September 16, 2002
COMMENTARY
Men of God, Warriors for Peace, Enemies of War
As religious leaders, we collectively disavow the path that affirms that grief must lead to war. We refuse to accept violence as the
necessary consequence of loss. Our religious traditions must not bless war. Those peace-loving expressions of one God must not support the
lie of the "just war" against Iraq.
We see the costs of war as including the loss of American lives and treasure; further death and
neglect of Iraqi civilians, especially children; the tarnishing of the United States' reputation and diplomatic leadership; and an
intensification of hatred in the Middle East toward the U.S. and the West.
We reject the heresy that sprang from the embrace of
nationalism by religion's sanction of wars. For all time, the evil and pernicious "blessing of war" as just must be repudiated.
We
know what our faith traditions command of us: to be peacemakers; to do good to those who hate us; to abide by the peace of God/the
Ultimate.
Our faith traditions, said Mohandas K. Gandhi, are highways leading to the same destination. Christian and Muslim, Hindu
and Jew, Buddhist and Shinto, Bahai, Sikh and Jain: All celebrate the sacredness of human life and charge us to build a just, peaceful and
equitable world; all celebrate the power of love to vanquish hate and the power of mercy to overcome vengeance.
We also remember all
too well the wars carried out in our religions' name in Vietnam, Korea, Cambodia and many more places. Our experience in faith leads us to
repudiate war as the method for problem solving.
We mourn the loss of life resulting from the attacks of Sept. 11, but we do not ask
that more blood be shed. Our mourning is a peaceful mourning and is not a podium to call for a war of vengeance against
Iraqis.
*
Leonard I. Beerman is the founding rabbi of Leo Baeck Temple; James Lawson is pastor emeritus of Holman United
Methodist Church, Los Angeles, and president of CLUE (Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice); Maher Hathout is senior advisor of the
Muslim Public Affairs Council of Los Angeles; George F. Regas is rector emeritus of All Saints Church, Pasadena, and convener of Interfaith
Communities United for Justice and Peace. They are among the founding members of the Interfaith Communities United for Justice and Peace,
formed in the aftermath of the events of Sept. 11, 2001.
©Copyright 2002, Los Angles Times
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