P R A Y I N G W I T H T H E C H U R C H
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INTENTION : |
That every tendency to fundamentalism and extremism may be countered by respect, tolerance, and dialogue among believers.
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The phenomenon of extremism and fundamentalism in particular areas of human society seems to have increased over the last few years. 'Fundamentalism' is taken to mean the very strict observance of the fundamental principles of a group or organisation. As regards religion, fundamentalism considers its dogmas as absolute truth, not open to discussion, and for that reason it is closed to dialogue with anyone of another faith. It is usually set on imposing its ideas on other groups, even by force. In every religion some people may reach the point of being fundamentalists.
The fanatical action of individuals or groups who have become radicalised and are furthest beyond the political centre of society is called extremism. There are religious groups which use extremist methods, even to violence, to promote obedience to their doctrines through coercion or fear. Sadly, not everyone experiences the name of God as a name of peace. Today there is an increase in examples of people who use his name to kill and destroy. It is clear that religion is not the real cause or the true inspiration for violence; it is rather the excuse adopted to justify other positions or to denounce injustices or defects in the system.
News-bulletins alarm us with the increase in tensions and anti-Christian violence in some states of India, or in Mosul, Iraq, or in some parts of Indonesia or the Philippines. Many Muslim countries and regions introduce an interpretation of sharia, Islamic law, as civil law, in a way which is strict, intolerant and violent towards every person who does not submit to it. In these and other places there is an increase in the political power of fanatical and extremist groups, where 'State violence' has become practically institutionalised, justified lightly by ideologies which disregard the life of anyone who is not 'one of ours'. We are moved by cases like the condemnation to death of a young journalist in Saudi Arabia, a convert to Christianity, found guilty of possessing a Bible, or the story of the young Iraqi killed by his father and his brothers because he was seen talking to a British soldier, a killing claimed as legitimate to save the family honour. We could quote many other examples of the growth of fundamentalism and extremism to illustrate the grave situation behind the Pope's concern this month.
We Christians ourselves, Catholics included, can fall, and have fallen, into fundamentalist and intolerant attitudes. In times and places where we have been in the majority, we have not always respected the rights of those professing other faiths.
Fortunately, however, we meet groups which have come into being in those same places of conflict, which are seeking peace based on dialogue and mutual respect.
Let us support these roads to peace with our prayer, as the Church has always done, united with the Holy Father who has needed to repeat time and again: violence is never the solution to problems, but rather it makes them worse.
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