CNN: "He was simply a lone guy who had issues, problems, psychopathic behaviors that escalated to the point where he wanted to get back at society, and he took it out on his workmates like most of them do," he said.
This is exactly what I dared to say out loud on Sunday. I was simultaneously "checked" by half a dozen people telling me how wrong I was; that he is a terrorist; and that Muslims should always be expected to do this sort of thing. What was I thinking.
8 comments:
I heard the same thing. And people wonder why the world isn't crazy about Christians.
yea- what's not to love--besides the hate.
I was having the same discussion yesterday, though thankfully the other person shared our frustration over the over-simple hate response to Islam and Muslims in general. I know that the best critique of the bad is the practice of the better, but I just don't want to get excommunicated or worse! sigh...
Peace,
Jamie
Jamie- I've been wondering for myself if excommunication might be just the thing... :-/
Cindy, the problem is you WERE thinking! As opposed to kneejerk prejudice, which requires no thought whatsoever and so is easier.
It would appear that the more information that comes out about the major, the more you are proven correct. Of course, for people who hold a prejudice facts are irrelevant, as in do not confuse me with the facts I have my mind made up.
I have significant experience among Muslims including having lived only an hours drive from Mecca. It is interesting to me that some Muslims would hold a similar view of Christians, that we are terrorists, since we bomb, kill, maim, insult, humiliate and degrade them. My point is not to criticize them for this, because they have a point, but that it is far too easy to misjudge groups and individuals as opposed to see them as they, and we, all are: fallen people, created in the image of God and in need of redemption. Yes, even this major is a victim.
traveller- your thoughts are helpful to me since you've traveled and lived in so many and more diverse places than I.
In spite of my lack of world travel, I can still see why those outside the U.S. can misunderstand us as they often do. Because of that, I can assume that I, too, may misunderstand them. Why, I wonder, is it so common for church folk to absolutely refuse to imagine themselves in others' shoes? My understanding of the golden rule requires doing just that.
Rhetorical question, of course. Just part of my working through.
Cindy, your question is an excellent one. Personally, I think this is an example of lack of spiritual maturity which expresses itself, in part, as loyalty to country taking precedence over loyalty to the Kingdom and the King. We have a cultural christianity in the US which has become a civil religion. Sadly, this permeates our churches.
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