# Have any religious leaders explained the Iceland volcano as God's punishment?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-any-religious-leaders-explained-the-iceland-volcano-as-gods-punishment/536763
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
**Created:** [April 20, 2010, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-any-religious-leaders-explained-the-iceland-volcano-as-gods-punishment/536763 "2010-04-20T16:43:54Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)
#### Post date: [April 20, 2010, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-any-religious-leaders-explained-the-iceland-volcano-as-gods-punishment/536763/1 "2010-04-20T16:43:54Z")
It’s just seems so easy----
A major earth-shaking event, and such a photogenic one, too,…just _has_ to be God punishing people for their sins, doesn’t it?.
Because, ya know, it just seems the kind of thing that an angry god would do to those evil …(fill in the blank with your favorite hatred here)
I seem to recall that Hurricaine Katrina was “caused” by gays, etc…
So what are the religious nutjobs telling us about this one?
Or is it to be left forever unexplained, because nobody can pronouce Eyjafjallajokull ?
(mods–if you move this to MPSIMS, I’ll assume that it’s because God warned you to do so.)
---
### Author:  [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)
#### Post date: [April 20, 2010, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-any-religious-leaders-explained-the-iceland-volcano-as-gods-punishment/536763/2 "2010-04-20T16:51:13Z")
> [@chappachula](#):
>
> (mods–if you move this to MPSIMS, I’ll assume that it’s because God warned you to do so.)
Actually, this seems more like a rant than a genuine GQ, so I’m going to move it to the Pit. All the commentary about “religious nutjobs” and so forth make the OP unsuitable for GQ.
Colibri
General Questions Moderator
---
### Author:  [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)
#### Post date: [April 20, 2010, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-any-religious-leaders-explained-the-iceland-volcano-as-gods-punishment/536763/3 "2010-04-20T16:56:45Z")
> [@Colibri](#):
>
> Actually, this seems more like a rant than a genuine GQ, so I’m going to move it to the Pit. All the commentary about “religious nutjobs” and so forth make the OP unsuitable for GQ.
>
> Colibri
> General Questions Moderator
my apologies…I shouldn’t have said nutjobs—I should have said “extremists” or something.
I didn’t really intend to be mean and pit-worthy. I was hoping for a more light-hearted thread.
(besides.. nobody can actually pronounce Eyjafjallajokull ) 🙂
---
### Author:  [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)
#### Post date: [April 20, 2010, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-any-religious-leaders-explained-the-iceland-volcano-as-gods-punishment/536763/4 "2010-04-20T17:06:04Z")
Why would God be angry? They’re white and have a flat tax.
---
### Author:  [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)
#### Post date: [April 20, 2010, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-any-religious-leaders-explained-the-iceland-volcano-as-gods-punishment/536763/5 "2010-04-20T17:11:52Z")
Obviously God’s punishment for them defaulting on their bank debts and the involvement of Britain and other nations in that process.
---
### Author:  [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)
#### Post date: [April 20, 2010, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-any-religious-leaders-explained-the-iceland-volcano-as-gods-punishment/536763/6 "2010-04-20T17:14:50Z")
While I’d not put anything past Pat Robertson’s attempts to imply divine retribution, the affected here just seem so disparate and innocuous. Who are they going to point the finger at?
---
### Author:  [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)
#### Post date: [April 20, 2010, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-any-religious-leaders-explained-the-iceland-volcano-as-gods-punishment/536763/7 "2010-04-20T17:31:12Z")
> [@lieu](#):
>
> While I’d not put anything past Pat Robertson’s attempts to imply divine retribution, the affected here just seem so disparate and innocuous. Who are they going to point the finger at?
Gay vikings?
---
### Author:  [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)
#### Post date: [April 20, 2010, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-any-religious-leaders-explained-the-iceland-volcano-as-gods-punishment/536763/8 "2010-04-20T17:34:30Z")
Is that a Hammer of the Gays in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me?
---
### Author:  [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)
#### Post date: [April 20, 2010, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-any-religious-leaders-explained-the-iceland-volcano-as-gods-punishment/536763/9 "2010-04-20T17:52:14Z")
> [@chappachula](#):
>
> (besides.. nobody can actually pronounce Eyjafjallajokull ) 🙂
Sure I can. It’s pronounced " Eyjafjallajokull".
---
### Author:  [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)
#### Post date: [April 20, 2010, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-any-religious-leaders-explained-the-iceland-volcano-as-gods-punishment/536763/10 "2010-04-20T17:57:27Z")
> [@chappachula](#):
>
> (besides.. nobody can actually pronounce Eyjafjallajokull )
Except for Al Roker.
---
### Author:  [@ivan\_astikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivan_astikov)
#### Post date: [April 20, 2010, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-any-religious-leaders-explained-the-iceland-volcano-as-gods-punishment/536763/11 "2010-04-20T18:02:29Z")
> [@chappachula](#):
>
> my apologies…I shouldn’t have said nutjobs—I should have said “extremists” or something.
> I didn’t really intend to be mean and pit-worthy. I was hoping for a more light-hearted thread.
