The government and the Christians showcased commonness by gathering at the Baptist church following the vandalism of the Central Jerusalem based church with slogans denouncing Christianity. As Ryan Jones reports, the meeting could also be perceived as a typic of the friendship that exists between Israel and Christians as a well as a call for the Christians to uphold their love for Israel notwithstanding such occurrences. Referring to the attack as hurtful and speculative, Pastor Chuck Kopp of the Baptist church delineated the show of solidarity that was the depicted by the Israelis as far much impactful. Kopp asserted this in reference to the flowers he had received from the rabbi, cantor, and Israel’s first lady as a show of condolence following the wanton and malicious mischief. One of the representatives of the Southern Baptist conventions urged the Christians to uphold their beliefs stating that they are up for an ultimate “price”. Dr. Moti Zaken, an advisor to the prime minister of Israel expressed his apologies regarding the attack but assured the Christians that the vandals will certainly be brought to book. Another pastor whose son sustained injuries from one of the previous attack on the church openly expressed his satisfaction with regards to the fact that the government was in solidarity with the Christians. Also in the gathering was a Christian lawyer, Kevork Nalbandian, who urged the Christians to treat the Israelis with love despite such attacks.
On a personal standpoint, the religious discrimination of any kind is by all means wrong. If religion would imply causing harm to others just because they are contained in a different religious group, then people should shy away from religion. Just as Neil refers to the existence of policies relating to freedom of worship in Israel (27), Smith asseverates, religious discrimination and intolerance remains the principal cause of conflict in Israel (185). It is, therefore, important that the principal solution to this problem be given root-based approach. Instead of the Christians being urged to treat the rival religious groups with love, the leaders of both groups should strive to hold talks in a bid to pin point the main cause of the religious discrimination and the vital ways to overcome them.
Works Cited
Addison, Neil. Religious Discrimination and Hatred Law. New York, NY: Routledge-Cavendish. Print.
Jones, Ryan. “More stoning of Christians on Temple Mount.” Israel Today Magazine. 21 Feb. 2012. Web. 25 Feb. 2012.
Smith, Rhona K. M. Textbook on International Human Rights. Oxford, OX: Oxford University Press, 2007. Print.
