Gun Violence
What can we say about gun violence that hasn’t already been said? We’ve heard from experts from law enforcement, sociologists, educators, psychologists, and many others why this continues to happen day after day, week after week, and year after year.
From a religious point of view, Jesus said to “Love your neighbor as yourself,” which is repeated in religions prior to Jesus and after, telling us not to act towards others as we would not wish to be treated. Detaching ourselves from the changes and chances of this world is what Buddhism would advise, rejecting the feelings of envy, revenge, jealousy, and anger and letting those feelings control us. From the Baha’i perspective, we strive to make the world a better place through service and try never to offend or be offended.
Many religions allow violence only for defense when being attacked. So why does killing happen daily?
Spiritually, from the Baha’i perspective, if we saw ourselves in our true nature, that of the spiritual instead of material, our perspectives would change. It’s our souls that live on after our physical body dies. So developing our spiritual nature is much more important than focusing on our physical selves. We will still be hurt, angry, and feel despair and dejected. Still, maybe by taking minutes a day to focus on our spiritual selves and connecting to whatever higher power we recognize, that part will be strengthened, so when troubles come, we won’t react with violence.
We at the Interfaith Council pray not only for the victims of the shootings but the perpetrators, the families of the victims and perpetrators, and the communities where these shootings happen. Everyone is affected by this daily barrage of violence that is happening, whether by feeling completely numb to it, feeling cynical that nothing can ever change it, or feeling complete despair that more lives have been needlessly lost.
We have no more words.
Serene Erby
President