(The following excerpt is taken from Dr. Burke’s book, “Why Doesn’t God Stop Evil?”)

Since the horrific tragedy that took the lives of nearly 3,000 people on September 11, 2001, the question has been asked over and over again, “Where was God when the hijackers struck?”

The tragedy that shocked the world shook the hearts of hundreds of millions across the globe. In my living room I watched the CNN footage in horror as the second plane struck the towers – then in utter disbelief as the towers came crashing down.

How could God allow a catastrophe as horrible as this to happen?

The questions and accusations flew. Mixed in with our grief was an apparent need to place blame. First God was blamed. Then the FBI. Then the CIA. Then Osama Bin Laden. Then the Devil. Then Canada (even though none of the hijackers entered the U.S. from the country).

Then George Bush.

Then we came back full circle to questioning and attacking God.

It seems that we are born predisposed to blaming somebody, some country, or something – otherwise, those irksome questions in our subconscious would frustrate us toward the brink of insanity.

Everywhere I go these days I hear of people who can’t understand how God can allow such horrific tragedies to occur. How can a God who is supposed to be so good allow such evil in his creation?

Because so many questions concerning God have surfaced since the tragedy, I thought it might be helpful if we tackled the tough question, What was God thinking when he allowed the terrorists to strike on 9/11? Though I hope that such a disaster never strikes again, this may be a question that will continue to surface and resonate throughout the decades to come.

Soon after the World Trade Center towers came crashing down there was a rush to interview religious leaders across the country. At first, their consoling and comforting words were sought for those grieving over the heartrending loss of a father, mother, brother, sister, spouse, or child. Then came the inevitable questions that demanded not-so-easy answers.

The responses varied considerably, from Anne Graham Lotz’s statement that God was only being a perfect ‘gentleman’ by backing out of America’s national life as requested by its citizens and courts to Jerry Falwell’s adamant proclamation that God was raining down judgment on America specifically for all its sins of abortion, adultery, pornography, and homosexuality.

Astonishingly, Kenneth Copeland claimed that it wasn’t God’s judgment on Americans at all – but on Muslims because of what the American military would later do.

How do we know what God was really thinking?

(To understand God better on this difficult question, click here for more information on how to purchase, “Why Doesn’t God Stop Evil?”)