I found it hard to know what to think about the death of bin Laden. Couldn't pretend to be happy with all the ways Christians were throwing around the word justice as if that was all there was to it. Had to admit it was pretty easy to peer in from the outside and be altruistic about what should or should not be said. There are probably many editorials one could link to and you've probably read them yourself. As it is I think the best I can do is place a link into my archives that points to a reflection of a 9/11 survivor that is simple, raw, and poignant. Find an excerpt at Experimental Theology: "The Fullness of Christ's Mercy".
Interestingly enough, the post concludes with a postcript saying that "one of the best theological meditations on Christian forgiveness and the memory of wrongdoings" is Miroslav Volf's The End of Memory. I have a paper in the Oxford Research Archive which agrees somewhat but begs to differ in some important ways. Since I'm studying this right now I thought I'd mention that while Volf's End of Memory is a good evocative book on the subject, one would be better to read his Exclusion and Embrace, or Gregory Jones Embodying Forgiveness. There should be a dissertation on Karl Barth's theology of forgiveness coming out in a while too. ; )
Be Perfect
2 hours ago
1 comment:
I read the same powerful story earlier today.
Another thing I read today was someone quoting C.S. Lewis, saying something to the extent that, "If we want to start learning how to forgive people then maybe we should start with someone other than the Gestapo."
To me, that says a lot. There is an eagerness and boldness to proclaim that we would have the idea that Bin Ladin should be forgiven, but maybe it is wiser to start at home; with our brothers, neighbors, and "local type enemies".
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