The signficance of the Lisbon earthquake for the Enlightenment cannot be overstated: more than any other event of that period, it drove the debate on the existence of God. While virtually no Enlightenment philosophers were traditional or 'orthodox' Christians, most of them started out as at least Deists. The Lisbon earthquake, in which thousands of innocents perished, brought forth a major debate how could any god counted in any way to be 'good' allow such a tragedy. I know it sounds funny today, but it was a big deal.
brought forth a major debate how could any god counted in any way to be 'good' allow such a tragedy. I know it sounds funny today, but it was a big deal.
I still run into people that make that argument.