Understanding Cataclysmos

When it comes to understanding the nature and extent of cataclysmos as opposed to catastrophe, it is helpful to consider the dreadfully tragic events of 9/11 (2001).

If a small plane had collided with one of the World Trade Center towers that morning, and crashed to the pavement below, killing the pilot and one or two hundred people on the ground, we would consider that to be a terrible accident.

If a passenger jet liner clipped one of the towers, careening out of control across lower Manhatten, crashing to the ground causing wide-scale carnage, and killing several hundred, that would be classified as a catastrophe.

When two jet aircraft were deliberately flown into each of the twin towers killing all on board instantly, causing conflagrations within the buildings, eventually leading to their imminent collapse, killing and injuring thousands, leaving a huge pile of ash and rubble where two 1,350 foot tall structures once stood, that is a cataclysmic event on a limited scale.

Imagine the effects of a global deluge pouring continuously for 960 hours.  That would be a Cataclysmos (Greek = kataklusmos) of unimaginable proportions!