Interfaith and Racist Violence and Genocide: Definitions, Contexts, and Theology

Religious communities have historicallybeen involved to one extent or anotherin genocide. Christianchurches are no exception. Sometimes they are complicit in the violence; sometimes they are its victims. In recentyears, when extreme violence seems to confront us continually, whether in one place or another,whether at aparticularmoment of crisis or painfully over time, many have been quick to designate the violence as genocide. But, do they meet the high barset by the internationalcommunity's definition of genocide? And, what is the church's response to be? This essay seeks to start a conversation aimed at answeringthese questions.