Celtic Heritage, the Beatitudes, and the nature and culture of war

As I write this, it is the evening of the 5th anniversary of the bombing of the World Trade Center, the bombing of the Pentagon, and the failed attempt to bomb the White House. As I am sure many of you did, I spent the day watching and recounting the memories of Sept 11, 2001. This day is doubly sad for me as it was one of the last days of Cody Dean's life, my mothers' late husband. He was a fan of protestant eschatology and literally hung his head in sadness and disbelief while he watched the events unfold that day. For him, it was the beginning of the end, a war between antichrist and the church (little c). When I think of Sept 11th, 2001 I think of him sitting weakly in his favorite chair, weary, and even more wearied by the day's events and the actions of so called "religious fundamentalists". In his earlier life he was a strong and proud man, half Cheyenne and half Irish, so naturally he loved to kick ass and take names! I share some Irish heritage and I feel that passion well up in me from time to time! As a people, the Celts, Picts, and Scotti loved violence and war and were very brave to defend what was "their land" This trait certainly didn't disappear as they migrated to their new "highlands" in Appalachia. Many of the brave firefighters who died on this day carried that spirit into their job and saved many in New York. I do not assume to understand the actions and ways of great and brave men because in my eyes I am not one. I do understand the response to and the need to respond to evil actions and aggression. What I wonder is this: Did our response to the actions of evil men make the world less evil? Did we repay evil with good? I ask these questions with a five year reflection on the circumstances and do not ask with the kneejerk resonse of the extreme liberal to war and revenge. I ask this question as an orthodox christian, a supposed follower of the beatitudes. (unfortunately not evidenced so well in my life and choices, Lord! Have Mercy!)

We have had our fill of the 2nd beatitude:

(According to the Greek NT)

"Blessed are the ones mourning, for they shall be comforted"


Maybe not enough of the 4th beatitude:

"Blessed are the ones hungering and thirsting for righteousness, for they will be satisfied"

A modern Roman Catholic version says "justice" in the place of "righteousness"

Not a good choice in this modern day of the "just" delivering "justice" !


It could easily be said the the "religious fundamentalists" who enjoy killing us are "thirsting for righteousness" in their religious belief. It is even more easily said if christians ever acted this way towards muslims. Uh oh! Christians have! From the early days of the new testament Christians have murdered Jews and Muslims. So, I ask a simple question, are the actions of the United States, a supposedly "Christian nation" in response to the actions of evil men, do they follow the beatiudes? (I pose the idea as a question not as an assumed fact) Not according to the beatitudes. Especially the last three:

again, from the Greek NT:

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they sons of God will be called."


We did not make peace, we made war.


"Blessed are the ones being persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of the heavens."

According to our persecutors, we were not persecuted for righteousness sake' but for "evil deeds and lifestyle"

"Blessed are you when they reproach you and persecute you and speak all kinds of evil against you telling lies because of me. rejoice and be glad, for the reward of you is great in the heavens. For thus they persecuted the prophets before you. "

This beatitude seems ambiguous to my argument and has been the foundation for many a "God kill our enemies" prayer by televangelists with pinkie rings and "big ol' har" everywhere.

Yet we were not persecuted for doing right or for being friends o' Jesus. We were persecuted for being God-less. (It is easy to argue against this point and I am offering it as an idea.)

If we look at the fathers and the great cloud of witnesses, the holy martyrs of our faith, we see individuals and peoples that were in no way part of a nationalistic religion/theocracy and were often its enemies. Saint Lawrence said to his persecutors as they grilled him in a gridiron: "turn me over, i'm done on this side" What a strange fellow. There is no easy answer to this question or the effect and power of these ideas. But one thing is clear whether we like it or not: A majority of our christian ancestors were not nationalistic and were far more persecuted than we were on Sept 11, 2001.

I do not assume to belittle or insult those who suffered because of the actions of a few "evil and desperate men".

I suffered too. I wanted revenge too. I too was glad when my brother was killed.

Did it do any good? Perhaps.

Did the USA avenge itself? Most definitely!

Are we any better off? Don't think so.

Did our actions as a "christian nation" meet the beatitudes definition of a christian? Christ will sit on the ark in the mercy seat and judge us.

Is vengeful killing okay for christians? Never.

Are we a "christian nation"? Perhaps.

Can christians in pursuit of the beatitudes participate in nationalism and war? The author thinks not. Others may disagree. The early church had a rule against it in the early canons but later more "wiser" men abolished it to make way for "progress" and the expanse of "christian nations".

Can we be a christian and kill our brother for any reason?

A question we all should ponder.

I have failed at being a christian. As the Way of the Pilgrim so clearly illustrates:

the pilgrim did not truly love God or neighbor, had no genuine religious belief, and was full of pride and self-love.

We must be totally dependent on God's Mercy and at the same time be totally in pursuit of the Beatitudes.

This seems impossible.

Yet it is the everyday reality of every true christian, which I someday hope to be.

-K