I didn't either, and that's why I added the additional words to the title that I did, in an attempt to "temper" people's expectations. What I got from the article was that her Faith has been severely battered, hence those were the words I chose.
Free Republic posting guidelines require us to use the original title.
That being said, I feel that the issue with the title is a small point in relation to the article in it's entirety....I found it to be a compelling story that made me feel terribly sad and it rekindled my anger toward the Islamofasicsts. I wanted to hear other FReepers' perspectives on faith and forgiveness in that it might help me to come to terms with the sadness that I feel..
My hope is that readers might be able to get beyond this one complaint, which has been mentioned several times now, and consider the greater substance of the article.
My own personal view?
Well, I am a limited man.
I try to forgive people for bad things they do, and I am generally capable of it if they are truly remorseful. For killing somebody I expect sobbing remorse and to have to put the killer under a suicide watch once he understands what he's done.
But a cold-blooded murder like the bombings, for religious reason, without the perp sobbing in remorse and renoucing the beliefs that put him there? I want to give him the death penalty, and I will leave the forgiveness to God. I seem to recall Jesus forgiving sins after an acknowledgment of moral guilt. Maybe he did go around and forgive sins even without that, and maybe he does. But then, he's God, so he knows the answers, knows it's all true, controls the outcome. Me? All I can do is have faith. My faith isn't shaken by acts of violence, but my anger is greatly stirred, and I do not feel any desire, or even Christian necessity, to forgive the unrepentant violent killer.
If Sadiqqi al-Jackassi or whatever the hell his name was were remorseful and renounced his belief in violence, I'd have a different view. But as it is, if I were King I would have him blown up.
I, for one, am impressed that she has managed cling to her faith as much as she has. She has received a wound that is incomprehensible to me. I don't know if I could bear it. I might seek to return evil for evil.
Many a heavy blow is recorded in Scripture. Grief and desolation sometimes must run their course in our lives.
Psalm 13:2-5
How long, LORD? Will you utterly forget me? How long will you hide your face from me?
How long must I carry sorrow in my soul, grief in my heart day after day? How long will my enemy triumph over me?
Look upon me, answer me, LORD, my God! Give light to my eyes lest I sleep in death,
Lest my enemy say, "I have prevailed," lest my foes rejoice at my downfall.