I sat down with my morning cup of steaming coffee and read the updates on another attack at a place of worship: the mosque shooting in California. Another sacred space interrupted by violence. Another community gathering in prayer only to discover that even reverence is no longer immune from fear. Another place of worship violated.
Whatever our differences in theology, there should be one conviction upon which we all stand united: no person should fear for their life while worshipping.
The promise of religious freedom is woven into the fabric of the American experiment. The First Amendment protects both freedom FROM government-established religion and freedom TO worship according to one’s conscience. These protections exist for good reason. History is filled with examples of people persecuted for their faith.
Early Christians were imprisoned and executed under the Roman Empire for refusing to renounce their beliefs. Jewish communities have endured centuries of persecution, from slavery in Egypt to expulsions, genocides, and the horrors of the Holocaust. Muslims, Sikhs, Hindus, and others have likewise faced suspicion, violence, and oppression throughout history. We know what religious hatred can become when left unchecked.
The painful truth today is that many houses of worship no longer assume sacredness alone will keep them safe. Across America, churches, synagogues, mosques, and temples increasingly rely on security teams, surveillance systems, trained volunteers, and, in some cases, concealed-carry members or armed personnel. One national survey found that more than four out of five Protestant churches report some kind of security measure, and over half include armed congregants as part of their safety plans. We may debate the wisdom of such measures, but the deeper sadness remains: people gathering to pray now often feel compelled to prepare for violence. (I for one am glad for the good men and women who conceal carry and protect us as a society in the shadows.)
That is why the recent violence at a mosque in California feels especially heartbreaking. One of the men killed was reportedly a security guard whose actions helped warn teachers to lock classroom doors while children sheltered inside. His courage may have saved lives.
A better society is built when we protect not only our own freedoms, but the freedoms—and sacred spaces—of one another. The Christian should care when a mosque is threatened. The Muslim should care when a synagogue is attacked. The atheist should care when a church burns.
We do not have to agree on theology to agree on humanity.
And in a society worthy of its ideals, every person should be able to walk into a place of worship and know they will walk safely back out.