Mass murder in Sri Lanka

I had intended to concentrate on Easter messages on this blog today but cannot avoid comment on the terrible news of the Easter Sunday terrorist attacks in Sri Lanka: six nearly simultaneous explosions at three churches and three hotels for which the death toll at the time of posting is at least 207 innocent victims and in which at least 400 people have been injured.

It is too early to say for certain which group of vile terrorist savages were responsible for this wicked attack. But we can say with absolute confidence that whatever cause they were trying to promote, their sick actions will only have damaged it.

All murders are among the most evil things a human being can do to others, but whether the attack is on Jewish people worshipping in a synagogue, Muslims at a Mosque, or Christians at church on Easter Sunday, there are few things which more emphatically reject our common humanity than to go to a place of worship on a holy day for the faith concerned and there indiscriminately kill men, women and children at prayer.

Either there is a God, or their isn't. If there isn't then all killing in the name or religion is a senseless waste. But if there is a kind and just God, one who justifies descriptions such as "God of Love" or "the Compassionate, the Merciful" nothing could be more calculated to horrify Him than terrorist atrocities against people trying to worship Him under whatever name. Such actions are clearly and explicitly forbidden in the Gospels, in the Holy Q'uran, and in the holy books of other religions.

At this time the thoughts and prayers of all decent people will be with the victims and their families and that the perpetrators will be brought to justice.

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