confusedThe part that leaves me the most confused is how people can commit acts of terror - as well as many other things - in the name of God. Regardless of the religion or cult, it's safe to say that the deity whose name is taken is claimed to be a good and loving supreme being. I cannot comprehend how anyone can think they can seriously attach God's name to actions that are the very opposite of his nature. Now, I can't speak for other religions, but the Christian God I believe in does not condone anything but love for one's fellow humans. To broaden the topic a bit, the God I believe in does not condone superiority complexes against people of different religions, denominations, or theologies; he does not support sexism or racism or any other form of discrimination; and he does not allow hate of any form to be done in his name. His name is good and holy, and by definition, not to be defiled by being associated with hatred. I am sure the same holds true for the other religions out there. For that reason, I simply just can't comprehend how anyone thinks that God seriously supports their vicious behaviour.
It's times like these that it can be very hard to practise forgiveness. When I see pictures of people bleeding just because they were commuting to work, when I hear of children maimed and killed, when I read about people stricken by terror and fearing impending death, I find it very hard to even think of forgiving the perpetrators. But I don't want to stoop down to the level of the perpetrators in harbouring hate, and forgiveness is a means to releasing hate and moving on. Remember, we can't get anywhere with hate, and just because someone else has debased themselves by committing some heinous deed doesn't mean we should debase ourselves by giving in to hating them for their failing. I just wish we weren't so often presented with situations where our ability to practise forgiveness is tested.
