Monday, November 6, 2017

Sanctury



Sanctuary –

In days past the church as an institution offered sanctuary for those fleeing the “long arm of the law”.  Recently the laws of sanctuary have all but been abolished.  Yet there persists a notion common in human persons that there ought to be a sacred space for refugees to go. The US has never adopted sanctuary laws, but still many people believe that a church is such a space of safety.

The usual definitions of sanctuary are:
1:a consecrated place: such as
  a :the ancient Hebrew temple at Jerusalem or its holy of holies
b (1) :the most sacred part of a religious building (such as the part of a Christian church in      which the altar is placed)
   (2) :the room in which general worship services are held
   (3) :a place (such as a church or a temple) for worship

2 a (1) :a place of refuge and protection
      (2) :a refuge for wildlife where predators are controlled and hunting is illegal
   b :the immunity from law attached to a sanctuary

Today sanctuary is associated with the protection of immigrants from deportation.  In our nation’s past many churches and synagogues have been involved in sanctuary movements such as the underground movement for those fleeing slavery.  In Canada many Anglican, Lutheran, and United churches have specific rules about sanctuary.  Some churches deny the authorities the power to arrest an individual until such time as one their members, who is legally empowered to do so, is willing to pro bono defend the one to be arrested.  The modern sanctuary movement began in Tucson, Arizona with a Presbyterian Church there.

While we are willing to grant safe spaces to college students where they do not have to hear anything which contradicts their view of the world, we seem unwilling to accept the notion that a church is a sacred and safe space.  The recent mass shootings in churches confirm this attitude.  Guns are an instrument of power to those who feel empowered to assert their judgment on things over the peace and tranquility of a safe space – sanctuary.  The philosopher in me feels a strong moral outrage over such heinous acts as to kill those involved in worship. 
 
Where is our moral compass today?

Is there not some space in which none but God has power?

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