2016-07-27

Is Religion to Blame?

"It's the politics of religion that causes things like today to happen. It is pure evil. To say it is because someone is a Muslim that this happened is a lie. To say that Christians could never do this is also a lie. People--human beings--did this...Sadly, it is the few who have made the declarations. The many must suffer the consequences wrought by the few."

--aorto
Respond

Discussions

Beliefnet members react

Talk about the tragedy

More Articles and Resources

Prayer Circle
Post your prayers for the victims and their families

Dalai Lama's letter to President Bush

A Priest on the Frontline
By Rev. Lloyd Prater

Disarming the Heart
By Lama Surya Das

A War Against Terrorism Is Moral
By Rabbi Joseph Telushkin

How you can help

Being Muslim in America Today
By Michael Wolfe

What Happens When You De-Sanctify Life
By Michael Lerner

Let's Not Let Suspicions Run Rampant

"There are some similarities between the Nazi party and the extremist regime of the Taliban, but Nazism was not a religion. It was a political movement. Islam is a religion, with a long history. At the moment, there are some who follow it who are extremist terrorists, but then, there are extremist terrorists who are Protestant extremists who throw bombs at Catholic schoolgirls in Ireland, but I don't see you condemning every Christian in the world for their actions."

--Kitsune
Respond

"How can you hold a whole religion responsible for the actions of a small group of fanatics? That is like blaming all of Christianity for the violent acts of white supremists."

--noodlegirl
Respond
"It's hard for me to understand how the terrorists had any love for God, their fellowman,or any religion."
--ezyduzit
Respond

Dealing With Anti-Muslim Sentiment
"To all Muslims concerned: Please exercise restraint at this time. Obviously people are angry. They don't realise that Muslims are equally angry and strongly condemn what has happened."

--imtiaz
Respond

"I condone the use of whatever force necessary to bring these terrorists to justice. But the Muslims who live among us are not these terrorists. Nor do they do not have the civil or military power to bring the terrorists to justice...I'm asking my fellow non-Muslins to please be wise and fair."

--kc62301
Respond

"Now I am going to have to preach this weekend and tell my people to not take this out on the local Muslims. You have no idea how much that costs me after seeing the justifications for persecution and violence offered in here by Muslims. But don't think I won't call for justice. And don't think I won't support military action against those responsible. And don't think I won't choke when someone inevitable describes Islam as a religion of 'peace'."

--cestusdei
Respond

"If I see any violence toward a Muslim on the street, I for one, will step in between the victim and the perpetrator."

--Kitsune
Respond

"To all Islamic people--I am a Christian who will never descend into the insanity of hating all Islamic people because of the acts of a few. I include all of you in my prayers along with the victims of today's violence in America. I will also remember all the Islamic victims of violence in the world today."

--LPC
Respond

"The sight of people celebrating on the West Bank has only hardened my heart against them."

--kc62301
Respond

"As Salaam Alaikum, I am in my room in Boulder, did not go into work or my meeting after my brother woke me up to give me the terrible news this morning. One of my friends here in Boulder office told me that he'd heard someone say: "All of the Middle East should be bombarded". Obviously, this was no incentive to go to work."

--rozewind
Respond

Osama Bin Laden & Islam
"Bin Laden has shamed the Islamic faith by his muderous actions in the name of the Prophet and in the name of Allah. Muslims who do not lift a finger to stop the shame Bin Laden is bringing to Islam will be held accountable by Allah on the day of judgement. Let their deeds in the weeks and months to come show the world the truth of Islam."

--kc62301
Respond

"Can some knowledgeable Muslims here please help us understand what scriptures or commandments these Taliban terrorists cite as their reasons for thinking Allah wants this? We know this isn't Islam, but that doesn't help us understand how they think & believe that this is true Islam."

--Sage01
Respond

"If Osama is responsible, then the people who are protecting him are the Taliban. The Taliban are no more Muslim than Osama. They don't represent true Islam--they are sick animals abusing religion for their personal gain. I think Muslim countries should condemn the bombings and they have. As a Muslim, I am appalled by what has happened today."

--PERSIANCHICKA
Respond

Next Steps & More Thoughts
"While my first impulse was to demand revenge and turn Afghanistan into a sheet of glass, I know deep within my heart that is not the answer and will only compound the problem. We will find the specific people responsible for this heinous wasting of human life, and they will pay dearly for their actions. I don't know what that looks like, however I know it doesn't look like the wholesale destruction of an entire country, or an equivalent wasting of innocent people."

--bcbarrett
Respond
"I pray to God that the guilty are put to justice and that this never happens again. I pray that the hate of the terrorists who did this does not become contagious and spread to the bystanders. I pray that prejudices and fears are quelled. I pray that the world may unite as one to put an end to terrorism and make sure that nothing of this kind ever happens again."
--mujahid
Respond

"How do we love our enemies in this situation? Who are our enemies?"

--aorto
Respond

more from beliefnet and our partners
Close Ad