Saturday 29 November 2008

Events in Mumbai: the mystery of evil

Due to pressure of work, and being away from home, I haven't followed events in Mumbai very closely. One thing that did strike me - and it was the same thought that occurred to me after the attacks on London's transport system, after the attack on the twin towers, and on other occasions of horrific attacks - was how deep seated was the evil that took place. The media reports of the attacks suggests a wholesale, and completely wanton disregard for the lives and safety of those targetted in the attacks. However one might view the motivations and moral responsibility of the individuals who undertook the attacks - from the distance of the media reports I am not able to make any judgement of this sort - the attacks represent a profound manifestation of the mystery of evil.

At a political level, a response of condemnation may be appropriate. More than anything else, a condemnation involves a recognition that what took place was evil. It is not, however, enough to stop there.

An appropriate response to evil, from a Christian point of view is repentence; and whilst we may not have a direct responsibility for the events in Mumbai by making an act of repentence for our own, probably much smaller, contributions to evil we do nevertheless take an action on behalf of the mystery of good and against the mystery of evil.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Zero says
I hope you manage to see coverage and read witness accounts of the terrible events- you can feel the fear. It truly was evil.
I believe special services have been arranged here for people of all Faiths.
Amid the evil you read of the bravery and selflessness of ordinary hotel staff.