Best way to fight terrorism is to obey Jesus' teachings

Editor,

Thanks to the Gideons for giving out free literature last Wednesday. I read the New Testament for the first time last year after the same group came out. I had the pleasure of speaking to one of the men Wednesday. Our brief conversation has compelled me to share some observations.

It seems that members of several denominations are excluded from the Gideons because of differences in belief. The man did say, however, that many Catholics are going to be in heaven. He said that some Democrats would be in heaven, too. I assume the man suggested that many Democrats are going to hell because they stereotypically support women's legal right to have abortions, which he probably felt was murder.

Unfortunately, I didn't point out to him that many Republicans, and probably most Americans in general, support war under certain contexts. This is in direct opposition to the teachings of Jesus. Jesus taught us to love our enemies, not support killing them. We're supposed to take no thought for our own lives and fear no one who is able to kill us without destroying our souls. Anyone who supports killing another under any circumstances whatsoever does not follow the teachings of Jesus.

During a discussion with a couple of my friends, I pointed out that Jesus said we should love our enemies instead of killing them. They asked me what I thought we should do when faced with a dangerous enemy, such as the terrorists who are threatening our safety these days. The answer is: We keep trying to obey Jesus, no matter what, even if it means we all die. Jesus taught the best tactics for counter-terrorism. He didn't say to be neutral toward our enemies; he didn't say to do nothing in the face of danger. He said to love our enemies, to bless those who curse us and to do good to those who hate us. Loving, blessing and doing good are actions, not idles. This is how we should be fighting terrorism; this is how to utterly destroy our real enemies, the enemies that aren't confined to physical bodies. Killing people can serve only to spread terrorism like an international brushfire. Radical Muslims who have been brainwashed with the doctrine of violent jihad can be liberated only by love, not destruction.

It's a shame that many denominations that proclaim a literal interpretation of the scriptures don't tend to take Jesus too literally. These groups are among some of the most vehement supporters of war and fascism. Church dogmatists are oftentimes trained to get us lost in a maze of smoke and mirrors so that we end up defending blasphemy right along with them. They are the ones Jesus is talking about in Matthew 23:15. "Taking up the cross" is nothing but an antiquated catchphrase to them. We must be prepared to die obeying Jesus, not disobeying him. Please contact me if you want to organize.

Corey S. Davis

UNM student