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Dealing With
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These are links to articles and essays which have appeared at various places on the Internet. This material is NOT on our website. There is no guarantee that these links are still "live"; some may have expired, some may not be archived on the host-website, and some websites may have disappeared. Latest articles at the top. Because the Academy lists material from other websites on the Internet does not imply acceptance or approval of the comments or opinions expressed by the author of the material. Nor is the Academy responsible for any misrepresentation of the facts included. It is your job to be a critical reader. For once, it was the world's turn to look on as Americans suffered the horrible tragedy of a terrorist attack. When extremists hijacked occupied civilian airliners and turned them into huge bombs, they struck at our nation's heart, the very symbols of American military and economic power. A Pastoral Message -- Living With Faith and Hope After September 11: U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops statement on the U.S. efforts against terrorism.
Beliefnet is a multifaith community dedicated to the notion that understanding someone else's religion can only strengthen one's own. To read about the Christian, Jewish, and Muslim response to the attack on America, Beliefnet has a series of articles which you can consult. CLICK HERE. Free 'Understanding Islam' Mini-Course: Does Islam really condone violence? Or is it a peaceful religion that's been hijacked by terrorists? In this course, a respected Islamic scholar will help you explore both the basics of Islam and the hot-button issues. Love thine enemies to death, by Kathleen Parker: "Like me, you've probably been waiting impatiently for Richard Gere to speak up about the terrorist assault on America. Just when I was about to give up hope, the actor broke his silence: Love the terrorists, he said, whereupon 99.99 percent of Americans spit out their coffee and tried not to utter distasteful jokes." Turning Ploughshares Back Into Swords: After the terrorist attacks, many religious leaders have cautioned restraint. But some have made the case for war. Find out which respected Buddhist, Christian, and Jewish leaders are saying it's OK to fight back.
As we mourn the losses of so many -- and the loss of our sense of security -- deep questions nag us: Where is God? How could He allow this, if He truly exists? Is there meaning in evil and suffering? Where is the hope? Is this all there is, or is there promise for beyond the grave? For Christians, what is a Biblical response to terrorism? There is a power that transcends wealth and military strength in any tragedy. We see the image of God in the deeds of those who served and even died for others. But is that all we can hope for? The question is obvious: If God is good, how could He allow the terror of 9&endash;11, 2001? The destruction of so many innocent lives, the shaking of our security and almost total disruption of our entire American culture has thrown such issues into our faces. Trite phrases and religious slogans will not do in such a time. Who has thought deeply about these principles? Where are some answers? Is there any sense to be made of these horrific events (and, for that matter, tragedies like them around the world and down through the ages)? LeadershipU has collected a variety of resources to help bring perspective to the history-altering events of September 11, 2001. See the pages below for links that you can read, print and distribute and forward to others as we all come to grips with tragedy. Where is God in the Midst of Tragedy?: Prior to September 11, 2001, we were a nation who felt protected, confident that terrorist attacks only happen "somewhere else." We thought our intelligence, defense technology and security information guarded us. To our dismay, we were wrong. Now we know that even Americans are not immune to the assaults of hatred from other countries. Would You Like to Know God Personally? The following four principles will help you discover how to know God personally and experience the abundant life He promises. The Problem of Evil, by Rick Rood: The problem of how a good and powerful God could allow evil and suffering in His creation is discussed from both a philosophical and religious perspective. Is There Meaning in Evil and Suffering? Discussion Forum: On February 11, 1999, a distinguished and diverse panel explored the question, "Is there meaning in evil and suffering?" Forum participants: Dr. Ravi Zacharias and Dr. William Lane Craig (both Christian theists), Dr. Bernard Leikind (naturalist scientist), and Dr. Jitendra Mohanty (scholar, Eastern religion). Visit the online RealMedia archive to hear this forum again. When the Good Guys Don't Win, by Rusty Wright: "Why is there suffering in the world?" ranked first in a national survey to determine the top 40 questions of life. Many human efforts to alleviate suffering and achieve happiness have borne some fruit, but each also contains examples of failure. This article considers a few of these human efforts, then asks revealing questions. Could we be missing the root of the problem? Could much human suffering be rooted in something deeper than flawed political systems or philosophical constructs? Might there be something wrong with the human heart? Deliver Us From Evil, by George Pytlik: This unique Web site takes you step by step into some general considerations of the problem of evil. The subject matter is based on material by Dr. Ravi Zacharias and others. The Glory of His Discontent -- The Inconsolable Suffering of God, Don Hudson, Mars Hill Forum: "If the Christian life is a sojourn, which I believe it is, then the pilgrim on the way (Homo Viatoris) is moving from the innocence of Eden to the joy of heaven while trying to make sense of a tragic, suffering world." Escape from Nihilism, by J. Budziszewski: The story of one professor's journey to the abandonment of any moral or ethical code, and back to faith in Christ. Through the Valley of the Shadow, by Mark Perry: If it's time for me to go, I'm happy with that. I know I'm ready. God has shown me that something far better is waiting for me... Mark Perry knew what it was like to look death in the face--and triumph. In the fall of 1984, a mysterious growth occurred on the back of his neck. Finally, a biopsy from another growth on his arm revealed the devastating news: he was diagnosed with AIDS. He was given six months to live. Courageously, Mark passed away in 1987. But before his death, he shared his story with LIA staff member Bob Davies. Principles of Christian Maturity, by Dr. John Stoll: In this chapter we shall see examples of Faith and Promises in the Bible, where admonitions to Christian living follow. Fear Not, Fret Not, Faint Not, by Dr. John Stoll: Pastor and counselor Dr. John Stoll gives a biblical view of stress, societal evil and God's promises regarding the answers. September 11, 2001, by Ethan Campbell: I saw the towers crumbling and people running. And in the midst of the horror, I saw God. Failure to Render Aid, by Mitch Land: No one knows the pain like those who have lost a loved one. Professor Mitch Land experienced acute agony when he lost his son. "Why don't you come here and do something about all this suffering?" Mitch cried out to God. And God had an answer for him. From Terrorist in Training to Believer in Christ: The personal story of a Muslim who, while in weapons training for a group of fundamentalists, found the truth of a relationship with Christ. Attack on America, by Peter Batzing: "Where is your security? God never promised us freedom from adversity, for the tragedies and horrors of this world will always occur. There must be a higher place where we put our trust and find our security. That place is in God, the God of the Bible..." Life @Large: Life @Large shares a way to find permanent security, meaning and comfort in tragedy and forever. Comfort Within the Boundaries, by Dr. Robert A. Pyne: Seminary professor Dr. Robert A. Pyne outlines what we can gather (and what we cannot say) about tragedy from the Bible. The Lamb Lays Down for Broadway, by Roberto Rivera: If we don't take some lessons away from yesterday's events, if we don't learn from our mistakes and gain some perspective, then we can add pointlessness to the injuries inflicted by the terrorists yesterday. The Christian's Response to Today's Problems, by Dr. John Stoll: "A Christian may ask, what is God's purpose in today's world, given the monumental problems we face, and why doesn't God do something about it? Why is God seemingly silent in the kingdom of mankind, and when will He bring it all into judgment? Fortunately the Bible has very specific answers to these questions. It remains for us to search them out." Terrorism, by Kerby Anderson: Looks at terrorism and provides biblical justification for dealing with terrorists based on Romans 13. Also addresses Constitutional issues. In Response to Terror, by James Turner Johnson: Johnson outlines a possible political response to the threat of terrorism that draws on the tradition of just war theory.
More links to OFFSITE articles about the current terrorism crisis are located at Terrorism & the Attack on America. |
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