ELCA Presiding Bishop Mark S. Hanson wrote that Osama bin Laden’s death is “an occasion for solemn remembrance.”
What’s your response? How does your Christian faith factor in to your consideration of bin Laden’s death?
ELCA Presiding Bishop Mark S. Hanson wrote that Osama bin Laden’s death is “an occasion for solemn remembrance.”
What’s your response? How does your Christian faith factor in to your consideration of bin Laden’s death?
I'm sure this makes me seem like an enormous nerd, but a friend posted this response on Facebook, and it resonated with me as I thought about such a significant event. I really don't take this text lightly -- there's a great deal of solemnity and wisdom in this artful passage:
“‘I am sorry,’ said Frodo. But I am frightened; and I do not feel any pity for Gollum.’
‘You have not seen him,’ Gandalf broke in.
‘No, and I don’t want to,’ said Frodo. ‘I can’t understand you. Do you mean to say that you, and the Elves, have let him live on after all those horrible deeds? Now at any rate he is as bad as an Orc, and just an enemy. He deserves death.’
‘Deserves it! I daresay he does. Many that live deserve death. And some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them? Then do not be too eager to deal out death in judgement. For even the very wise cannot see all ends.’
- Lord of the Rings, Book 1, Chapter 2, “The Shadow of the Past”
I found that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. wrote some words in his book The Strength of Love that summed up my thoughts.
"Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. Hate multiplies hate, violence multiplies violence, and toughness multiplies toughness in a descending spiral of destruction. So when Jesus says “Love your enemies,” he is setting forth a profound and ultimately inescapable admonition. Have we not come to such an impasse in the modern world that we must love our enemies– or else? The chain reaction of evil–hate begetting hate, wars producing wars–must be broken."
"I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy."