Post Scripts: The end in our lifetime?

The end in our lifetime?
What caused Hurricane Katrina to devastate the U.S. Gulf coast? Was it a typical late summer storm caused by wind, water and heat? Was it Mother Nature crying out in answer to earth’s pain? Was it because God is displeased with the deportment and rash action of His people on His favorite planet?
It all depends on whom you talk to, or what source of information you discover. It may be whatever is in your heart to believe. Katrina has consolidated peoples’ fears into the growing number of theories similar to those generated in the aftermath of Sept. 11. The fears grew following the Asian Tsunami some time ago which created destruction and death so enormous few of us even today can appreciate or measure its magnitude.
Some New Orleans residents feel the hurricane was directed at the U.S. because of its role in expelling Jews from Gaza. One writer saw the hurricane as a direct result of what we did to Israel – a home for a home. A website columnist described Katrina as the “fist of God.” He says the Bible talks about God shaking His fist “over bodies of water, and striking them randomly.”
At the same time spiritual environmentalists say that hurricanes like Katrina, along with the Asian Tsunami, are signals from Mother Earth letting us know we are using too much fossil fuel. They say they are the consequences of our comeuppance. After all, Katrina forced us to close down oil rigs in the Gulf, the closing of seven oil refineries, as well as a huge oil import terminal. Environmental experts, on the other hand, say our hurricanes are the result of global warming.
Of course you and I have noticed the high price for gasoline. One expert predicted months ago rising costs for gasoline and this week predicted a period of economic hardship and declining incomes. “We are going to see a fight over the table scraps of the 20th century,” he declared.
Stephen O’Leary, a Southern California professor, and recognized as an expert on the media and apocalypticism says: “God’s got a two-fer here. Both sides are eager to see America punished for her sins. On one side its sexual immorality, porn and Hollywood, and on the other side its conspicuous consumption and Hummers (very expensive vehicles.)
Others share this thinking. In a recent CNN poll 55% of those responding believed global warming is causing the severe weather we’ve been having, which is an admission of sorts that a huge hurricane is part of the of the wages of sin. Most polls show 40% of U.S. adults believe our world will end as a result of a supernatural intervention, perhaps with a literal Rapture, Tribulation, Anti-Christ and the Battle of Armageddon. They also believe the Middle East will be “heavily involved” in the End of the World.
Still worse, 40% of us believe the end of the world will come in their lifetime. Please note! That 40% doesn’t include ‘ole Joe.