Japanese Minister thinks the tsunami was "Divine Punishment"

[Break]

I'm not gonna say whether or not the Tsunami (or any of the other natural disasters that have been happening recently) are divine punishment or not, but I think that everyone discounting it is a bit judgemental. If a God does exist, I think he'd have a right to be angry,

Well, for a start, fuck that, but I suppose I get what you're trying to say.

and if a God doesn't exist, then this is a natural tragedy that happens because mother earth is a *****. I'm getting really tired of holier-than-thou Atheists making fun of people because they have a belief other than the Atheistic belief. How about actually trying to understand what the other side has to say and realizing that their viewpoint is just as valid as yours before jumping on the intollerance train.

Here's the thing: I don't consider a viewpoint that involves baldly asserting that the victims of a hugely destructive natural disaster deserved what they got as punishment for their moral corruption, to be a valid stance deserving of respect. If someone tries to present such things as reasonable, I'm not going to hold back on describing it as the vile, self-righteous insensitivity that it is, just because it's their opinion.

Moreover, this isn't an atheist issue. This is also an issue for anyone who believes in a kind, loving god. I don't even need to be that specific. If you believe in a god who isn't a complete amoral asshole, then this is an issue for you. Why you think it's only atheists who would have a problem, or only atheists that would be offended by this, or only atheists who would be able to understand why this is a disgusting thing to say... I don't even begin to understand.

Also, you should probably learn what "intolerance" actually means. It's not a synonym for "politeness", and just being polite is not the same as being tolerant. I don't think anybody's actually demanded that he lose the right to say such things, just that he is a despicable excuse of a human being for doing so.

 

[sleeky01]

Oh, Ishihara is just a collosal douchebag; please do take anything he says with a grain of salt. Remember, this is the man who spouts openly aggressive homophobic, racist and just plain backwards attacks to the media like its a bodily function.

He's had a strong grip on Tokyo for years, and when his best competition have been people like Koichi Toyama (who is awesome, but not exactly comforting to a conservative populace) it comes as little surprise.

Boy I'll say. I never heard of Koichi Toyama so I had to look up who he was....and stumbled across this gem.

If this is really the only real competition Ishihara has for political office... I don't know what to say.

But seriously, watch the video. It's fucking hilarious and fucking disturbing at the same time.

 

[ckam]

Ishihara and all the other governor-elects are all literally insane people. This comment about divine punishment is no different than a crazy conspiracy-theorist babbling to others. It's really time for the Japanese to learn to not vote for depressing fucks like Ishihara.

Also, you Ishihara is a Tokyo governor, not a Prime Minister.

 

[mdkcde]

Haha, this guys must be one of the best IRL trolls out there.

 

[ckam]

Ishihara is a Tokyo governor, not a Prime Minister. Kan is the PM of Japan.

...is my basic reaction.

 

[Drake_Dercon]

Societal regression. I will not question your beliefs until you try to force them upon or use them to blame others.

This guy needs to grow up a bit, because he seems to be doing both.

Here's some selfishness: He just used his belief as an excuse to blame his whole country during a time of suffering. I am quite saddened that people like this have not yet been properly quarantined in Alberta and the southern states (weird tone twist there, apologies for the strangeness).

 

[BioHazardMan]

Sins are accounted for after death, the Lord doesn't punish his children in life.

Then who is accountable?

 

[skywalkerlion]

'I FEAR WE HAVE SIMPLY AWOKEN A SLEEPING GIANT'

If he said that, it would make my year XD

 

[Shadowkire]

Sins are accounted for after death, the Lord doesn't punish his children in life.

Then who is accountable?

The person committing the sin...

That isn't to say that if someone broke the law the criminal should be let off the hook because s/he will get his comeuppance after death, but for those who sin and don't break the law it is not within our rights to judge them.

 

[brodie21]

i think they should wait until godzilla shows up before they start wondering if god is punishing them

 

[BioHazardMan]

Sins are accounted for after death, the Lord doesn't punish his children in life.

Then who is accountable?

The person committing the sin...

That isn't to say that if someone broke the law the criminal should be let off the hook because s/he will get his comeuppance after death, but for those who sin and don't break the law it is not within our rights to judge them.

Was it not god that gave them the capacity to do evil?

 

[Worgen]

I find this hard to believe. How can this guy say such a thing when his countrymen are suffering through a horrible disaster and still call himself Japanese? It's bad enough hearing people saying the tsunami was retribution for Pearl Harbor, but this is ridiculous.

we had right wing christians say 911 was punishment for gays, I doubt the us has a monopoly on really stupid people in its borders

 

[Cakes]

I hate it when self proclaimed "Christians" say things like that.

A real Christian is someone who follows the teachings of Jesus Christ, not the fire and brimstone ultimatums of the Old Testament.

Sins are accounted for after death, the Lord doesn't punish his children in life.

I'm interested in why you made the assumption that Shintaro Ishihara, a man in Japan, is Christian. (He's not).

Thats why seperation of state and church should include religious people, there is no room for those in politics.

Either I misunderstood you, or you just seriously suggested that the religious should be barred from politics. Um...?

 

[Shadowkire]

I hate it when self proclaimed "Christians" say things like that.

A real Christian is someone who follows the teachings of Jesus Christ, not the fire and brimstone ultimatums of the Old Testament.

Sins are accounted for after death, the Lord doesn't punish his children in life.

I'm interested in why you made the assumption that Shintaro Ishihara, a man in Japan, is Christian. (He's not).

Sorry, it was an assumption based off him saying it was "divine punishment" for "greed."

The bolding of Japan is unnecessary, I was aware.

 

[Shadowkire]

Sins are accounted for after death, the Lord doesn't punish his children in life.

Then who is accountable?

The person committing the sin...

That isn't to say that if someone broke the law the criminal should be let off the hook because s/he will get his comeuppance after death, but for those who sin and don't break the law it is not within our rights to judge them.

Was it not god that gave them the capacity to do evil?

I gave my kid the capacity to kill me by participating in his creation, that doesn't mean I support or condone my murder by his hands or everything he could do with his life

 

[Syntax Error]

For the record, Ishihara is the guy who passed the law that makes "questionable manga" not suitable for sale in Tokyo ("questionable" everything else that isn't explicitly violent/contains nudity). He also said old women are "useless" because they can't bear children anymore. Make that what you will, but the guy's crazy.

 

[Carlston]

I have no respect for people who blame god, sins or anything of the sort on a disaster you could in no way avoid or really accurately predict.

If humans made a dam, let the dam fall into disrepair... well its the peoples fault.

If a tidal wave springs up and floods your city, GUYS we pretty much proven if there is a god his laws, rules and sins were made by man...

And you looking at nudie photos, rubbing one off, or eating red meat on friday... god doesn't care.

It's that pathetic, religious justification of just bad crap happens to the invisible man in the sky waggling a finger at you. There is no need or reason to bring blame on people who can not control it.


Grow up, it's 2011, we don't need Oug the Lightning god to explain natural storms. We don't need divine anger to force our ways as human beings anymore. That is to help shape a society and scare them into morality... today a tidal wave is explainable and it's not your arrogant, pride, masturbation or porn that caused it.

 

[BrEnNo1023]

well it could be worse. The bushfires in Victoria, Australia, that wiped out whole towns, were said by some American church to be divine punishment by God: a cleansing flame to 'burn the Australian beasts' off the planet. No joke, it was actually said.
That kind of thing is infuriating to hear. but...there are worse things to say in a time of crisis.