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Hurricane Sandy Spawns Right-Wing Theodicy

As Hurricane Sandy heads ashore on the east coast of the U.S., far right-wing religious zealots are already calling it a sign from God for everything from U.S. policy on Israel to, of course, the gays.

The conspiratorial World Net Daily says Sandy is a sign that God is angry with the U.S. for defying his will on Israel:

In fact, in his book Eye to Eye: Facing the Consequences of Dividing Israel, [William] Koenig points out that nine of the 10 costliest insurance events in U.S. history followed dramatic calls by U.S. officials for Israel to make land concessions in bids for peace with its neighbors. He points out with startling detail how six of the seven costliest hurricanes in U.S. history followed such events. He points out how three of the four largest tornado outbreaks in U.S. history also followed such developments. […] “From a biblical perspective, the land isn’t to be divided, parceled out or negotiated away… period,” Koenig said. “That’s the land God gave to Israel.”

Evangelical pastor John McTernan doubles down on the Israel talk and tosses in some blame for the gays, too:

It is like the hurricane is a huge bucket of vomit in America’s face during the election. What a sign from the holy God of Israel that American politics is an abomination to Him. A pro-homosexual Mormon along with a pro-abortion/homosexual, Muslim Brotherhood promoter, Hard Left Fascist are running for president. And there is no cry of repentance from God’s people! I see this storm as a warning from the LORD to call His church to repentance, This might be the last call from the Holy God of Israel.

Of course, all this insane talk completely disregards the actual science behind how hurricanes form. Hurricanes have no political agenda, they simply form when the weather conditions are right.

Read on at Religion Dispatches.

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