Who Wants to Claim Naveed Haq?
Muslims or Christians?
Naveed Afzal Haq last Friday shot up the Jewish Federation of Seattle, killing one and injuring several others. The story inspired some commentators to launch into tirades about the crazy Jew-hating Muslim who terrorized Seattle. During Haq's rampage, after all, he shouted, "I'm a Muslim American; I'm angry at Israel."
Though Haq identified himself as a Muslim, it seems that he is only a Muslim by birth and culture, not by professed faith, as noted by several other commentators. Haq was actually baptized a Christian. Haq "told friends he felt alienated from his own family, in part because his career had disappointed his father and also because he had disavowed Islam last year, converting to Christianity."
Ironically, Haq became a Christian because he "had seen too much anger in Islam"; he also won a recent essay contest for a U.S. Institute of Peace scholarship.
Many Americans have come to assume that anyone who is anti-Israel, anti-Jewish, and violent must be a Muslim. We've grown accustomed to Evangelical Christians being outspoken supporters of Israel. But, as we learned this week, anti-Semitism lingers among some outspoken Christians.
As a Christian, I suppose that I am not so concerned with whether Haq is "one of us" or "one of them." I am more interested in the faith community's efforts to bring healing to the situation—both to the victims and their families and to Haq and his. (OK, that's a bit of a fib. I honestly think the blogosphere debate over whether the shooter was a Muslim or a Christian is fascinating.)
Lost in the debate over Haq's faith is his broken heart—"Haq was frustrated at his lack of friends and female companionship"—which was likely the true motivation for his outburst.
Naveed Afzal Haq last Friday shot up the Jewish Federation of Seattle, killing one and injuring several others. The story inspired some commentators to launch into tirades about the crazy Jew-hating Muslim who terrorized Seattle. During Haq's rampage, after all, he shouted, "I'm a Muslim American; I'm angry at Israel."
Though Haq identified himself as a Muslim, it seems that he is only a Muslim by birth and culture, not by professed faith, as noted by several other commentators. Haq was actually baptized a Christian. Haq "told friends he felt alienated from his own family, in part because his career had disappointed his father and also because he had disavowed Islam last year, converting to Christianity."
Ironically, Haq became a Christian because he "had seen too much anger in Islam"; he also won a recent essay contest for a U.S. Institute of Peace scholarship.
Many Americans have come to assume that anyone who is anti-Israel, anti-Jewish, and violent must be a Muslim. We've grown accustomed to Evangelical Christians being outspoken supporters of Israel. But, as we learned this week, anti-Semitism lingers among some outspoken Christians.
As a Christian, I suppose that I am not so concerned with whether Haq is "one of us" or "one of them." I am more interested in the faith community's efforts to bring healing to the situation—both to the victims and their families and to Haq and his. (OK, that's a bit of a fib. I honestly think the blogosphere debate over whether the shooter was a Muslim or a Christian is fascinating.)
Lost in the debate over Haq's faith is his broken heart—"Haq was frustrated at his lack of friends and female companionship"—which was likely the true motivation for his outburst.
posted by Tinley | 5:13 AM
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