There seems to be a misconception out there that I somehow know the mind of God. I do not claim that degree of prescience, nor did I ever imply that I could. I was speaking as an observer only, and trying to attach a plausible explanation in my own mind.
Correlation does not imply causation. Because Recep Tayyip Erdoğan did in fact show his disagreement with the possibility of including Finland and Sweden in an expansion of NATO, that may or may not have had an influence on the judgment of God, but the judgment of God was by no means limited ONLY to that act of international relations. There are any number of other reasons, but to this observer, this is but one of many that come to mind.
How hard a fetch upside the head do some folks have to have to realize their personal error may in fact be an error?
Righteous anger has its place. But there is also an obligation upon those who exercise it to be sure of their ground before they lash out.
This is what you wrote: "God is smiting Turkey for its intransigence in allowing Sweden and Fenland join NATO."
This is not a statement of a mere observer, seeking to attach a plausible explanation for why the earthquake occurred. This is a definitive assertion, an outright identification of activity on the part of God. You don't get to claim 'correlation does not imply causation' when you yourself asserted it as a statement of fact, complete with a pithy "Karma is a b!$@h" at the end of your original post.
You state: "Because Recep Tayyip Erdoğan did in fact show his disagreement with the possibility of including Finland and Sweden in an expansion of NATO, that may or may not have had an influence on the judgment of God, but the judgment of God was by no means limited ONLY to that act of international relations. There are any number of other reasons, but to this observer, this is but one of many that come to mind."
My particular question is why NATO would even come up at all when it comes to the matter of moral judgment of a nation in the eyes of God? If Turkey were to be smited by God's wrath, their activity with regards to NATO wouldn't even enter the Top 10 as to why.
From an outside perspective, attributing an earthquake to heavenly judgment because of a nation's activity relating a secular military/political alliance?
That's just downright weird.
How ironic is this statement? Boards, splinters, eyes.
You've been whupped up side of the head so many times by so many people on this thread I was beginning to feel sorry for you.
Instead of contradicting yourself over and over and trying to weasel out of what you categorically stated in your #17, why don't you just man up and admit you made the very human error of typing out a knee-jerk reaction because you had Ukraine on the brain?
And while you don't have to admit it to us, maybe you should examine yourself as to whether you have elevated NATO to religious significance and whether that is right and proper. You appear to subscribe to some sort of mishmash New Age sort of "religion" with more than a whiff of Gnosticism to it. Those who have no proper religion tend to worship things unworthy of worship (like NATO, for instance).
And while you're at it, why are you so concerned with NATO and Ukraine you imagine God would smite people in Turkey over it? What is it to you, really? Have you ever even been to Ukraine or Russia? What do you really know about this conflict? And about NATO, for that matter? Again, no need to answer that here, just questions to ask yourself.