A Weblog Dedicated to the Discussion of the Christian Faith and 21st Century Life

A Weblog Dedicated to the Discussion of the Christian Faith and 21st Century Life
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I do not seek to understand that I may believe, but I believe in order to understand. For this also I believe, –that unless I believed, I should not understand.-- St. Anselm of Canterbury (1033-1109)

Monday, September 08, 2014

When Religion Goes Wrong, It Goes Very Wrong

from Timothy George, First Things:
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Perhaps no one has done more to alert the world of the atrocities carried out in Iraq and Syria than Canon Andrew White, the Vicar of St. George's Cathedral in Baghdad. In his 2013 book, Father, Forgive, he wrote:
"The sad fact is, religion is very much tied up with violence. As Archbishop William Temple said during the II World War, 'When religion goes wrong, it goes very wrong.' The apostle John, recording the words of Jesus in his gospel wrote, 'the time is coming when anyone who kills you will think they are offering a service to God. They will do such things because they have not known the Father or me' (John 16:2-3). This is what we have witnessed in our time."
Cardinal Wuerl was right: Atrocities happen because there are those who commit them, and those who simply remain silent. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, whose own life ended on the gallows, knew this very well. "Silence in the face of evil," he said, "is evil itself. God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act."
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The entire post can be read here.

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