Violence and Religion

Donald Sensing has an interesting post looking at the progression of violence during the past couple of years as it relates to Muslim religious sites and holy days. He rightly suggests that it has surely changed to where are army does not stop to think twice about waging war in and around holy sites and holy days, but mostly because we were forced to. He also looks at what he calls the "ancient tradition" of the church being a sanctuary from arrest and murder. I must say, I have never heard of that but it would not surprise me if it were true. But at the same time, I do not recall too many people respecting that tradition in history. Sensing looks at a biblical case, and I recall that the church didn't help Thomas Becket too much. Shoot, he was hacked to death in his own church. Still, it is interesting to note that we have been willing to respect the holy days and holy places of Islam, but they have not allowed us to. It has not stopped them from violence on those days and in those places. So if it's OK for them, it's OK for us. That is all.