That’s a really good question… if we rationalize natural disasters that they have purpose you’d think God would have caused them since they were for purpose, however, if you say he didn’t cause them and he just ‘allowed’ them, than it’s just random then right? A random event God knew would happen but the purpose was met? Good thoughts you’ve brought up for me here, not sure if I’m on the same page as you… But not something I’ve ever thought about.
Tentative-
Sometime here in the next day or so, I’m going to create a new thread where I present an atheistic argument based on some of the ideas I’m poking at in this thread. Unfortunately, I’m suspecting that the ineffable God will actually be hit by the argument harder than the regular old effed one, but on the other hand, I’m not that familiar with the concept, so I’d curious to see what you have to say about it!
Clun29 - Glad I gave you something to think about!
I’m waiting on tenterhooks… 
Tent,
I fully understand why babies and kids have to die. I just do not have to like it. The problem I see is that no matter what you do there will be suffering or catastrophes. We need it to grow. The best plants are always grown with manure. This is a school for us. It is up to us and no other how we and what we learn. I would say even a superior being has its own problems and catastrophes so that it too may learn and grow.
Uccisore:
The God(dess) I believe in doesn’t actually DO anything, She IS everything, and everything that happens is part of the working out of Her being. Including everything I do, of course.
With that proviso, there are things that happen that I am not happy about, obviously. But since I don’t see the universe as being designed for me, or even for my species, that doesn’t present theological problems.
Does that answer your question?
Hi Kris,
Of course you don’t like watching a child die, but I was speaking of those who believe in a personal all-knowing God. You’re a heathen. 
You see things a bit differently than those who believe in a loving God that intervenes on the behalf of the righteous. God answers prayer, right? Then how could… That was my point.
The universe is processual, the coming into being and returning is spontaneous and novel… BTW, have you cracked the cover of that book I sent you? 
Yes, I have and I am enjoying it very much, My reading time has been cut back horribly. I am reading it and several others when and if I get chances to sit for a short spell. We are finally able to afford repairs on our home. All expenses are coming out of our pockets not Fema or insurance. Oh except for a piddly 500 from each. How are you going to put a roof on, put new dry wall up, new insulation, new windows, paint, replace rotting wood, for 1000? The repairs are going to set us back about 5,000 or 10,000, LOL and we are one of the lucky ones to have such little damage.
As per God answering prayers, Tent, I don’t think most religious sane people actually have the amount of faith required to actually believe their God will answer their prayers. People pray out of sheer hope more then faith. Perhaps religion is more hope than faith anyway. Faith and hope are actually quite close emotionally.