kreyche, Gerald F.
• Position: Parting Thoughts - Brief Article

IN THE AFTERMATH of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, Americans flocked to their places of worship, much to the delight of the clergy, whose business had been on the downside. It always is when times are good, but given a tragedy or disaster, people look for some means of consolation and/or explanation, often heading back to their churches. Religion usually does a good job in the matter of consolation, but not in that of explanation. Many took part in community prayer and sought counseling from the clergy. As psychologists tell us, often what is needed in such situations is a good listening post.

This time, though, the unspoken question in the back of the minds of many believers, usually censored by that believer less it shake his or her faith, came to the forefront. What puzzled them was how it was possible for a supposedly all-good God to permit such a slaughter of the innocents. Biblical passage came to mind, such as that of "the birds of the air and the lilies of the field."

Clearly, "getting religion" was in vogue again, and without question a much-needed emotional support. Sometimes it seemed to offer a pseudointellectual explanation. Such was the case when Rev. Jerry Falwell blamed the tragedy on America itself, for the nation's increased "immorality." Although he hurriedly made an abject apology, his fundamentalist followers felt that was unnecessary. Obviously, as in the Old Testament, the sins of the fathers were being visited upon the children.

Pres. Bush, himself a reborn Christian, stated in no uncertain terms that these attacks were the works of "evil-doers." Who could disagree? Thinking people looked for some reconciliation in the incongruity of such enormous and unwarranted evil and the notion of the traditional God, who exercises governance and providence over the world. In this case at least, He seemed to play the role of a Deus Absconditus--a hidden God. The problem of the reality of God and the existence of evil has always been a thorn in the side of religion--and philosophers, one might add.

Eighteenth-century philosopher David Hume, known as a skeptic and "horrid atheist," put the issue this way: If God is willing to prevent evil but not able, then He is impotent. If He is able, but not willing, then He is malevolent. If He is both able and willing, whence then evil?

On a different tack, the views of Gottfried Wilhelm Leibnitz, co-inventor of calculus and one of the greatest geniuses of...