Some of the charged responses to inexplicable tragedies like this are only understandable. And some are clearly standing in the way of both greater healing and more effective prevention of future violence.
Much has been said about the Christian nationalism present in the hate crime mass shooting in Buffalo, including by us in the Public Square Bulletin. In fact a search for “Buffalo Shooting” and “Christianity” all center on the Christianity of the shooter, whether decrying the role religion played in leading to the shooting or taking efforts to separate religion from the actions of the shooter. But little has been said about the faith of the victims and community. This is a common thread in media reporting on tragedies, focusing on the way religion influenced perpetrators, but not how it helped heal victims. Religion News Services interviewed Rev. Denice Walden about the attack, and she was able to turn the focus to just those too-often underreported questions. Walden said, “We’ve also put out a call to clergy to just be a presence in this community. Just be a presence of peace, a presence of comfort, a presence of love in this community. Because at the end of the day, that’s what’s going to help us start to process. That’s what’s going to help us start to heal.” After the climax of a tragedy has passed, and the journalists move on, those remaining are often left with the long work of healing and community building, and it’s there where religion shines.
A spate of vandalism is targetting Catholic churches in the wake of the leaked opinion reversing Roe v. Wade. https://kdvr.com/news/local/boulder-church-vandalized-for-2nd-time/ This occurs at a time when hate crimes on the basis of religion are on the rise across the country. And most of this violence seems to be based on a mistaken idea about what the actual impact of a Supreme Court Ruling in the Dobbs case would actually mean.
With the upcomin FX/Hulu series portraying The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as a dangerous breeding ground for violence, it’s valuable to reflect on the long history of similar efforts
As valuable as it can be to stay updated on world affairs, the intimate and incessant witnessing of human heartache in the digital age can be overwhelming and distract from other important things. Don’t be afraid to set some boundaries.
As we seek to improve policing in the United States, here are three concrete ideas and fresh practices from the British that we may do well to consider.
The Second Amendment to the US Constitution talks about the right to bear arms but also talks about a well-regulated militia. It’s time to talk about how compromise can enable the Second Amendment for the good of all.
Much has been said in recent years about how we are each creating our own little bubbles of reality. Is WandaVision responding and speaking to this cultural trend?
The basic bargain of democracy is that citizens mutually forswear political violence.
If we seek to end direct violence without paying more attention to structural and cultural contributors, will we be successful? Not if we’re paying attention to advice from the Book of Mormon.
Anger and grief can inspire social progress. But they can also turn into rage and despair depending on the way we talk and think about what’s happening.
