What Benedict—and any Christian—can do best is to “take on their own more violent and extreme elements.”
Jews and Muslims are well aware that throughout the centuries, Christians have often committed violence in the name of God, and many still advocate doing so.
Our past and present history all too often often recalls Santayana’s comment that “those who do not know their own history are condemned to relive it.”
When people in our country, especially American Christians, challenge evil uses of Christian traditions, they will be taking the most important step toward helping others acknowledge—and challenge—those who use other religious traditions to do so.
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