A Sacred Sri Lanka In A Shattered World (A Critical Essay)
2019 has been a radical change in expectations. With the peace negotiations between the U.S. and North Korea as well as the conquering of ISIS and the hopeful end to the Syrian Civil War in sight, the expectations for a peace-filled year in 2019 were not overly optimistic.
At the time.
However, radical religious zealots have been the cause of some of the worst tragedies this year, the most significance ones being the bombings and shootings in New Zealand, Nigeria, and now Sri Lanka.
On April 21st, 2019 - Easter Sunday - suicide bombers blasted and tore open 3 churches and 4 hotels across Colombo, Negumbo, and Batticaloa, killing 290 people and wounding 510. The tragedy spanned three major Sri Lankan cities and killed both natives and foreigners.
Sri Lanka, referred to as the "teardrop" of the subcontinent, historically, has always been a sacred island. It's culture has been enriched first by Buddhism, and later by Hinduism, Islam, and Christianity. Sri Lanka was the island mentioned in the Ramayana, as well as the trade port mentioned in voyager tales during the British Ceylon era when the English raced the Portuguese to conquer Asia.
Throughout its long religious history, now it finds itself the next victim of 21st century terrorism, as the celebration of Christ's resurrection leads to the martyrdom of hundreds at the hands of men who consider the cause as greater than their lives, which is why when the call for war fires, they would not hesitate to kill themselves if it meant they may kill hundreds with them.
That's the thing with the faithful, they don't know when to value their own lives. Saint Peter willingly kept proclaiming his face even when he knew it would get him crucified by the Romans. Malcolm X knew being an African American Muslim could get him killed if he acted violently, but that didn't stop him from being an activist with Islam Nation. Cassie Bernall still said yes when ask if she believed in God with a gun to her head at Columbine. The faithful will never cease to put their lives on the line for what they believe in, and that's why we talk about them even years after they die.
That's why even during the heart of radical worldwide terrorism, the faithful still worship at their temples, knowing full well of the risks. The Syrians continue to worship in mosques while military planes fly over their airspace. The Nigerians continue to pray in church while Boko Haram is still at large. The Sri Lankans continue to celebrate Easter, despite the hostility of those who stand against Christ.
Faith is something that's inexplicable in rational terms, but of course, that's the point. Because does not operate in terms of what's rational or not rational. Life operates on its own terms, be those of God, the universe, space, or the sciences still undiscovered.
That's where people find both the courage and the spirit to worship even when their lives are at risk, and also where they find the courage and spirit to take the lives of those worshiping, when its also their lives at risk.
Even if our world is more "modern" and "advanced", it doesn't mean we're more civilized. In certain circumstances, it can even mean the very opposite. We can have the best medicine, the most tamed animals, the greatest infrastructure, the gift of knowledge, but if our hearts aren't healed and our souls are empty, what good is any of it? We will only take it upon ourselves to feel jealousy, hurt others, steal, lie, and find some addiction to pleasure us until we're satisfied and die. But we're never satisfied.
That's why even in today's age, in the 2010s, where information is available at the drop of a hat and we have both the resources to save the world and the resources to destroy do we still find room for war, discrimination, and tragedy, as we have seen in Sri Lanka.
That's why this Easter, the teardrop of India cries for the Church as they suffer in the suffering of Sri Lanka.
Project Palisade personally wrote a "Tragedy Prayer" for Sri Lanka as soon as the events were made known to the world. For the religious in Project Palisade, feel free to use this prayer as much as you need to pray for healing in the lives of those affected by the tragedy, and for any future tragedies as well. For the non-religious, your condolences and acknowledgements are all that's needed.
Next Easter, I pray we'll live in peace.
Sources:
The New York Times
CNN
Britannica
At the time.
However, radical religious zealots have been the cause of some of the worst tragedies this year, the most significance ones being the bombings and shootings in New Zealand, Nigeria, and now Sri Lanka.
On April 21st, 2019 - Easter Sunday - suicide bombers blasted and tore open 3 churches and 4 hotels across Colombo, Negumbo, and Batticaloa, killing 290 people and wounding 510. The tragedy spanned three major Sri Lankan cities and killed both natives and foreigners.
Sri Lanka Bombing Map credit to
Sri Lanka, referred to as the "teardrop" of the subcontinent, historically, has always been a sacred island. It's culture has been enriched first by Buddhism, and later by Hinduism, Islam, and Christianity. Sri Lanka was the island mentioned in the Ramayana, as well as the trade port mentioned in voyager tales during the British Ceylon era when the English raced the Portuguese to conquer Asia.
Throughout its long religious history, now it finds itself the next victim of 21st century terrorism, as the celebration of Christ's resurrection leads to the martyrdom of hundreds at the hands of men who consider the cause as greater than their lives, which is why when the call for war fires, they would not hesitate to kill themselves if it meant they may kill hundreds with them.
That's the thing with the faithful, they don't know when to value their own lives. Saint Peter willingly kept proclaiming his face even when he knew it would get him crucified by the Romans. Malcolm X knew being an African American Muslim could get him killed if he acted violently, but that didn't stop him from being an activist with Islam Nation. Cassie Bernall still said yes when ask if she believed in God with a gun to her head at Columbine. The faithful will never cease to put their lives on the line for what they believe in, and that's why we talk about them even years after they die.
That's why even during the heart of radical worldwide terrorism, the faithful still worship at their temples, knowing full well of the risks. The Syrians continue to worship in mosques while military planes fly over their airspace. The Nigerians continue to pray in church while Boko Haram is still at large. The Sri Lankans continue to celebrate Easter, despite the hostility of those who stand against Christ.
Faith is something that's inexplicable in rational terms, but of course, that's the point. Because does not operate in terms of what's rational or not rational. Life operates on its own terms, be those of God, the universe, space, or the sciences still undiscovered.
That's where people find both the courage and the spirit to worship even when their lives are at risk, and also where they find the courage and spirit to take the lives of those worshiping, when its also their lives at risk.
Even if our world is more "modern" and "advanced", it doesn't mean we're more civilized. In certain circumstances, it can even mean the very opposite. We can have the best medicine, the most tamed animals, the greatest infrastructure, the gift of knowledge, but if our hearts aren't healed and our souls are empty, what good is any of it? We will only take it upon ourselves to feel jealousy, hurt others, steal, lie, and find some addiction to pleasure us until we're satisfied and die. But we're never satisfied.
That's why even in today's age, in the 2010s, where information is available at the drop of a hat and we have both the resources to save the world and the resources to destroy do we still find room for war, discrimination, and tragedy, as we have seen in Sri Lanka.
That's why this Easter, the teardrop of India cries for the Church as they suffer in the suffering of Sri Lanka.
Credit to Project Palisade
Project Palisade personally wrote a "Tragedy Prayer" for Sri Lanka as soon as the events were made known to the world. For the religious in Project Palisade, feel free to use this prayer as much as you need to pray for healing in the lives of those affected by the tragedy, and for any future tragedies as well. For the non-religious, your condolences and acknowledgements are all that's needed.
Next Easter, I pray we'll live in peace.
Sources:
The New York Times
CNN
Britannica
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