Theology Trying to Make Sense of Natural Disasters
Some Contemporary Theological Perspectives on Natural Evil
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.12775/SetF.2026.010Keywords
theodicy, religious coping, function of religion, believing, religious evolution, theology of crossAbstract
Natural disasters present a significant challenge to engaged theology, particularly following the decline of traditional explanations that relied on the model of divine punishment. The ongoing occurrence of such catastrophes has become a scandal and is frequently used as a critique of divine providence and goodness. In response, theology has moved beyond earlier models to develop more nuanced answers, drawing on alternative frameworks that offer greater flexibility and depth, after considering merits and flaws of available theodicies. This article reviews contemporary theological approaches to the problem of natural disasters and explores new opportunities provided by research on the function of religion, religious coping mechanisms, and the processes of belief.
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