Kangaroo - are you a Calvinist?
Anyhoo,
kangaroo said:
You said "choose" America. Like I said theres no reason why this disaster could have just started because of general weather patterns. Thus, God ALLOWED this disaster to happen.
Let's not let this debate turn on trivial semantics. Even if I accepted your contention that the Almighty
allowed this hurricane to visit such destruction on this most pious section of the United States it still seems odd that the Lord would allow such devistation given the 'debauchery' of New Orleans is but one minor part of the city's life and, certainly, if you look at the area of destruction, the older part of the city (the French Quarter - where are located the most infamous 'dens of sin') was not nearly as badly affected as the wholesome, suburban '7th heaven belt' around the city, where the churches of Christ Church, Bay Saint Louis; Trinity, Pass Christian; St. Patrick’s, Long Beach; St. Peter’s, Gulfport; St. Mark’s, Gulfport; and Redeemer, Biloxi were all levelled to the ground - odd that.
kangaroo said:
Going to church isn't enough to save your eternal soul. Like I said New Orleans had accepted much sin, most of which is are the most abdominable in our Lord's eyes. So by going to church and still committing these sins, completely opposes each other and is absolutely futile, unless they made a concerted effort to STOP this sin. Since it was still accepted by society then they were destined to fall, as always foretold in the bible.
Firstly - the 'sin' badge is usually applied to New Orleans by people who fail to realise that the 'Mardi Gras' of New Orleans is nothing like Sydney's Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras but is actually a Christian religious festival celebrated in all devoutly Catholic episcopates from Bavaria to Brazil.
Secondly, if you were aware of the nature of the political climate in New Orleans, especially that surrounding the election of Ray Nagin and Marc Morial as mayors - you would be aware that, what 'sin and vice' there existed in New Orleans was deeply opposed by the wider community - the very people whom, according to your arguement, have been condemned to face the fury of Nature to attone for their sins. Here is where your argument faces one of its most dire fallacies - if we accepted that Katrina's devastation was allowed by God in order to punish sinners who had refused to attone for their 'sins' then, by the logical processes of Natural Reason with which the self same Lord has endowed us, we would expect those sinners to have been punished - yet this was not what happened. Those caught in the fury were, predominatly ordinary Louisianians whse lives consisted of a house in the suburbs and 2.1 children.
Even if we were to agree that your definition of 'sin' is correct, and even if we were to agree that such sin was present in New Orleans, and even if we were to agree that Katrina was an act of Nature allowed by God Himself, your argument still fails because:
(a) the bars, brothels and other houses of sin were owned by the wealthy white middle class who had the means to escape with their lives and most valued property in tact - thus avoiding the premature Dies Irae; and
(b) the 'sinners' who visited New Orleans for the sins of sex, drugs, alcohol and jazz music have always been tourists who were safely tucked up in their beds in Oklahoma, Nebraska, Utah and elsewhere (probably still sinning, those darn sinners!) when the hurricane struck - thus avoiding the wrath of the Lord.
Thus - even if we accepted your premises - the people to suffer most have been the poor working class righteous African American community: the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek (sound familiar? Have a flick through your Gospel of St Matthew). These are the people most embracing of the Lord. Your whole arguement fails because, even if your premises are accepted, the consequences are directly inconsistent with the argument you make.
Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.
Like all good Chirstians, Kangaroo, you would be better served lending a helping hand your brothers and sisters - your fellow Children of the Lamb - rather than prancing about condemning them.
, here a website claims hurricane Katrina was actually the result of 'weather modification' weapons technology. 
