Thursday, February 18, 2010

Deliver us from Evil


Last night at our Ash Wednesday service we joined together in a psalm attributed to a murderer, or at least someone who orchestrated a death. When the biblical King David decided he wanted the beautiful Bathsheba for himself, he arranged for her husband's death in battle. While he didn't hold the sword or the bow, he was complicit. After the fact David becomes aware of the implications of his dark deed, and repents.

It shouldn't surprise us that a biblical hero could commit a terrible wrong. There is no sub-species of human called homo criminalus. Real people, including supposed pillars of the community get caught up in circumstances and give way to passions and dark urges that lead them to do evil.

It has been interesting to see the responses to the alleged crimes of Colonel Russell Williams, the base commander at CFB Trenton. Strong evidence points to Williams as the perpetrator of sexual assaults and the murders of two innocent young women. Some have described him as a monster, perhaps feeling that no real human being could do what he did. Others ask, how had the psychological testing he underwent missed his flaws? This seems to be a naiive faith in psychology as a discipline. There is no psych version of a body scanner, any more than there is a spiritual scan for evil.

People with remarkable abilities and strengths end up doing things that hurt others in a variety of ways. Some go so far as physical violence and murder. When I was a chaplain intern at Kingston Penitentiary I met a number of "nice guys" who committed murder. When inhibitions are removed, or when people are driven by jealousy or rage, they can do just about anything.

What has been going through your minds as the story of Colonel Williams unfolds?


4 comments:

IanD said...

It's a shocking story, and sadly I'd confess that the level of openmindedness and compassion you display hasn't been a factor in my thinking.

David Mundy said...

In the event that I have given the wrong impression, if Williams is found guilty he deserves to be in prison for a long time. When I worked at Kingston Pen we encouraged inmates to be honest, to "come clean" about their crimes, rather than find excuses or deny. Still, we regarded them as humans who could change.

Anonymous said...

This story does un-nerve me. It plants a seed of distrust in authority, or at least in the realiability of those in positions of authority meant to offer protection. It's a bit like finding out a trusted uncle has bodies hidden under his porch.

IanD said...

Good analogy, pupil. Disturbing, indeed.

Understood you in the first place, David. I agree wholeheartedly, while simultaneously wrestling against my doubts that someone can change.