Hypocritical missteps by people of faith continue to remain a news staple. In the past month alone there have been the sexual abuse allegations that have rocked the Christian conservative Duggar family, and the more recent revelation that Christian abstinence advocate Bristol Palin is pregnant out of wedlock for a second time. It seems as though it’s impossible to turn on a television or pass a People magazine at the newsstand without hearing about the absolute worst aspects of people of faith—Christians in particular.
Which is what made the remarks of the Charleston tragedy survivors so inspiring. When various family members, one after the other, said that they forgave the perpetrator, they embodied Christianity at its best, without an iota of hypocrisy to be found. For so long people have seen high profile Christians talk about love in one breath while making incredibly intolerant remarks about others—poor people, gay people, people of other religions—in the next breath. The incredible humanity the survivors showed gave us all something to aspire to, and it came from their deep-rooted faith.
Following a major tragedy, church attendance tends to increase, such as after 9/11 when many flooded houses of worship seeking solace and answers.
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