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Only Love Can Conquer Terrorism

Submitted by stereoman on January 2, 2006 - 7:45pm.
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I came across this wonderful sermon a few days ago. Wonderful, I call it, because it refutes so many of the stereotypes that are notoriously associated with mainline Christianity today, and because it offers a new way of thinking, and possibly acting, toward our fellow citizens of more traditional Christian faiths. I think it is a mistake to assume that the prevailing foreign policies of bullying and pre-emptive attacks are automatically - and hypocritically - accepted by our Christian siblings. It would do us all a world of good, I believe, to test that theory as frequently as possible.

Quote:
The new Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, exhorted the country to defeat terrorists by countering their vision of evil with a daring message of love.

Dr Sentamu told a congregation in York Minster that Britain needed to create neighbourhoods that were "flourishing, safe, clean and generous".

Then it must recognise that the masterminds behind the bombers were inspirational, although their vision was used solely for evil.

Thirdly, he continued: "The only way to overcome terrorism is to out-imagine it."

He said the challenge was to offer "a vision of wholeness in a compelling and imaginative way that is so persuasive that would-be bombers would come to see this as their own vision".

"Relying on tough laws alone won't do it," said Dr Sentamu. "Together, we can out-imagine, out-plan and out-think would-be bombers and turn would-be enemies into friends. On our own, we can't get it together."

Only Love Can Counter Terrorism, Archbishop Says
Jonathan Petrie
London Daily Telegraph
12/26/2005

While those of us who are more secularly inclined might make these same judgments in terms of "promoting the common good", or even in strictly economic terms of the vastly lesser cost of "turning would-be enemies into friends", the arguments take on even more validity when they are viewed in a moral or spiritual framework. It seems natural to me that secular humanists would find more allies than adversaries among religious folks, as long as the debate is framed in a way that appeals to the basic morality of their religions. Remarkably, the most prevalent religions share a basic morality that is at is core a humanistic one.

Steve