Christian leaders hold out love as the alternative to terror
-27/12/05
Three senior Ch
Christian leaders hold out love as the alternative to terror
-27/12/05
Three senior Christian leaders have spoken of the power of God-given love, forgiveness and vulnerability as the only force capable of overcoming human impulses towards war, destruction and terror.
The new Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, called on Christians and people of good faith to “out-imagine” terrorism in his first Christmas Day sermon.
Dr Sentamu, the Church of Englandís first black archbishop, told a packed congregation at York Minster that those behind terror networks were brilliant in inspiring those who came to their cause by giving them a vision which was tragically used solely for evil ends.
Terrorism, he said, could only be overcome by offering a vision of wholeness in a compelling way that was so persuasive that even would-be bombers would come to see this as their own vision.
The archbishop said the vision should include the creation of neighbourhoods which were flourishing, safe, clean and generous.
Meanwhile the Archbishop of Canterbury used his Christmas sermon to pay tribute to the way two families responded to horrific violence by offering Christian forgiveness.
Dr Rowan Williams cited the examples of Gee Walker, whose son Anthony was murdered in July 2005, and the parents of Abigail Witchalls, who was left paralysed after a knife attack.
He said they illustrated the difference made possible by the “miraculous love” offered by God to the human race.
At St Peter’s Basilica the 78-year-old Pope Benedict XVI preached at a Midnight Mass service on 24 December which was broadcast live to 46 countries.
Referring to the birth of Jesus in a stable in Bethlehem, he said: “God is so powerful that he can make himself vulnerable and come to us as a defenceless child, so that we can love him.”
Christian leaders hold out love as the alternative to terror
-27/12/05
Three senior Christian leaders have spoken of the power of God-given love, forgiveness and vulnerability as the only force capable of overcoming human impulses towards war, destruction and terror.
The new Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, called on Christians and people of good faith to “out-imagine” terrorism in his first Christmas Day sermon.
Dr Sentamu, the Church of England’s first black archbishop, told a packed congregation at York Minster that those behind terror networks were brilliant in inspiring those who came to their cause by giving them a vision which was tragically used solely for evil ends.
Terrorism, he said, could only be overcome by offering a vision of wholeness in a compelling way that was so persuasive that even would-be bombers would come to see this as their own vision.
The archbishop said the vision should include the creation of neighbourhoods which were flourishing, safe, clean and generous.
Meanwhile the Archbishop of Canterbury used his Christmas sermon to pay tribute to the way two families responded to horrific violence by offering Christian forgiveness.
Dr Rowan Williams cited the examples of Gee Walker, whose son Anthony was murdered in July 2005, and the parents of Abigail Witchalls, who was left paralysed after a knife attack.
He said they illustrated the difference made possible by the “miraculous love” offered by God to the human race.
At St Peter’s Basilica the 78-year-old Pope Benedict XVI preached at a Midnight Mass service on 24 December which was broadcast live to 46 countries.
Referring to the birth of Jesus in a stable in Bethlehem, he said: “God is so powerful that he can make himself vulnerable and come to us as a defenceless child, so that we can love him.”