Dared God to Send an Earthquake

In a book entitled Down to Earth, John Lawrence tells the story of a city that dared God to show Himself and paid a terrible price. It seems that the city of Messina, Sicily, was home to many wicked, irreligious people.

On December 25, 1908, a newspaper published in Messina printed a parody against God, daring Him to make Himself known by sending an earthquake.

Three days later, on December 28, the city and its surrounding district was devastated by a terrible quake that killed 84,000 people.