A killer Buddhist? It doesn’t seem to make theological sense.
Consider the mentally troubled Aaron Alexis, who police say killed 12 at the Navy Yard in Washington D.C., on Monday. He once meditated twice a week at a Buddhist temple, according to reports from Texas. It appeared like just one more detail in a full portrait of a man thrust into the headlines – along with his education, work and mental health history and his personal passion for violent video games.
But when does the religion of a mass killer make sense?
Does it only matter if faith is the motive?
In the case of now-convicted Fort Hood killer Maj. Nidal Hassan, a Muslim called himself a “holy warrior.” It was his twisted motive to slaughter 13 people – an act never condoned in Islam. Indeed, no religion advocates slaughtering innocents.
So does a routine mention of a faith upbringing – along with a suspect’s education, work and other personal traits – matter?
The Catholic background of Adam Lanza, the Newton, Conn., school shooter, didn’t shape his troubled life. Neither did James Holmes’ lack of faith matter to his assault on the audience of The Dark Knight Rising, in Aurora, Col.
Is religion a box that must always be checked in media reports on a mass killing?
Here’s what tweeters had to say. Join the conversation with comments that are smart, short and civil:
Not Islam or terrorism so… videogames. RT @WSJ: Suspect in #NavyYardShooting was skilled in first-person shooting videogames, says friend
— The Provost / سيدة الفتنة (@MsEntropy) September 17, 2013
https://twitter.com/SonamOngmo/status/379803070328500224
https://twitter.com/joshua_eaton/status/379801383580356608
https://twitter.com/joshua_eaton/status/379801538643767296
https://twitter.com/joshua_eaton/status/379802890329530368
https://twitter.com/joshua_eaton/status/379805143530610688
https://twitter.com/joshua_eaton/status/379806448462479360
Prayers for the victims and leaders:
Spend your lunch with us at a Mass for Consolation and Healing with @Cardinal_Wuerl #prayforpeace #NavyYardShooting https://t.co/Ly4QcKWq3B
— Catholic Archdiocese of Washington, DC (@WashArchdiocese) September 17, 2013
Prayers offered @WNCathedral at noon and 5:30 p.m. for victims of the shootings at the Washington Navy Yard: http://t.co/CIcXryrj75
— Washington National Cathedral (@WNCathedral) September 16, 2013
https://twitter.com/valariekaur/status/379621726881320960
Praying for my fellow Mississippian @SECNAV as he leads in the aftermath of the awful DC Navy Yard shootings.
— Russell Moore (@drmoore) September 17, 2013
"We send our thoughts and prayers to all at the Navy Yard who've been touched by this tragedy." —President Obama
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) September 16, 2013
#NavyYardShooting This can happen anywhere now. When will we learn? Praying for the victims and families.
— Jim Wallis (@jimwallis) September 16, 2013
https://twitter.com/RickWarren/status/379638729289113600
One of our Facebook readers says she’s sick of these shooting stories being about religion. What do you think?
Judy, on Facebook, says she fears journalists are going to pin the shooter’s actions on his religion. Do you have the same fear?