An earlier post brings attention to John Gray’s criticism of secularists’ common view that religion is is both disappearing and inherently violent — a criticism with which I heartily agree. Sometimes, though religion IS violent. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the Central African Republic. This dynamite piece of journalism by Jon Lee Anderson in The New Yorker tells the story of how the country’s Muslims took over the government and terrorized the population and were then resisted by Christians, who engaged in brutal revenge killings.
Even here, though, can be found examples of religion manifesting mercy and reconciliation, crossing boundaries through courageous initiatives of healing and refuge. Anderson tells of the work of Father Bernard Kinvi, who has assisted thousands of the wounded without regard to whether they are Muslims or Christians.
I commend the piece, which makes for both inspiring and gruesome reading.