As the world learned of Osama Bin Laden’s death on May 1, 2011 as the result of a covert operation by US Navy SEALS, jubilation and a party atmosphere sprang up instantly in places like Ground Zero in New York City and in front of the White House.
Is the happiness an expression of sweet revenge, a sense of relief, or a feeling that justice has been served? Whatever the reason may be, people of faith, whether Christian, Muslim, Buddhist or any other theocratic religion, are faced with a moral dilemma. Is it right to feel elation at the death of another human being when we know from our own Christian Scriptures that God takes no delight when any individual dies.
Many will undoubtedly not feel any guilt or shame at all in expressing their joy that a notorious mass murderer and terrorist had been killed. The President of Peru, Mr. Alan Garcia hailed the death of Bin Laden as a miraculous intervention by John Paul II, who a few hours earlier had been beatified in the Roman Catholic Church by Pope Benedict. My reaction? I can honestly say that when I heard the news, I felt nothing; neither joy, morbid curiosity, nor relief.
Perhaps there was no real alternative to killing Osama Bin Laden. His hatred was all consuming and his thirst for the death of any and all Americans was insatiable. Perhaps in our minds human justice was served. But what about the soul of Bin Laden? Yes, as twisted as it may have been, he did have one. That soul will face justice in the spiritual realm, a justice that will be corrective and even disciplinary, but not vengeful.
I may feel a little better knowing that perhaps the death of Bin Laden may potentially deal a blow to the terrorist network, but my indifference to the news may be because I know that divine justice brings peace, harmony and love. Our imperfect human justice only brings momentary satisfaction and does not lead to a durable peace and harmony in our own hearts.
Is the happiness an expression of sweet revenge, a sense of relief, or a feeling that justice has been served? Whatever the reason may be, people of faith, whether Christian, Muslim, Buddhist or any other theocratic religion, are faced with a moral dilemma. Is it right to feel elation at the death of another human being when we know from our own Christian Scriptures that God takes no delight when any individual dies.
Many will undoubtedly not feel any guilt or shame at all in expressing their joy that a notorious mass murderer and terrorist had been killed. The President of Peru, Mr. Alan Garcia hailed the death of Bin Laden as a miraculous intervention by John Paul II, who a few hours earlier had been beatified in the Roman Catholic Church by Pope Benedict. My reaction? I can honestly say that when I heard the news, I felt nothing; neither joy, morbid curiosity, nor relief.
Perhaps there was no real alternative to killing Osama Bin Laden. His hatred was all consuming and his thirst for the death of any and all Americans was insatiable. Perhaps in our minds human justice was served. But what about the soul of Bin Laden? Yes, as twisted as it may have been, he did have one. That soul will face justice in the spiritual realm, a justice that will be corrective and even disciplinary, but not vengeful.
I may feel a little better knowing that perhaps the death of Bin Laden may potentially deal a blow to the terrorist network, but my indifference to the news may be because I know that divine justice brings peace, harmony and love. Our imperfect human justice only brings momentary satisfaction and does not lead to a durable peace and harmony in our own hearts.