Doubt and faith are two old life partners that have declared war on each other. They respect one another, because where one is present, the other may not exist. Human beings choose which one of them to call upon in moments of crisis; while doubt says ‘Restraint’, faith tells you ‘Go ahead, and trust’.
The first reaction of Archbishop Justin Welby from Canterbudy, England when he learned of the France terror attacks was a Deep state of shock and horror, which later spiraled into depression and deep sadness; he admitted that the recent terrorist attacks in Paris committed by ISIS made him ‘doubt’ God. He stated Saturday morning that while on a walk, he prayed and asked himself: “God, why is all this happening? Where are you in all of this?”
Welby, the highest authority of the Church of England, acknowledged that the simultaneous attacks performed the thirteenth of November in many parts of the French capital, that came to end 130 lives, left him wondering where God was in such a moment of need for French victims.
The Anglican Church Primate reacted with deep sorrow to the attacks, mainly because he lived in Paris for five years, along with his wife. However, on the topic of the intensity of the French air strikes over known ISIS spots after the Paris terror attacks, Welby stated that the immediate reaction of the French government might be dangerous; he warned against the dangers these reactions may have on the development of the campaign to bombard ISIS targets in Syria.
If those who have done nothing wrong start being killed at random, no good will come from that. So the world’s governments must be the instruments of justice. The religious leader said that the way in which terrorists have twisted their faith to the point of believing they are glorifying their God, is one of the most desperate and tragic aspects of our current world.
Among the religious representatives that reacted to the tragic events in Paris are Pope Francis and the Dalai Lama, who declared that prayer would not help in the fight against terrorism, as well as dropping comments on the recent terrorist attacks in France, he has expressed that the key to solving these conflicts lies in the search of peace and harmony, and outlined that humanity must not wait for help from God to solve a problem that it created on its own.
Religion holds great power in the way it makes humans behave, and as such, it was always been an instrument deployed by evil people to twist humanity and persuade them to do whatever they choose; the extraordinary thing about being a Christian is that God is faithful when we ourselves are not.
ALFA