Human love and sympathy ‘first step’
The Rev Dr Keith Rowe, a former president of the New Zealand Methodist Church, has been active for many years in the promotion of Muslim-Christian relations in Australia and New Zealand. He spoke to Stuff soon after hearing the news of the attacks in Chri
At times when there seemed to be waning interest in the work of the Auckland based Council of Christians and Muslims we would remark that we must remain as an organisation dedicated to the promotion of honest and respectful friendship in the presence of difference – for there may come a time when we would need each other.
We never named or imagined aloud what such a time might be like. Well aware of violence-fuelled bigotry in other places we silently feared a day when our peace might also be interrupted by irrational violence.
Well, it has happened here – in peace loving New Zealand no less. And we need each other as we try to make sense of this inherently senseless act of premeditated violence.
Over the last 20 something years I have enjoyed the generous hospitality and friendship of Muslim communities and people in Sydney and Auckland.
‘‘We have experienced friendship in the presence of difference and sought ways we might together serve the common good. As reports of what happened in Christchurch dribbled out in the media I found myself entering into the emotions and devotion that coloured the thoughts and feelings of those who had in the spirit of ‘‘God the merciful’’, gathered for yesterday’s prayers in Christchurch mosques.
The Muslim community in Christchurch and throughout New Zealand will be uppermost in our caring thoughts at this time. The next step must surely be for New Zealanders to reach out as they are able to Muslim neighbours, workmates and friends. The immediate need is to offer human love and sympathy: the longerterm need is to step across whatever boundaries of inherited prejudice and misunderstanding separate us.
Living in such a dangerous and wounded world we need the best community building and peace-making wisdom we can get hold of. My experience is that every religion and every culture has gifts to offer for the healing of our divided humanity.
It’s an ongoing task that requires disciplined listening, compassion and empathy. The death dealing divisions that so distort the human family have visited New Zealand. Stop, look, ponder.
Police Commissioner Bush said: ‘‘Let’s not imagine the danger is over.’’
He was referring to the day of the horror but the words have a larger significance. The danger is present as long as we live in ignorance of the wisdom, dreams and values of those who belong to groups other than our own, as long as we are content to have our lives shaped by bigotry and hatred.