BBC Radio 4 2016-06-13

Good morning. The tragedy of those of who were killed or injured in an act of terrorism at the Pulse nightclub followed just two days after the fatal shooting of singer Christina Grimmie in the same city. These events shine the spotlight not only on Orlando but more fundamentally on the nature of the world.

Such attacks are unfortunately not uncommon. The Mass Shooting Tracker reports that last year alone in the US 475 people were killed and 1,870 wounded. But this act of terror and hate is the worst in American recent history and in the words of Mayor Buddy Dyer was 'unimaginable'. Of course even this incident is dwarfed by violence in places such as Libya and Syria.

But the shock of the attack in Florida, although primarily due to its scale and brutality, may be heightened by its location. Tourists are encouraged to visit Orlando to explore its theme parks to encounter a ‘world of dreams’ and a ‘never ending story’. Having taught there, preached at a number of its churches and enjoyed its beauty and excitement on vacation, it seems to project an image of living happily ever after in a world of entertainment.

Yet human life is not like that, and while fairy stories to comic book Marvel superheroes promise a happy ending, even they reflect human existence as shot through with terror, evil and vulnerability. When it comes to evil, the Christian faith does not offer easy simple answers as to why such things happen. However it does recognise the beauty and potential of human beings, alongside the brokenness which means that freedom can be exercised in a way that harms others. There is hope in the face of violence that one day peace and reconciliation will come but that we need to take an active part in striving for such peace and justice - whether it be in gun control or opposing radicalisation.

The basis of this hope was summed up by Archbishop Justin Welby in his sermon as part of the celebration of the Queen’s 90th birthday. He pointed out that what sustains her and fellow Christians in times of turmoil is that ‘ The story of Jesus shows us that God enters into the most fearful places imaginable in our lives – of sin, betrayal, violence, rejection, even death’.

Violent atrocities cannot be ignored whether they make the news or not. But they should not take us to a place of despair where we believe that they cannot be defeated. My Christian hope is not of building a perfect world but that love will eventually triumph over evil.

First broadcast 13 June 2016