This forum is now closed. Read the archived postings below, and continue the discussion by posting new comments on the Voices on Genocide Prevention blog — where Jerry Fowler interviews human rights defenders, experts, advocates, and government officials each week and posts occasional blog entries on the crisis in Darfur and genocide prevention around the world today.
Jennifer
April 17, 2006 08:28 AM
What is the role of faith-based organizations? I have never heard of the genocide in Darfur at my own church or the two other churches I have attended in the past two months.
Another discussion on the USHMM website right now is the role of religious communities in preventing antisemitism. What is their role once indifference reaches its deadliest consequence?
As a Holocaust educator in a primarily Christian community, one of the most interesting issues students confront in the course of our study is that the vast majority of people who expressed the same religious convictions (beliefs which specifically instruct the believer to help his/her fellow men and women as if they are God himself) they hold did nothing to help the victims of the Holocaust. They are outraged at their fellow Christians for their lack of response . . . for, as they view it, their lack of faith.
How then do we use this strong emotional response to how indifference to one's own faith can contribute to genocide to help those in the middle of present day genocide?
Jenn W.
April 17, 2006 11:37 AM
Jennifer,
I also am part of a religiously-affiliated community and am disappointed with the lack of attention paid to genocide in Sudan. Like you, I have questioned what role faith based organizations should play in the current conflict. I have come to the encouraging conclusion that religious groups have incredible potential to promote awareness about Darfur. The influence of the religious right over Washington D.C. politics has rarely been greater than it is right now. I think that you, I, and your outraged students need to speak up within our communities about our dismay with the lack of discussion of genocide in Darfur. Our argument is unshakeable: "As part of a community organized around the principle of 'helping our fellow men and women as if we are God himself' and simply as moral human beings, we cannot continue to ignore the slaughter of innocent men, women and children." Individual congregations need to begin speaking up, pressing their leaders to address the issue, promoting awareness within their own community, organizing fundraisers to aid humanitarian relief, writing letters to Congress. As individual faith based groups begin responding to genocide, their interest will, with a little effort, spread to other such groups. As awareness and indignation within religious communities grows, pressure will be applied to leaders who hold real sway over government action.
A response to genocide in Sudan needs to begin at the level of individuals and small groups and grow out from there. Leaders, especially Washington policy makers, are obligated to respond to the needs of their constituencies. If there is no interest in an issue it cannot be expected that a leader will address it. However, if groups, especially faith based groups founded on principles of humanity, begin speaking up, I believe that attention can be focused on Darfur and action can begin.
Jenn
Julia
April 17, 2006 12:37 PM
I too am shocked that religious responses are not stronger, but shouldn't all people of all faiths be outraged by genocide? I'm sure it is a bit idealistic, but it does seem reasonable to expect more from everyone in terms of stopping the genocide in Sudan just because of basic respect for the lives of other humans. The hypocrisy of individuals who consider themselves religious but are not working to help Sudan is no more horrible than any other reason preventing governments from intervening. Ending genocide should be much more than a religious movement.
