19 February 2011 | 4 comments

Responding to disaster Rachel Macdonald

Luke Isham19/02/2011 10:56 AM

Thanks for the quote Rachel, it helps explain the “why” of disasters. However how do we measure let alone respond to disasters? Knox mentions within a short space, the Hobart Bridge ‘disaster’, which I can almost see from my window, and famine in Ethiopia, a long way from home. 

Is it the disasters that catch the attention of most people or should we use some sort of other measure?  Then if it is a disaster, how do we respond?

Rachel Macdonald19/02/2011 04:44 PM

Hi Luke,

Hmm, interesting thoughts.

I think it is difficult to measure when something is a disaster because the term is quite flexible. If someone asked me how my day was, I could even answer that it was a disaster! We may need to accept that it’s a fluid word and go from there. Is that what you were talking about, or did you mean something different?

As to how we respond, what do you think? Where would you start?

Luke Isham19/02/2011 05:15 PM

I think defining and responding to disasters is related to the “being in the world but of it” discussion.

Our modern media measures disasters by their visual impact, economic fallout and causality count.  But what about a disaster’s philosophical and cultural impact? While the Hobart Bridge “disaster” was tragic for those who lost family and friends it pales in comparison with some of the African famines Knox mentions. But should we be more concerned for things that are closer or have greater direct personal impact? 

I don’t know the answers but I think Neil Postman is right when he remarks that since the age of the telegraph we live in an over-stimulated and over-informed world.  When it comes to responding I’m reluctant to answer because I don’t want to be seen as callous.

Joe Towns01/03/2011 08:40 PM

Thanks Rachel, that’s helpful.

Luke 13:1-5 is a great example of Jesus preaching the gospel from BOTH natural disaster and human evil: Galileans die under Pilate, others come under a falling tower. Jesus raises a question of sin and guilt, and goes straight to a gospel of ‘repent or perish’.

The more I hear of Broughton Knox the more I appreciate his work.

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