Hiding Behind Religion

Today our Bridge St. congregation will take a moment in worship to honour the deaths of two Canadian soldiers, Patrice Vincent and Nathan Cirillo. I imagine this will happen in many churches across the country. Their senseless, cowardly murders are shocking and an affront to all Canadians. We have heard from many Islamic leaders who feel the same way. Even though the murderers had associated themselves with mosques, leading to them being described as "radicalized Muslim converts" I don't believe they were Muslims in any real sense.  

When Anders Breivik killed scores of young people in Norway in 2011 he claimed to be a Christian, but it became obvious that he was using the term Christian to justify his paranoia and rage.  I don't recall him being described as a "radicalized Christian." No one asked me to disclaim his actions in my role as a Christian pastor. But that is what has happened for the Muslim community.

 As the vast majority of North American Muslims live peaceful, integrated lives within their communities, a handful of disaffected, angry young men hide behind Islam to justify their violence. In both cases last week the murderers appear to be unhappy loners who had become bitter and deranged. Member of the mosques they frequented did their best to challenge their distorted views. They weren't successful, but neither were the families of these men.

I feel that the greatest service we can offer to law-abiding Muslims in this country is to refuse to identify these perpetrators of violence with any religion.