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Interfaith Group

hrmjustin

(71,265 posts) Tue Aug 26, 2014, 10:30 PM Aug 2014

Is James Foley a martyr? A brutal death sparks a faith-based debate [View all]

David Gibson

(RNS) From the moment news broke that U.S. journalist James Foley had been beheaded by Islamic State extremists in the Middle East, many Christians, especially Foley’s fellow Catholics, began calling him a martyr, with some even saying he should be considered a saint.

Yet that characterization has left others uneasy, and the discussion is raising larger questions about what constitutes martyrdom.

Foley’s parents seemed to validate the martyrdom label when his father, John, spoke at an emotional news conference outside the family’s New Hampshire home and said he and his wife “believe he was a martyr.” Foley’s mother, Diane, added that her son “reminds us of Jesus. Jesus was goodness, love — and Jim was becoming more and more that.”

http://www.religionnews.com/2014/08/26/james-foley-martyr-brutal-death-sparks-faith-based-debate/

30 replies

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Is James Foley a martyr? A brutal death sparks a faith-based debate [View all] hrmjustin Aug 2014 OP

I wouldn't say so. He was taken, then killed, for his nationality not his religion. rug Aug 2014 #1

Yeah I am not sure either but only God really knows. hrmjustin Aug 2014 #2

I watched the video of Daniel Pearl. I couldn't watch this one. rug Aug 2014 #3

No I can't either. hrmjustin Aug 2014 #5

I can't, and won't either. nt No Vested Interest Aug 2014 #21

I'm not sure why anyone would want to watch these - I once started to watch goldent Aug 2014 #28

I was hunted by Daniel Pearl's execution. hrmjustin Aug 2014 #29

I couldn't believe what I was hearing so I checked it out. rug Aug 2014 #30

I agree with you, rug Fortinbras Armstrong Aug 2014 #22

That's an interesting point about Kolbe. rug Aug 2014 #23

Thanks for the info. hrmjustin Aug 2014 #24

An interesting question. okasha Aug 2014 #4

Now this is an interesting conceot that I have never heard of. hrmjustin Aug 2014 #6

I hadn't heard of it, either, okasha Aug 2014 #8

I knew a priest named Fr. John Walsted who wrote icons and I have one he wrote for me. hrmjustin Aug 2014 #9

That's lovely. okasha Aug 2014 #15

Mine is of Jesus but he has written several for my parish as well. hrmjustin Aug 2014 #18

Thanks, I hadn't heard of this. rug Aug 2014 #7

Thanks for posting the image, rug. okasha Aug 2014 #10

I recognized some letters but I was scratching my head. rug Aug 2014 #11

Old church Slovanic maybe? hrmjustin Aug 2014 #14

I trust okasha on this. Way outside my ken. rug Aug 2014 #16

Lol. Old Chur h slovonic I ghink is just spoken in churches now. hrmjustin Aug 2014 #20

Could it be old church slovanic? hrmjustin Aug 2014 #13

The Cyrillic alphabet is derived from it. okasha Aug 2014 #17

I have a friend that can speak and sing in old church slovonic. hrmjustin Aug 2014 #19

Very sad but comforting in a way. hrmjustin Aug 2014 #12

kick. hrmjustin Aug 2014 #25

No, but his message is very powerful. cbayer Aug 2014 #26

I can't watch it either. hrmjustin Aug 2014 #27