School Shooting, Justice & Peace
Almost 6 months after the school shooting, many of us are still stunned by the reaction of the Amish community to that hideous massacre. Little bits of information may leak out, but their community is so reclusive that getting a handle on what they did, why they did it, and HOW they did it is very difficult.
Scheduled Speaking Engagement
As part of a series of discussions at Ashland Center for Non-Violence, an articulate and known Amish gentleman was scheduled to speak about the astonishing forgiveness the community showed, not only to the murderer's family, but to the murderer himself.
Reclusiveness or Privacy?
Indeed, the Amish are so private that this gentleman who had agreed to speak about this was actually silenced for a year, by his entire community. He was not present to speak.
The meeting went on as planned, however, now the speaker was a Mennonite, who focused on the similarities in theology and religious understandings that correspond between the Amish and Mennonite communities. It did shed some light on questions, and yet it was not the same kind of powerhouse it might have been.
Wise as Serpents, Innocent as Doves
I stayed for the entire discussion, question and answer period, and briefly for a bit of socialization afterward. I took notes, asked questions, made comments. By the time I was going to my car to leave, I felt the Amish community had made the correct and wisest decision possible.
Contempt: Flaming, Oozing, Dripping, Double-Edged Dagger Style
As part of this series on peace and justice, there is scheduled an Islamic speaker to discuss these matters in Islamic religion & theology.
He was in the audience for this talk as a participant, most likely to be as informed as possible about the mindset and thinking of the 'peace community' in America. Also part of CAIR, in accompanying documents he was presented to be an expert in Islamic peace.
((The series continues with a presentation on forgiveness in Islam at 7 p.m. March 1, also in Myers Convocation Center. Isam Zaiem, chairman of the Cleveland branch of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, will speak on "Forgiveness Teachings and Practices in Islam."))
This representative also participated, commented and asked questions of the Mennonite speaker. However, his questions were so full of contempt for the Amish, for their Christian view, for activities and lifestyle issues, and decisions they made, that the entire room filled with an atmosphere of sharp bitterness. He was repeatedly called upon to ask questions or make comments, and repeatedly brought the same contemptuousness with him, and yet, NOT ONE OF THE ORGANIZERS IN THE ROOM CONFRONTED HIM ON THAT.
There is plenty of room to disagree with how the Amish conducted themselves, about the theology and community practices that made their forgiveness so natural. Yet all of us who understand what the Amish lost, the magnitude of their innocence, the horror of the actual event, what price they've paid, and the price they are still paying, will not hold them in contempt for doing the best they can and remaining faithful to themselves and their God.
It is evil to hold them in contempt and in hatred for it. Yet that evil presence was in the room, given voice, in barely restrained viciousness, all in the context of an ecumenical movement for peace.
Problems with the Peace and Justice Movement
The goals and ideals of the peace and justice movement are important ideals, and something every reasoning Christian encultured person can advocate. We understand that one cannot have a secure and reliable economy, safe schools, or life, liberty and a pursuit for happiness without peace (def.: the absence of violence to the degree possible).
The ideals and benefits of living in a peaceful society are NOT the problem. The problem comes in with foundational assumptions of definitions and practices that virtually guarantee that not peace, but slaughter, will be our future. I will discuss these things in future posts.
Get Out of Her, My People, That You Do Not Share in Her Sins!
The Amish were, once again, very wise in sparing themselves the exposure to this contempt. It is a function of an intractable misunderstanding of their lives, their thinking, and of what forgiveness truly is for them. They could explain it. They will not be heard. Most of us don't even understand what forgiveness IS, don't know whether we have forgiven or not even when we try. This is not confused for the Amish, or for Islam, as it is for the rest of us.
They have done as their consciences have dictated. Their God knows the situation in far more depth than anyone else can. That, in the final analysis, is the only important thing. No further explanations are necessary or beneficial.
The One Commonality with Islam
The Amish have one commonality with Islam. They LIVE, and pay the price for, what their Holy Book says. It defines for them exactly what 'Peace' and 'Forgiveness' really is. They are willing to genuinely live that, to pay the price, and have everyone in their community pay the price, for that peace and forgiveness. Islam too, has their own understanding of 'Peace' and 'Forgiveness.' They also are willing for everyone in their community, indeed, everyone around them outside of their community, to pay the price to bring it about.
For the Amish, Jesus IS peace. The crucifixion is forgiveness.
For Islam, global Islam IS peace. Conversion to Islam is forgiveness.
The Amish knew they had no business at that meeting, playing games of 'kumbaya' and sacrificing their spiritual power, or placing it in the way of hatred and contempt. They were right.
More later.
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