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Tom Driver on
Our National Tragedy |
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OUR NATIONAL TRAGEDY
A call to the churches and the
nation
by The Rev. Tom F. Driver
The Paul Tillich Professor of Theology
and Culture Emeritus
Union Theological Seminary in New York
<tfd3@columbia.edu>
[9-18-01]
Grace and peace to all, especially to the loved ones
of those who perished in the human-created catastrophe of September 11,
2001, when terror struck our nation. All generous hearts are united in
sympathy with the living and the dead, the wounded, and the millions who
tremble now in fear, rage, and confusion. We pray God to heal the
wounded and give eternal life to the dead on the day of resurrection.
In this time of grief, let our most fervent prayer be
that God will turn America away from vain thoughts of retribution.
People of all faiths -- and in particular those of us who profess Jesus
Christ as our savior -- should warn America of the danger, both material
and spiritual, that is presented to us all by belief in retaliation,
retribution, war, and weapons of destruction. It is belief in such
things, evident in the attackers, that has brought to our shores the
unspeakable assault on civilians of September 11.
Although our beloved America is a great and powerful
nation, it is also a violent one, both at home and abroad. We are the
world's foremost maker and seller of armaments. We have supported some
of the world's most oppressive regimes, some of whom we have assisted in
acts of terror against their own people. We have cultivated for
ourselves a way of life that requires the impoverishment of others. We
have indulged in conspicuous consumption with little regard for the fact
that more of the world's people die needlessly each month from
malnutrition than the number who died in the World Trade Center on
September 11. We have incurred the envy and resentment of an
ever-growing number of the world's population.
Jesus said: "Those who take the sword will perish
by the sword." The violence that America has long exported has now
come back upon us in a covert operation of masterly, although diabolic,
planning. America is now learning the experience of vulnerability that
is the lot of most people in the world, thousands of whom die each day
from war, terrorism, and hunger. In such a world, every act of war,
including acts of retaliation, increases the vulnerability of all. The
security of all, including the security of America, depends upon the
willingness of the great and the injured to repent, change course, and
pursue the welfare of all with the instruments of peace. There is no
security in violence. There is only the spiral of ever-greater
destruction.
America has grown great in material terms by pursuing
wealth and power at the expense of the world's poor. Although we are not
the first in history to do so, our weaponry is now such that we may
become the last, bringing destruction upon the whole earth.
Shaken as we are by the terror of September 11,
grief-stricken as we are, tempted as we are to rage and retribution, let
us pray God to turn us toward the light and love that are offered to us
by the Prince of Peace. Let us become builders rather than destroyers.
Let us follow and show a more perfect way.
September 13, 2001 revised 9/16/01 |
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Some blogs worth visiting |
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Voices of Sophia blog
Heather Reichgott, who has created this new blog
for Voices of Sophia, introduces it:
After fifteen years of scholarship and activism,
Voices of Sophia presents a blog. Here, we present the voices of
feminist theologians of all stripes: scholars, clergy, students,
exiles, missionaries, workers, thinkers, artists, lovers and
devotees, from many parts of the world, all children of the God in
whose image women are made. .... This blog seeks to glorify God
through prayer, work, art, and intellectual reflection. Through
articles and ensuing discussion we hope to become an active and
thoughtful community. |
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Witherspoon’s Facebook page
Mitch Trigger, Witherspoon’s
Secretary/Communicator, has created a Facebook page where
Witherspoon members and others can gather to exchange news and
views. Mitch and a few others have posted bits of news, both
personal and organizational. But there’s room for more!
You can post your own news and views, or initiate
a conversation about a topic of interest to you. |
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John Harris’ Summit to Shore blogspot
Theological and philosophical reflections on
everything between summit to shore, including kayaking, climbing,
religion, spirituality, philosophy, theology, politics, culture,
travel, The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), New York City and the
Queens neighborhood of Ridgewood by a progressive New York City
Presbyterian Pastor. John is a former member of the Witherspoon
board, and is designated pastor of North Presbyterian Church in
Flushing, NY. |
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John
Shuck’s Shuck and Jive
A Presbyterian minister, currently serving as
pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Elizabethton, Tenn., blogs
about spirituality, culture, religion (both organized and
disorganized), life, evolution, literature, Jesus, and lightening
up. |
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Got more blogs to recommend?
Please
send a note, and we'll see what we can do! |
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Plan now for our 2010 Ghost Ranch
Seminar!
GHOST RANCH SEMINAR
July 26-August 1, 2010
WE’RE
ALL IN THIS TOGETHER
CONFRONTING THE STRUCTURES OF INJUSTICE |
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