I wonder how many people thanked God for their survival following the Lisbon earthquake of 1755?
An estimated 40,000 to 60,000 people perished when an earthquake hit Lisbon on All Saints Day, many of those who died were attending celebratory services in the city's cathedral and churches.
Did the Lord select who lived or died that day, and if so, on what premise did he make his choice?
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Natural disaster is something that prayer can't avoid. If there are still many people trust on their gods up to this date how much more 2 centuries ago?
Mysticrose, from your comment it can be assumed that prayer can influence things other than natural disasters. Can you enlighten me on what these may be?
Maybe he wanted them to go to heaven early
Earthquakes caused by the movements of plates on the earth’s surface are going to occur when the pressure in a subduction zone dictates movement. Praying won’t affect anything, if people live near faults that is the risk they take. Attributing earthquakes to a god is what people (unfortunately some still do) did out of ignorance. Similar to thinking the world is flat.
If the world was flat, we wouldn't have earthquakes.
It took theists a while to figure that out LOL Problem is they resist evidence contrary to their beliefs for a long time before they finally come to reality. Poor Galileo was treated unfairly for observing the planets revolve around the sun.
But prayer is a pretty good labor saving device (read with snarky voice).