Terrorism
– Forgiveness is the Solution
By the spirit of John Denver (1943-1997). This text was
channeled in 2007 at the Christian Spiritist Communion in Uberaba, Minas Gerais
– Brazil.
In current times, one of the greatest questions
troubling humanity is how to end terrorism, this cancer that corrodes the
social fabric. Countless debates are held in an attempt to understand and face
this enemy without a face, without a country, without an address, who has no
love even for his own life. Religious or ideological fanaticism often surpasses
the basic instinct for survival.
The saddest part is that the cycle of hatred and
violence seems endless, fueling a tragic sequence of destruction, where
innocents are sacrificed without any meaningful progress.
In this grim scenario, there is a simple and
powerful solution, yet one that remains largely unexplored: the Gospel of Jesus
Christ. Curiously, the great Western nations, predominantly Christian, seem to
forget that the answer to ending hostilities has been written for nearly two
thousand years in a book many keep in their homes and temples. Christ’s
teachings were not meant to remain mere religious theory, but practical
guidelines for daily life. We are called to live our faith, testing what He
taught us: “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, and pray for
those who persecute and slander you. For if you only love those who love you,
what reward will you get?” Christ instructs us to repay evil with good — to
forgive.
To extinguish the fire of hatred, only love has the
power. Love is as intense as hate, but it transforms instead of destroying. And
everyone, Christian or not, is sensitive to love.
The United States, a country with deep democratic
and Christian traditions, has taken vigorous measures with the support of its
people. Yet, as religious as its roots may be, Christ’s teachings have often
been left aside in strategies to combat terrorism. Perhaps it’s time to change
this approach: to replace pride with compassion and hatred with the love of
Christ in our actions. We must see terrorists as human beings manipulated by
religious leaders who sow hatred in their hearts, conditioned to kill or die in
the name of a fanaticism that distorts the truth. They deserve our compassion,
not our contempt.
A solution that has yet to be tested, but one with
immense potential, would be to offer these people the opposite of violence:
economic and social support. Just as was done with Japan and Germany after
World War II, we could fight terrorism by providing benefits that eradicate
hunger, disease, and poverty. Instead of retaliating, we could send doctors,
teachers, medicines, and infrastructure — tools that build rather than destroy.
An unexpected act of compassion and reconstruction
would weaken the foundations of terrorism. Those who sponsor terror would lose
their arguments, and the very people who sustain these ideologies would realize
that the true path to peace lies not in hatred, but in dignified living and
human evolution. It’s not about changing the religion or culture of these
people, but about applying the golden rule taught by Jesus: “Do unto others as
you would have them do unto you.” This gesture would demonstrate that Western
nations, often seen as exploiters, can indeed be instruments of peace, justice,
and progress.
As St. Francis of Assisi said: for darkness, light;
for hatred, love; for pride, humility; for vengeance, forgiveness.
Since all known methods to contain terrorism have
failed, why not try the simplicity of Christ’s teachings? Far more economical
than the endless expenditures on weapons, love is the true key to peace.
If the nations that call themselves Christian truly
followed the teachings of Jesus, both in words and actions, the world would be
a place much closer to paradise today. Let us vibrate so that the Christian
people may truly honor the name and example of Jesus Christ. Let us all
vibrate!
