After the heinous mass shootings in Orlando last week, there was a lot of commotion on whom to blame. Needless to say, it was the shooter's fault. Some on the left agree with the right: that Islam is inherently violent, and it might be so (I really don't know as its theology goes-I don't have an interest in studying it). Nevertheless, history of Christianity (and Judaism) will show the violence perpetrated. The OT had called for genocide, e.g., I Samuel 15, and later Roman Judea had terrorist, the Sicarii. Violence, it seems, is part of the grand narrative of horrible human nature, a consequence of sin. One can easily see this in reading Thucydides. Yes, Pericles spoke great of Athens' democracy and the finest qualities of its people, but after the plague, people had no limits in their debauchery. Now, I am not condoning violence; I am against it wholeheartedly. I pray that I have no need for it ever-(part of faith requires that we trust in God, especially when violence is an answer). What I wish to say is that violence is a part of reality. No one in their right mind wants to experience it. And those who do need to be kept away from society. I wish violence on no one, too, whether I disagree with someone completely. And this is my point: I, as a Christian, wish violence on no one, especially a heinous murder such as what happened in Orlando, even though traditional Christianity disagrees with the practice of homosexuality. I am still found, however, to be blamed for an act which I condemn.
https://twitter.com/Residente/status/742147412924506112
Here and there, one will find some who feel that we, as traditional Christians, are complicit in the attacks in Orlando. We are not. My beliefs are that which I find in ancient Christianity, as is the case for many Christians. Just as many
Muslims disagree with the practice of homosexuality, they are also not guilty for the shootings, even though they are Muslims, as the Orlando shooter claimed to be. It is absurd to spread guilt on those who disagree with one on something for something someone else did. My lovely older (not quite elderly) traditional Mexican mom is not to blame, nor is her mother or father. Likewise, neither are those from older generations who are not even Christians to be blamed. It is the act of the shooter. This is not to say that he worked off of a clean slate, but whether his slate was clean (which it was not) or filled with self-loathing or hate, it simply cannot be blamed on every group that might share some similarities. To try to rid opposing views simply by blaming them for actions that weren't their own is lazy and irresponsible. Now, as a citizen, one's sexuality is one's own business. It would be equally wrong for me to attempt to rid homosexuality from our society, and the world. Nevertheless, as a Christian, I see sexuality as clearly placed in the scriptures and its practice clearly defined. Hence, the churches with which I affiliate see things differently than others, and it's okay. We can disagree.
