ABSTRACT
It has even been argued that disasters were a catalyst in the emergence of monotheist religion. Around 600 BCE, Judah suffered the geopolitical disaster of being conquered and then deported by the Babylonians in various waves. And yet, there was evil. From the earliest moments in history, religion needed to somehow reconcile the simultaneous existence of a benevolent and omnipotent god with the existence of disaster and suffering. There is a purist Christian view which says that nobody can ever live a fully righteous life. The reason is that nobody can ever obey everything that has ever been commanded. Believing that suffering is deserved because of moral failings can make a disaster worse. It can intensify the cognitive and emotional distress of those thrown into a situation of suffering. One biblical book quite literally addresses the question of why people suffer for "no reason". It is the Book of Job.
