Abstract

Both the Hebrew and Christian scriptures interpret disasters. Discussion did not end at the close of the biblical era, however, but has continued throughout Christian history and a number of Leibnizian models of theodicy have been developed. In the past few decades there has been a sea-change in both Christian attitudes towards disasters and in the ways in which losses are viewed by hazard researchers. From the perspective of the latter, an approach that envisions disasters as being primarily caused by extreme physical events has been largely replaced by one in which disasters are studied as social constructs, with an emphasis being placed on human vulnerability. From the perspective of Christian theology, greater prominence is now given to viewing disasters as events that represent human sinfulness which is manifested in national and international disparities in wealth, poverty, hazard preparedness and disaster losses. Greater focus is placed on Christian praxis, rather than merely trying to understand the nature of divine responsibility. It is argued that these new hazard analytical and theological perspectives are synergetic: allowing on the one hand churches, their members as well as their leaders, more fully to engage in disaster relief; whilst, on the other, enabling civil defence planners more effectively to use the often considerable human and financial resources of Christian communities and their charitable agencies.