If the first casualty of war is truth, the second is nuance. Pete Hegseth, the US Secretary of Defense, has used the regular Christian prayer services at the Pentagon to cast the war in Iran as a holy war, recently calling for unspeakable violence in God’s name. These services, which are already the subject of a lawsuit charging violation of the separation of church and state, evoke a hard-line Christian nationalist ideology, which Mr. Hegseth warmly embraces. It is obscene to cheer for violence in God’s name, and especially at this moment. Recently, Jews in Israel and throughout the diaspora celebrated Passover and liberation from a murderous authoritarian, and Christians around the world embraced the resurrection of Jesus, the Prince of Peace.
A just God can never be unmerciful.
The Ames Area Religious Leaders Association knows that our diversity is our strength, and we learn nuance from each other as we lead our faith communities to seek justice, mercy, and love. Like you, we recognize bullies when we see them. Like you, we recognize when bombs are dropped as a distraction from the real issues that face Iowans and all Americans. Like you, we know that leaders should be held to account.
Like you, we know that cheering for violence has nothing to do with religion but everything to do with money, power, and cruelty. As members of AARLA, we understand God in different and nuanced ways, and all of them center love and mercy.
We wish you a good Passover and a happy Easter, with peace and justice for all.
Rev. Kelli Clement, Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Ames, on behalf of the Ames Area Religious Leaders Association
This article originally appeared on Ames Tribune: A casualty of war is nuance | Letters
Reporting by Ames Tribune / Ames Tribune
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
