ABSTRACT
Geomythology is the study of oral traditions that perpetuate memories of prehistoric geological events, whereas theodicy is any attempt to reconcile theistic belief with the reality of human suffering. During the classical period in Mediterranean Europe, the Etruscan god Velkhan was primarily perceived as an agent of destruction, but was sometimes portrayed as a god of productive fire and the hearth. The emphasis in disaster research changed during the course of the International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction. Muslim culture has had more than a thousand years of experience to come to terms with differing social and political conditions, and this is expressed in considerable diversity. In line with International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR) strategy to take into account public awareness and the need to work with and through local community structures, bringing religious networks into play has the potential to improve interaction between scientists, civil defence authorities, and the local population.
