A Holy War on Terrorism? 

A Holy War on Terrorism?

In response to a comment made by Jerry Falwell on CNN, that President Bush should blow away all the terrorists "in the name of the Lord," a number of clergymen and experts in religion have questioned the use of the Lord's name in that way. According to David Gushee of Union University in Tennessee, although fighting terrorists "is a morally legitimate exercise of military force...it must be recognized that in terms of Christian moral thought, even justified wars are not to be treated as if they are being fought 'in the name of the Lord.'"

I wonder how this issue plays out in pulpits across America, particulary in the south and midwest. Is the war on terrorism being widely portrayed as a holy war? Or is Falwell just a blowhard who has once again crossed a line? It's revealing of Falwell that he believe this, although, at this late date, it mostly confirms what I would have suspected. I don't know though, if it's revealing of much more than that, on a broader scale, and it strikes me that it would be important to know that.