How to Exalt the Deaths of James Foley and Steven Sotloff

[DemocratsForProgress]

Walter Rhett: How to Exalt the Deaths of James Foley and Steven Sotloff

It takes an unbelievable arrogance to believe the God of your faith demands and applauds the slaughter of innocents. It takes hatred and blindness and a stupidity beyond redemption to believe that God praises the killing of human sacrifices as just and right and will reward those who killed for specious claims with mercy. The ISIL killings are evidence of a malicious design that heralds the destruction of those who falsely believe themselves to be the persecutors of God. Of their open wickedness, God has taken notice; their bitter words are like the wind, and punishment, both human and divine, shall answer their sins. For in God’s wrath, unlike human wrath, there is justice. There will be justice for American reporters James Foley and Steven Sotloff.

But human justice can be propelled by rage and unleash a rabid desire to tear their killers, individually and collectively, into a bloody porridge fed to dogs, then poured into the dirt, then left to turn putrid in the sun. Barring their becoming dog food, many are calling for war. Because of our habitual reliance on war as a tool of justice and punishment, we feel weak and impotent when the drums are not beating; we want to attack and kill.

At the moment in the attack when virtue gives way to thrill, we need courage. Not to confront the enemy but ourselves. Courage finds its power in inner strength, in restraint and patience that adds truth to its case. Truth must always replace anger as a motive and source for restoring justice through good works—where the taking of a life is rendered as a virtue applied to the guilty, cloaked in sorrow and not vengeance covered with boasting and new provocations and threats.

Those who grieve and tremble in rage at the sight of those who seek to find holy pleasure in self-pronounced vengeance, the killing and death of innocent captives, must also remember in the darkness of death is the birth of fear. We must find strength to honor and celebrate the lives of those who have died. Their lives were pure. We should not corrupt the pure. Celebrate their lives in joy. We should stand in awe of their sacrifices and the lives they lived...

More at: http://www.democratsforprogress.com/2014/09/03/how-to-exalt-the-deaths-of-james-foley-and-steven-sotloff/

[phil89]

1. The author doesn't think "god" is ok with human sacrifice?

what is this person talking about with "It takes hatred and blindness and a stupidity beyond redemption to believe that God praises the killing of human sacrifices"? Isn't the sacrifice of "god" in human form the basis for a major religion?