Imagine the man who straps a bomb to his chest, with the intention of blowing up people in an airport, a stadium or a cafe, along with himself.  He sacrifices his own life because he believes he will be rewarded in the afterlife, which will, in turn, mean that he will continue to ‘live’ in paradise.  Sounds ridiculously mad, if you ask me, but I’m going to assume that those who are willing to do this actually do believe that they are doing something worthwhile and good.  Here’s my question for these people (I’m going to assume that they possibly can read this, seeing as how they believe in the afterlife!!!): While it’s clear that you do not mind blowing yourself up, how would you feel were someone to blow up a train (or anywhere, for that matter) in which your family were sitting or standing?  Let’s say that your mother and your sister were checking in for a flight, you’d be okay if a bomb went off right next to them, therefore ending their lives?

I’m just trying to clarify the situation here.  I simply want to know if one rule applies for all, or are double-standards at play?  Not that I agree with ‘an eye for an eye’, because I don’t – this is more of a hypothetical question.  I would be appalled at anyone committing murder, no matter how they did it, why, or what medium they used.  Just to make it clear!

So what does the rest of the world think will happen to these men who commit suicidal acts of terror (or martyrdom, as they insist it is)?  Is there an afterlife?  Is there a heaven?  Is there a hell?  Is there nothing?  Some of you may be quite certain about what happens to a person once he or she dies, while others may not be as sure.  Either way, we have no way of really knowing.  It is only one’s faith that can ‘speak’ to each of us on this matter.

My sons go to a fairly religious school – Christian, to be exact.  They learn about God and Jesus Christ in this school, and I am happy with it because regardless of whether one is religious or not, there is an historical relevance to religion which transcends to being relevant today.

Within their Christian education, my kids are learning what is morally right and wrong, and these principles are practiced in our home.  They feel safe and happy with what they are learning, so I leave them to continue to believe anything that is not hurting anyone else and certainly not hurting themselves.  However, walking hand in hand with this bliss, there have been times when fear comes into play.  The fear is of ‘the devil’ and I’m afraid to say that this is where I straight out tell my children that ‘the devil’ does not exist.    ‘The devil’ did not bring drought to Jamaica, ‘the devil’ has not made me sick, ‘the devil’ did not make any woman kill her child, ‘the devil’ did not cause the start of wars.  In fact, ‘the devil’ didn’t make anyone do anything.

Now, I am fully aware that people do evil things.  I am fully aware that people act in completely selfish ways.  I do not, however, believe that there is a man with horns and a long fork, nor a snake, nor a spirit, nor any other thing, which compels someone to do something immoral.  Simply put, we each have options and each of us are capable of making a morally sound choice.  You still think the devil exists?  Perhaps when each of us do something bad or immoral, we are each ‘the devil’ in that moment.