The deepest ethical, philosophical and theological questions are raised by the tsunami disaster in south Asia and the wonderful outpouring of global solidarity in response to it. How, ask many Christian and other religious believers and those who are sceptical of such faith, can a good and omniscient God have allowed it to happen?
Can the question of God's existence be resolved simply by this assumed responsibility for natural or human events? Does humanity's freedom of will to respond compassionately and with love to such disasters not provide the real test of this question? How does the flow of material aid and human empathy to the Indian Ocean countries and peoples affected measure up to that demanding task?
Rarely have questions like these been posed in as direct and challenging a way as over the weeks since the tsunami struck. It is one way of gauging how deeply people have been affected in a much more interdependent global setting. In Ireland and throughout the Christian world the fact that the disaster coincided with the Christmas holiday greatly amplified the religious response and questioning to which it has given rise, as well as the human solidarity shown. As the Primate of All Ireland, Archbishop Seán Brady, put it eloquently in these pages last week: "Why did God not intervene to save these thousands of innocent children, vulnerable elderly people, struggling parents and other good people from the forces of His own creation?"
The depth and sophistication of the theological reflection required is well reflected in articles published by this newspaper today. They raise more questions than answers for the faithful and the sceptical alike. This is in keeping with the point made by Archbishop Brady, that these are "age-old questions, and not adequately answered by soundbites, pious phrases or short articles". While that is undoubtedly true, the anguish and seriousness with which they are raised can only be helped by clarifying what is at stake, helping us to choose among such differing accounts. Thus, to the assertion that humans must accept the tragic nature of their existence and look after each other because no one else will, Seán Freyne argues that "helping others in need can never be for Christians a symptom of the tragic condition of the human lot", but rather "an affirmation of the triumph of love, because God is love and is unconditionally in love with this universe and all its inhabitants".
Figures now show how wholeheartedly Irish people have responded to the tragedy, putting their voluntary contributions among the most generous in the world. The ethical challenge posed by this commitment is practical and political in equal measure. As the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Dermot Ahern, has learned during his visit to the areas affected, there is an imperative need to get aid to the people there in timely and effective fashion and to restore their livelihoods. The long-term political task of harnessing solidarity and justice to their needs can only benefit from this theological questioning.