Theology of Disaster: Wrestling with God in the Face of Natural and Social Disasters

Learning Hubs

AHT-MS Hub

EVAC Hub

GBV Hub

RFM Hub

MEAL Hub

JLI logo

Conflict Hub

East Africa Hub

Middle East Hub

Syria Hub

About JLI

An international collaboration on evidence for faith actors’ activities, contributions, and challenges to achieving humanitarian and development goals. Founded in 2012, JLI came together with a single shared conviction: there is an urgent need to build our collective understanding, through evidence, of faith actors in humanitarianism and development.

unnamedTeologi Bencana. Pergumulan Iman dalam Konteks Bencana Alam dan Bencana Sosial. (Free translation: Theology of Disaster.  Wrestling with God when Natural and Social Disasters happen.) Published in 2006, edited by Dr Zakaria Ngelow et al.

After the tsunami of December 2004 many if not all believers in Indonesia struggled with questions like “Where was God?”, “Why did this happen?”. The question “How did religious communities respond to the disaster?” was raised too. In June 2005 a group of christian theologians organized a consultation onTheology of Disaster.  Scholars, but also victims of disasters (especially the tsunami and the violent conflicts between christians and muslims 1999-2002) were invited to share experiences and reflections.  As a result a book was published with stories and critical theological reflections, but also practical guidelines for pastors who deal with (the threat of) disaster.

Although it was a consultation on christian theology, Muslims from the disaster areas actively participated and contributed to the book too.

The painting on the cover of the book can be used as a starting point for discussions in local faith communities. The title of the painting is ‘Thy Will Be Done”. Which, according to the artist Ni Ketut Ayu Sri Wardani, does not reflect passivity, but a sincere search for the strength of God, with two open hands.  For a clean copy of the painting, see:

http://www.oaseonline.org/teologibencana/tambahan.html, under Lukisan Sampul “Jadilah KehendakMu”. If you like to use this painting, the artist will happily give permission via [email protected].

See also the website with more information, such as songs, methods, etc.: http://www.oaseonline.org/teologibencana.html