The Witness of the Buddhist Monks

We are witnessing a most powerful and intersting expression of religious life in Burma/Myanmar. Burmese Buddhist monks have taken to the streets, facing soldier's bullets, to defy a repressive regime. As "Faithful Progressive" points out, this expression of nonviolence is proof of religion's value to human life.

Here is just a clip from his comments:

The events in Myanmar are a classic illustration of why the New Atheists, in general, and Richard Dawkins in particular, are wrong about the value of religious belief in human history and evolution. It's pretty simple: the Buddhist monks have moral authority. It is hard earned. They live a disciplined life that focuses on compassion. They have been politically active, and brutally put down, since the 1930's. But they endure, as do their fellow Buddhists in Burma/Myanmar. Together, the monks and the people are strong; strong and pure like their belief in Buddhism.

With these comments are added clips from several news sources.

Nonviolence has its dangers, and yet it has proven itself to be effective. It commands moral authority -- but too often, as we're seeing in Iraq and elsewhere, we prefer the "quicker" mode of violence. The problem is that this never seems to end.

We shall watch and pray with the Burmese people, hoping that this march by the monks will lead to their freedom from oppression.