2004-earthquake-and-tsunami Quote by Christopher Hitchens
““What struck me, in reading the reports from Sri Lanka, was the mild disgrace of belonging to our imperfectly evolved species in the first place. People who had just seen their neighbors swept away would tell the reporters that they knew a judgment had been coming, because the Christians had used alcohol and meat at Christmas or because ... well, yet again you can fill in the blanks for yourself. It was interesting, though, to notice that the Buddhists were often the worst. Contentedly patting an image of the chubby lord on her fencepost, a woman told the New York Times that those who were not similarly protected had been erased, while her house was still standing. There were enough such comments, almost identically phrased, to make it seem certain that the Buddhist authorities had been promulgating this consoling and insane and nasty view. That would not surprise me.””
About This Quote
Source Article: The New York Times, 2005
He observes that people blame divine judgment for tragedies, noting Buddhist responses often seemed most extreme, reflecting human tendency to find meaning in suffering.
In simple terms: People look for blame in faith during disaster.
Key Takeaway
Question assumptions, seek evidence.
Themes
faith
blame
human nature
Mood
critical
thoughtful
Type
analytical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- war aftermath
- natural disaster
- social commentary
Key Concepts
theodicy
cultural bias
psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- How does culture shape coping?
- What alternative explanations exist?
A Different Perspective
Not all religious responses are the same; context matters.
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