Tsunamis used to be considered Acts of God.
We now know that they are actually a natural disaster.
The difference in choice of words isn’t just artistic preference.
If you believe that the disaster that has just befallen you is because god got mad,
You are likely to spend your time and money trying to appease that god so it doesn’t happen again.
If, on the other hand, you believe that the disaster was natural in origin,
You are much more likely to spend your time and money planning how to cope with such disasters.
While some people dislike the idea that natural disasters are, well, natural and therefore beyond human control.
The fact is that people who accept this reality are going to be better prepared for the next disaster.
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