Fighting Terrorism with an Inclusive Circle of Love

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Fighting Terrorism with an Inclusive Circle of Love

by John Little on 8/07/2006

Archbishop of York Dr John Sentamu has called for the country to fight would-be suicide bombers with love. Don’t blame the folks who walk into cafes and subways with explosives. No, they have “grievances” that need to be addressed. We’re the ones who need to change and it starts with building an inclusive circle of love:

In his presidential address to the Church of England’s ruling body, Dr Sentamu said it was not enough to rely on security services and laws alone.

Instead the country needed to “out-imagine, out-plan and out-think” would-be bombers, he told the General Synod at York University.

This could be done by building an “inclusive circle of love”, he said.

Dr Sentamu said neighbourhoods which were flourishing, safe, clean and generous needed to be created.

He also said the grievances of would-be bombers needed to be tackled.

Maybe I’m just cranky. Religious leaders are supposed to talk up inclusive love circles. Well, except in Islam where they punish adulterers with death by stoning, hang gay teenagers, and amputate the hands of petty thieves. But once we build our love circle they’ll come around right?

Anyway, Keep pushing the circle of love stuff. I just hope the people who have to protect us aren’t paying much attention.

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There are 3 comments in this article:

8/07/2006drew says:

this is an interesting concept. it is not new at all as Jesus told us in Matthew 22:36-40 to love thy neighbor. in Matthew 5:43 it says ‘you have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.’ with that in mind if we love our enemies than who is, in fact, our enemy? coming back to the topic at hand. are these bombers, terrorists, and international hoodlums not our enemies? hardly. the ideals they have been raised on are our enemy. this does not take away the fact that as a nation (christian or not) there are international conflicts to deal with. there is war at hand. the old testament if filled with words of war that tell us the Lord is a warrior, He sends us to war when serving Him, etc. yes, love circles are good in theory. unfortunately, i don’t think they will rectify thousands of years of nationalism and religious teachings nor will it bring our men and women home any earlier. we must keep focused on the right path and know that with that path in sight…our steps are guided.

drew.
11/07/2006Dave Wright says:

It’s all very well having this illusionary”circle of love”, recommended by the Arch Bishop of York, but one has to earn what one gets. This constant
harping on about the grievances of minority groups to the exclusion of the native born is causing divisions among the people. Yes I’m a migrant to this country and am now retired and belong to an organisation which assists migrants and I do it because I still believe and like people. I meet many people from Middle Eastern cultures and all they want is the same things as you and I. If you come to my door and ask for help I will give it, but if you come to rob me or kill me, or my wife or child, then the “circle of love” will be rescinded from that point.

Another thing I am sick and tired of people running down the Americans. The Americans have tried to help many nations and possibly the good
Arch Bishop of York has never heard of the Marshall Plan, I suggest he reads about a much earlier Arch Bishop who went to war with the Northern English against the Scots.

Anyway Cheers
12/07/2006Euphoric Reality says:

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