Dying for a Religion

    Do you know anyone, even personally, who has died for there faith? 

    As of yesterday, there are a few more among us who can say this. The 40 year-old psychotic who attacked the peaceful church in central Michigan yesterday morning hated this church, according to reliable sources that I have seen, heard, and read. He thought that Mormons were the "anti-Christ", and he ended up shooting and burning up members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc, Michigan. Not far from Flint.

    The attacker was a former Marine who served a tour in Iraq. He had a recent conversation where he railed against the LDS Church, aka the Mormons. The morning after our 101 year-old president passed away. Timing, or weird coincidence, perhaps. 

    People die as martyrs for religious reasons or other causes. Some kill for these reasons.

    It is better to be a victim than a culprit, in the long run, if you believe that God and/or the afterlife is real. There are more victims of religious hate than the haters that act on it and hurt others, yes? 

    Much, but not all of the World War II dead were for religious reasons. Most of the Jewish in the Holocaust was because of their religious identity, to include their differences.

    Some people go extreme and crazy for their religious ideologies or beliefs. Wars have been fought over dogmas and doctrines.

    Religion is not the cause of most violence, in my opinion. It is used as an excuse, or exploited by people who have other ideas about power, greed, jealousy, or psychotic tendencies.

    The best religions are not forceful or violent. Faith, in general, should be power and authority without coercion or abuse.

    We know of many who have died for their faith and beliefs. Do we know anyone who did? Perhaps a missionary who accidentally died in a tragic event, not intentional?

    A church group in a car wreck. There are ways that we die involved in religious practices or activities. But it is not normal.

    More people intentionally die for or against religious reasons. 

    May it not happen to you, me, or others who deserve no such fate.

    God bless those aggrieved and those who have lost through tragedy and painful ways.

    May God bless those of Michigan and everywhere where the faith is tested through trials and harmful events.