A woman partakes in a vigil at a college in Kolkata, India, in solidarity with the victims of the Sri Lanka bombings on Easter Day. Photo courtesy of Reuters<\/p><\/div>\n

minorities in some areas. Like Islam and Judaism and Buddhism and all other world religions, at the heart of Christianity is a message of love.<\/p>\n

Once again we could be at a loss of words, thinking about how many times we have sent out these notes of outrage, solidarity, and grief.<\/p>\n

Once again we ask ourselves what can we possibly say to each other, especially to those with close ties to Sri Lanka or surrounding nations, to the Buddhists who make up the majority religion there, to the Muslim minority, or to those Christians who feel threatened and unsafe entering a place of worship?<\/p>\n

Once again how do we make any sense of this tragedy or find any words for one another?<\/p>\n

In fact, while contemplating this confounding question we realized not despite but because of, the pervasiveness of this type of violence in recent months and years, we are not increasingly unable to find the words\u2014we are rather ever abler to see and hence articulate the truth at the center of all of these massacres and more:<\/p>\n

Fear is fertile ground for more fear.<\/span><\/p>\n

Violence is the inception point for more violence<\/span><\/p>\n

Fear breeds more fear.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sri Lankans have been affected over the years by colonialism, the persecution of Muslims, and the division of Christians. All these things contributed to the radicalization of young people who then carry out these heinous acts. So as we look outward to the communities victimized by this indescribable violence, what can we do?<\/p>\n

We can look inward and refuse to victimize anyone by acts of erasure, dismissal, or even verbal violence.<\/span><\/p>\n

We can seek to understand even those whose ideas we disdain, we can push ourselves and one another to walk in the shoes of another, even as we work to abolish their policies, refuse their rules, or demand changes in their structures they uphold.<\/span><\/p>\n

We can also look closely at how\u2014or what\u2014the true enemies are, –hate, violence, and fear–and seek to find allies in one another across differences which might in the end, be less significant than we think.<\/span><\/p>\n

We can refuse to other or dismiss the faithful, for through religion many people find meaning in the face of meaninglessness and courage in the face of terror.<\/span><\/p>\n

We can refuse to foment further prejudice against Muslims, as the radicalized terror cells must be disassociated completely and entirely from the Islamic faith.<\/span><\/p>\n