What do homosexuality, the health-care overhaul and British advertising standards all have in common? They’re all things that have ticked God off, some religious leaders say, and he’s venting his frustration with the angry fires of Iceland’s Eyjafjallajokull volcano.

Moscow’s Interfax newswire reported that the Association of (Russian) Orthodox Experts called the April 14 eruption — whose gigantic cloud of ash grounded transatlantic flights for more than a week — a response to gay rights in Europe and Iceland’s tolerance of “neo-paganism.” Conservative commentator Rush Limbaugh said God was angry over health-care legislation. San Antonio megachurch pastor John Hagee, founder of Christians United for Israel, said God was unleashing his wrath on Britain for deciding that Israeli tourism ads featured parts of the disputed Palestinian territories, not Israel.

The eruption is one in a long line of natural events that some religious leaders have attributed to divine judgment. In short, they say that God is using nature to channel his displeasure with human beings — both the sinners and those who tolerate them — and that we had better shape up. Read more…