Interfaith Insight - 2023
Permanent link for What is my response to the escalating violence in the world? by Douglas Kindschi, Sylvia and Richard Kaufman Founding Director, Kaufman Interfaith Institute, GVSU on November 7, 2023
I grieve along with nearly everyone regarding the situation now developing in the world today, especially the increased violence in the Middle East. Pope Francis has called for peace, as did Jesus two thousand years earlier in one of the Beatitudes: “Blessed are the Peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God.” As did the Psalmist, centuries earlier: “Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.” (Psalm 34) As did the Quran: “The servants of the Lord of Mercy are those who walk humbly on the earth, and who, when the foolish address them, reply, ‘Peace.’” (Sura 25:63, Abdel Haleem translation)
An earlier Interfaith Insight addressed the danger of retaliation, which nearly always produces even more violence and suffering, and rarely leads to peace. As one who has tried to engage all religious perspectives, when it comes to geo-political divisions it is difficult to respond to such divisions apart from the religious teachings of our traditions. The prophet Micah clearly answers the question, “What does the Lord require of you?” with “To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8) In the current conflicts, where is justice and mercy? Is there any humility in the responses?
King Abdullah II of Jordan at the recent Cairo Summit for Peace began his statement with the following words: “Our religion came with a message of peace. The Pact of Omar, issued at the gates of Jerusalem almost 15 centuries ago, more than a thousand years before the Geneva Conventions, ordered Muslim soldiers not to kill a child, a woman, or an old person, not to destroy a tree, not to harm a priest, not to destroy a church.”
He continued that this admonition should apply to both sides of the conflict. It is also clear that religious teachings are rarely applied to matters of politics and national self-interest. It is also clear that my own ideas will have no impact on such geo-political issues.
So what is my response?
It is difficult not to respond, but the response should be in the form of non-violent protest. It is sad when violence at national levels becomes violence at the individual level. Protests that turn into hate campaigns, Islamophobia, or antisemitism only make things worse.
Individuals who take ortry to take violent action, like the Cornell University student who threatened to kill Jewish students or attack an on-campus kosher dining facility, or like the Chicago landlord who killed a six-year-old by stabbing him 26 times because the child was Muslim, can never be tolerated.
Let us as individuals and communities learn from our religious traditions the proper responses when nations and others commit violence. Yes, we should protest, we should work for peace, and we should seek mercy. As we seek justice, walking humbly might keep us from adding to the violence in our world.
Shalom, Salaam, Peace!