CEIE Asks: How Are We Called to Respond to Acts of Violence?

Over the past weeks, three horrific mass acts of violence have occurred: the shooting at a Tops Friendly Markets store  in Buffalo, NY, where 11 people—all African American—were shot and killed with two more injured; the shooting at the Irvine Taiwanese Presbyterian Church in Laguna Woods, Calif., where one person was killed and five more injured; and the shooting in Uvalde, Tex., where 21 people—most of whom were Latinx—were killed. These events are a solemn reminder of the hatred, especially impacting minoritized communities, that exists in America and all of us are called to take actions that will move us toward a more compassionate society.

At this link on the center’s Religica Theolab website are resources addressing acts of mass violence, which CEIE hopes will assist your community. You will see:   

• A Resource from our Theological Laboratory focusing on a multiethnic and multireligious understanding of violence, its causes, its impact in culture and—
  in the last module—how we can respond together toward greater healing in our own communities.  

• Two podcasts with leaders from the Tree of Life Synagogue (U.S.) and Al Noor Mosque (New Zealand), which reflect upon and respond to a version of this question: “Given the experiences you have endured, what is important for local communities to remember in times of violence and trauma?”  

• GoFundMe links for those local communities directly impacted by violence and supported financially by those communities who are requesting assistance. 

CEIE hopes these resources benefit you in your leadership and directly assist the families and individuals in your care. 

To learn more about the center, its core team of students, staff and faculty, and to view current projects, visit CEIE.