Atheism Quote by Sam Harris
“Advance warning of Katrina's path was wrested from mute Nature by meteorological calculations and satellite imagery. God told no one of His plans. Had the residents of New Orleans been content to rely on the beneficence of God, they wouldn't have known that a killer hurricane was bearing down upon them until they felt the first gusts of wind on their faces. And yet, as will come as no surprise to you, a poll conducted by The Washington Post found that 80 percent of Katrina's survivors claim that the event only strengthened their faith in God.”
About This Quote
Source Article: The Washington Post, 2005, reporting on Hurricane Katrina
The quote contrasts scientific prediction of natural disasters with reliance on divine will, highlighting that many survivors’ faith grew after the event.
In simple terms: Science can predict storms, but some people still trust God alone.
Key Takeaway
Recognize both science and faith in crisis planning.
Themes
faith
science
disaster response
human resilience
Mood
reflective
serious
hopeful
Type
analytical
inspirational
cautionary
When to use this quote
- emergency preparedness
- community counseling
- public policy
- personal coping
Key Concepts
probability
belief
psychology
risk perception
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you balance scientific warnings with personal beliefs?
- What role should faith play in disaster preparedness?
A Different Perspective
Faith may deter proactive safety measures, increasing vulnerability.
![“Moderates in every faith are obliged to loosely interpret (or simply ignore) much of their canons in the interests of living in the modern world. [...] The first thing to observe about the moderate’s retreat from scriptural literalism is that it draws its inspiration not from scripture but from…” quote by Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/b44/sam-harris-457_bible_moderates-in-every-faith-are-obliged-to_6967.jpg)