> (besides.. nobody can actually pronounce Eyjafjallajokull ) 🙂
It’s **Eva-lay-vuk** , ffs! Won’t anybody listen to me? :mad:
---
### Author:  [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)
#### Post date: [April 20, 2010, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-any-religious-leaders-explained-the-iceland-volcano-as-gods-punishment/536763/12 "2010-04-20T18:02:50Z")
> [@chappachula](#):
>
> Have any religious leaders explained the Iceland volcano as God’s punishment?
You mean, _besides_ [Rush](http://thinkprogress.org/2010/04/17/limbaugh-volcano/)?
---
### Author:  [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)
#### Post date: [April 20, 2010, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-any-religious-leaders-explained-the-iceland-volcano-as-gods-punishment/536763/13 "2010-04-20T18:12:54Z")
> [@chappachula](#):
>
> my apologies…I shouldn’t have said nutjobs—I should have said “extremists” or something.
> I didn’t really intend to be mean and pit-worthy. I was hoping for a more light-hearted thread.
> (besides.. nobody can actually pronounce Eyjafjallajokull ) 🙂
Ok, let’s try MPSIMS for a bit, and then on to IMHO and eventually GD before going back to the Pit . . .🙂
---
### Author:  [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)
#### Post date: [April 20, 2010, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-any-religious-leaders-explained-the-iceland-volcano-as-gods-punishment/536763/14 "2010-04-20T18:29:24Z")
> [@Gorsnak](#):
>
> Gay vikings?
Oh, for the crepes and tittilage. Yes, well, there is that.
---
### Author:  [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)
#### Post date: [April 20, 2010, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-any-religious-leaders-explained-the-iceland-volcano-as-gods-punishment/536763/15 "2010-04-20T18:32:53Z")
I’ve thought about the Phelps clan getting activated over this . . . except that they can’t get over there to picket.
Actually, I’m surprised Al-Qaeda hasn’t claimed responsibility.
---
### Author:  [@Gustav](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gustav)
#### Post date: [April 20, 2010, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-any-religious-leaders-explained-the-iceland-volcano-as-gods-punishment/536763/16 "2010-04-20T18:35:10Z")
Huh, this is actually a bit interesting. I haven’t really seen anything from any religious leaders. Can it be possible that all the nutty religious leaders around the world that always pop up and blame stuff like this on the gays, jews and abortions all thought to themselves “nah, that would be too stupid, we’ll just end up looking like idiots”, leaving Rush Limbaugh as the only one that actually decided “hey this is a really clever point I just thought of”?
---
### Author:  [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)
#### Post date: [April 20, 2010, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-any-religious-leaders-explained-the-iceland-volcano-as-gods-punishment/536763/17 "2010-04-20T18:38:02Z")
> [@Colibri](#):
>
> Ok, let’s try MPSIMS for a bit, and then on to IMHO and eventually GD before going back to the Pit . . .🙂
Let me see if I can follow the entire path of the OP thorough the boards:
**Have any religious leaders explained the Iceland volcano as God’s punishment?**
[ol]
[li]No. Research of recent news reports has yet to reveal a recognized leader of a significant religious sect (greater than 500,000 admitted adherents) connecting the volcanic eruption to a prophetic intent. However, cites to the contrary may be soon be found. [/li][li]Fuck no, and you’re a stoopid doo-doo head for suggesting such a thing. Besides, the OP was erupting with weak sauce. [/li][li]I don’t know, but my kitty’s name is [Ash](http://www.flickr.com/photos/24165035@N06/2486497948/)![/li][li]I think European Web sites are the best source of news and information about this. [/li][li]What do you mean, ‘religious leader’? Someone can be religious and a leader without conflating the two. [/li][li]Oh, figured you’d end up back here again. Lame.[/li][/ol]
---
### Author:  [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)
#### Post date: [April 20, 2010, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-any-religious-leaders-explained-the-iceland-volcano-as-gods-punishment/536763/18 "2010-04-20T18:44:20Z")
No, but here’s a theory I’d love to test:
> **[Women to blame for earthquakes, says Iran cleric](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/apr/19/women-blame-earthquakes-iran-cleric)**
>
> Women behaving promiscuously are causing the earth to shake, according to cleric, as Ahmadinejad predicts Tehran quake
😃
---
### Author:  [@ivan\_astikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivan_astikov)
#### Post date: [April 20, 2010, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-any-religious-leaders-explained-the-iceland-volcano-as-gods-punishment/536763/19 "2010-04-20T18:51:08Z")
> [@](#):
>
> “Many women who do not dress modestly … lead young men astray, **corrupt their chastity** and spread adultery in society, which increases earthquakes,”
The bolded bit is even funnier than the bit about increasing earthquakes! 😃
---
### Author:  [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)
#### Post date: [April 20, 2010, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-any-religious-leaders-explained-the-iceland-volcano-as-gods-punishment/536763/20 "2010-04-20T18:51:16Z")
Paging Pat Robertson! …oh wait, Icelanders are white and Christian. Nevermind.
[Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-any-religious-leaders-explained-the-iceland-volcano-as-gods-punishment/536763.md?page=2)