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Even terrorists have the right to repent
Originally appeared on spirituality.com
On August 10, British authorities foiled a plot to blow up American planes flying from England to the United States. When I heard about this, I thought first of friends who were scheduled to return from the UK. Then I remembered my daughter was flying within the United States that day. For a moment I felt fear—and hatred for those who planned so ruthlessly to kill.
Immediately I realized that this was not helpful; I was in essence returning evil thinking for evil thinking. So I began to pray. What came to me was something I hadn't thought of before. Those plotters of evil deeds have the right of repentance—to “rethink,” which is part of the definition of repentance.
My next question was: how can my prayer help this rethinking?
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