Reflections on the #OrlandoShooting

Last updated on: June 12, 2016 at 7:18 pm by blog admin

Reflections on the #OrlandoShooting 2016-06-12T19:18:39-05:00 blog admin

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

On June 12, 2016, at 2am Sunday morning, Omar Mateen walked into Pulse Nightclub in Orlando, Florida and started shooting. When he finished 50 people were dead and 53 injured. Here at R3, we are collecting some reflections of this horrific massacre. If you would like to share, please email us at [email protected]. You can also follow us on Twitter at @examinereligion and Facebook

Today, I was unceremoniously told (again) that I am not a minister of the gospel because I DO NOT agree that “although the Orlando massacre was sad, it is the price to pay for a sinful life”.
Because if GOD was still killing folk because of the human perception of sin, not only should we consider the work of Christ incomplete and of no effect, I would have been dead long ago. And so would you. And no, I don’t know who is reading this. That’s my point.
Love your neighbor as yourself.
Mourn with those who mourn.
If you can’t do those, consider the ministry of silence.
Selah.-Max View

I can’t do any more hashtags about mass shootings. I can’t begin to process Orlando. Last night, I watched people who profess to live God and live out the Gospel post queer-antagonistic and homophobic rhetoric about whether God loves black gay men in the church. Folks across the LGBTQ spectrum and allies attempted to express how their language and unwillingness to consider inclusion as God’s work was violent. Now I wake up to the Orlando Pulse shooting. If your church calls this and act of judgment or divine punishment and you shrug it off or amen it, you are part of the problem and help load the gun. If you can’t be bothered to mention queer bodies or experiences except when you name it sinful, you help load the clips. Gun control is a serious issue. But until we deal with the devaluing of life for all people, we can’t get reform. I pray for the victims. I pray for the families. I pray for the LGBTQ community as they process and assess the remaining pride celebrations across the country. Finally, I pray for the Church. I pray we have the courage to embrace how we helped to pull the trigger last night.-Indhira Udofia

I have no words, only tears in my eyes and heaviness in my heart. It’s way past time to live beyond words, but talk if you must AND act/do/live/serve in love because transformation ain’t coming on its own. As relentless as ignorance & evil is, we must be, too, asking God to go before us as we WORK to dismantle hateful systems that cause 50 deaths and 53 injuries anywhere in this damn world. If you feel like you can’t change the world, start one person at at time ~ stop perpetuating hate, stop creating division, stop thinking you & yours are all that matters, have active, “good Samaritan” love for your neighbor, stop ending your help at a prayer, get involved, hell, speak up & show up unless you’re looking forward to the day where tragedy comes to you……sigh…….I thought I didn’t have any words, but I guess I did…and I don’t claim to have all the answers but I do know that doing nothing ain’t one of ’em.-Tekeima Shontelle

I preached today about “A Heart for God.” A Heart for God does not lead one to perpetrate the kind of hatred-fueled violence that occurred earlier today in Orlando. A Heart for God will lead those of us who claim to be Christians to speak out against discrimination and bigotry wherever it may be. A Heart for God means that we should not only love each other, but that we should love each other as we love ourselves. One thing we all have in common, regardless of sexual orientation: God made us all, in God’s image.
Do you have a Heart for God?-Dave Louis Adams Sr

Donate to the Work of R3

Like the work we do at Rhetoric Race and Religion? Please consider helping us continue to do this work. All donations are tax-deductible through Gifts of Life Ministries/G’Life Outreach, a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization, and our fiscal sponsor. Any donation helps. Just click here to support our work.

Reflections

Orlando Shooting

Reflections

Previous Post

June 12, 2016

Jesus and the Call to be Queer

Next Post

June 13, 2016 The Prayers of the Queer

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Amy Steele Andre E. Johnson Book Reviews/Series Brian Foulks Call for Chapters Carol Howard Merritt Classes Conferences Contributors Crystal St.Marie Lewis Daniel White Hodge Earle Fisher Eulogy Fredrick Robinson Guest Contributions Henry McNeal Turner Institutes Interviews Joseph Boston Katherine Whitfield Kimberly Peeler-Ringer Lectures/Roundtables Natalie Bullock Brown R3 Book Series R3 Contributor Rashad Grove Readers Reflections Symposiums Teaching Traci Ellis Travis Harris Uncategorized Video

Select a Month June 2020 February 2020 December 2019 November 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 October 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz