October

Coping.org: Tools for Coping with Life's Stressors

Coping with the 9.11.01 Aftermath

Why this Site

October 2001

October 22
October 13 (with two reader responses)
October 11

October 22, 2001 - What's New on Site

First off, we both want to thank you for your support and best wishes. We recognize that we are in the process of developing a special archive for people who will be needing this as a "healing tool" once they are ready to deal with their full emotional response to the aftermath of 9.11. The site has grown, matured and is taking on a life of its own.

What's New on the 9.11 site?

Added Bioterrorism section under Terrorists
Added Business section under 9-11 coping
Expanded Rumors sections with biweekly updates from Urban Legends and snopes2.com
Added Galleries to
- Artistic Pictures Mood Reflecting Sidebars 6 Galleries and links
- Political Cartoons Mood Reflecting Sidebars 6 Galleries and wonderful links
- Bizarre Pictures Mood Reflecting Sidebars (strange and/or humorous) 3 Galleries
- Irreverent Pictures (humorous) 6 Galleries and great links
Expanded every other section of the 9.11 Coping Site
Put in a Guestbook which we would love for you to sign and place your comments in
Put in Google Search Engines on all section title pages for your ease to expand your search on a topic both on and off our site
Put individual counters on all section title pages to monitor the traffic and what sections are most utilized on the 9.11 site

We have been able to capture a number of articles from a whole spectrum of thinking concerning the 9.11 incident, its aftermath, and the war on terrorism. We feel strongly that an open and fair presentation of all views is necessary so as to insure that when people need it, they will be able to come to a single place to reflect on what has happened, and what has brought them to the place where they are when they enter this site. We also hope that for you who is reading this now, that our site provides you information, some coping tips, and a place to reflect on what is going on around us.

Please remember to forward anything you find which belongs on our site. Thank you again. Jim and Connie

October 13, 2001 - In response to email - Our Plea for Religious Tolerance

We received an email which stated:

You said that you invite critiques...

... really I'm really curious about a statement you made: "... Pray on our knees for God's wisdom, God's direction, God's desires for us humans at this time when most humans have not prayed enough. We all need to come together in America around God. God is the same God for Christians, Jews, and Muslims. God is our common ground and now we need to be standing on it as we deal with this crazy time."

You quote several verses from John, these are Jesus Christ's words. I understand that Jews, Muslims, and Christians all believe in the God of Abraham. I believe that Christians are the only ones who believe in the true God though, since we believe in Jesus Christ's claims to be God. Basically, I'm curious as to what you think about the claims. Here are two of my favorite ones... John 14:6 Jesus says "I am the way, the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father but through me." also John 8:58 - the Pharisees were questioning Jesus about Abraham saying "you aren't even fifty years old, how can you have seen Abraham", and Jesus says to them - "truly truly I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM" (or I AM is translated to YHWH or YAHWEH, the name God gives Moses in Exodus 3:14 from the burning bush). The Pharisees picked up stones to stone him for saying this - they knew he was claiming deity.

...Just curious as to what you thought about all that. I still care for and will love Jews and Muslims in spite of their different beliefs though. Given the opportunity I'd make humanitarian (or I would call them Christ-like) efforts to help them in whatever way one might need.

Knowing this person and knowing this person's heart, I do not believe that the words were intended to be as inflammatory and intolerant as they sound when looking at them right now. But the truth is they are inflammatory and intolerant and the very cancer which rots in the souls of the Islamic terrorists who were responsible for the 9.11 disaster.

How can it be that there is a "True God" if Christians, Jews, and Muslim all believe in the same monotheistic God of Abraham, then it stands to reason that we all believe in this one "True God." God is the "True God" for these three faith communities. What make them different is their paths of belief, liturgy, ritual, and ceremonial practices in worship of this God. Fact is He is "The God" for all three faiths. It is impossible to miss that the writer has no understanding that the words written to us sound like they could have come from an Islamic Terrorist, Jewish Terrorist, and in fact a Christian Terrorist. Terrorists by design are closed minded and use phrases and terms to cloak their bigotry, intolerance, and hatred under the guise of "religiosity" and pious phrases. Remember, the 9.11 terrorists in their planning papers stated that on entering the plane that day they were to recite: "God, I trust in you. God, I lay myself in your hands. I ask with the light of your faith that has lit the whole world and lightened all darkness on this earth, to guide me until you approve of me. And once you do, that's my ultimate goal." If you did not know the context in which these words were being spoken, you would think they were of a very pious person. Unfortunately they were the words of a killer, who was wrapped up in "religiosity" not religion.

I think in this period of healing from the aftermath of 9.11, we Christians, Jews, and Muslims must find a common ground to help heal the chasm which these horrible attacks have created. I think it is time for us to set aside our "evangelical" zeal to convert one another and instead support one another's faiths. Rather than trying to delineate which of our "God" is the "true" God, we should rather celebrate and unite under this ONE GOD so as to obtain world peace against terrorism. The way to win over terrorism is to stop this religious intolerance which is "clothed" in a desire to bring others to the "true faith." If we Christians had offered help and assistance to the poor in the Islamic world without the need to evangelize and convert them, perhaps there would be fewer converts to the terrorist's beliefs. Unfortunately, it is religious intolerance which is at the root of this terrorist attack and it will continue to be the cancer which keeps us from healing. This will be true, if we do not stop and ask ourselves why we cannot use our common "True God" as our common ground of healing.

You will find God as the common ground of healing in the coping.org website. We do not discriminate from Muslim, Jewish, or Christian God. It is the God of Abraham which we ascribe to. God is the only way to make sense out of the insanity which has confronted us on 9.11.01. God is the healing common ground which all men of good will need to come to. Let's stop this "ours is the only true one" rhetoric, and recognize that such language is inflammatory, discriminatory, offensive, prejudiced, intolerant, and divisive. What we need today is unity, cohesiveness, and mutual understanding and acceptance. So join us at Coping.org in worshiping the one true God of Islam, Judaism and Christianity.

Jim Messina, Ph.D. and Connie G. Messina, Ph.D. , Webmasters and Owners Coping.org

Response of Reader October 24:

I have finally had a few quite moments to look at your web site. I was truly inspired by your piece on the one "True God."

I have spent many years turned off by God. Of course as I look back, I was really turned off by "religiosity" and the individuals who spew their opinions towards their concept of the one true religion.

I was fortunate to be raised in a family who allowed me to create and live my own worship to God. After much research, many hours of pray, and the strong guidance of mentors, I found my own religion.

Yes, I like many have placed my heart, soul and unconditional love with the God of Abraham. And, I choose to believe in His son, Jesus Christ. Therefore, I am a Christian. However, I have many heterosexual and homosexual friends, who have chosen different paths. . .in worshiping the God of Islam as well as the worship of Judaism. I do not argue with my friends who have different religions, I just accept their right to choose to believe in Him (who says I'm right anyway!).

I realize that every day will bring challenges for our world and ourselves. I am however secure in my heart and soul knowing that He is guiding and supporting me in my work and family efforts. In essence, I have never felt more safe in my life even in the world as we know it today.

Jim, why do people like me walk away or struggle with the belief of such a wonderful and hallowed feeling. Don't you think because we argue over the right and wrong of God. We shout from the mountain tops, who's concept of God is correct! We as people and nations kill to define the "True God." God has been blamed for it all! How horrible to think that the acts of 9.11 was God's work. But I am here to say, I've heard it! I've heard people say it was God's way of showing us that we as Americans are too arrogant.

Okay, I ask you. . .where the hell (excuse my pun) is Lucifer in all of this! Who in the name of religion forgot evil? This is not about what God we believe in, it's about what we can do to destroy evil. Prayerfully as George Bush makes his decisions, my True God will be guiding him. And, the archangel, St. Michael, will be with our men in arms! (How's that for a little Catholicism!)

You see people are off course here. We are not a nation looking to understand the acts of another religion. We are about finding the "evil-doers" and understanding that God allows us an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. My faith in the "True God" (the God that's right for me) has never been stronger, but my belief that evil is everywhere and disguised as the acts of God has never been more strong either.

It's time to look at the Bible and stop quoting who God is and quote what He wants. . .You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go bear fruit-fruit that will last. . .This is my command: Love each other. (John 15:16). Notice it does not say, only if you are Christian, only if you are Muslim, only if you are heterosexual, only if you believe in Him. It says "Love each other"!

I will live every day of my life believing in the God of Abraham as a Christian, as well as asking Him for guidance and support, but I will also live every day loving His children (Christian, Muslim, Jew, Agnostic, Atheist) because that's what He has commanded me to do! Don't get me wrong, this does not make me soft-hearted to evil-doers, just forgiving of those who have strayed from His flock. And, this is the lesson I will teach my children, we are all worthy of love! His love and mine.

My deepest sympathy goes out to those who fear the next strike, the next act of terrorism that might take their life. I know that if God is ready for me to come home, it won't necessarily be an act of terrorism that will call me. I am safe in His love, I know if today is the last day of my life, it's okay. Although, I will be missed by my loved ones, I have loved ones waiting for me. I will not change my life habits or patterns to these evil-doers because He is on my side. And to allow Lucifer this kind of fear, to stop life as I knew it. . .wrong! I hold my life on this Earth as precious, and I refuse to live in fear of what could be knowing that God will be there for me and my loved ones should something happen.

Cyndi Schubel

Response from Reader October 23:

You make some excellent points. While I am Episcopalian, I believe all of us, Christians, Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, etc. need to recognize that what we are looking at is the difference between good and evil. It's just that simple. It is very easy to get wrapped up in "our own religion" and not see the bigger picture. And I guess, our own religious beliefs help us to cope. I don't believe that ANY God will condone mass murder, hatred, and deadly intolerance. ALL the civilized people of the world need to stay united in love and tolerance to defeat evil in any form, from any group or individual. Just my two cents worth:):) Keep up this great site!!! Thanks! Barbara Moore

October 11, 2001- A Month Later, and where we are and where we hope to go with this site

Today marks the first month since the tragedy of 9.11. Our Coping with the 9.11 Aftermath site has been growing and changing. We unfortunately were knocked off the air for one week and returned yesterday. Due to the delay we had over 150 emails of new ideas and materials backlogged, which are now completed. In the week we were off the air, we made some housekeeping changes. We redesigned the look of our entire website. We have added some new topics and loads of materials to our 9.11 site. During this week, the US has begun to bomb Afghanistan which has created a whole new aspect of this aftermath. It is clearer that we are getting this site up and ready to become just one of many healing places for people to come to, so they can work on coping strategies to deal with all that has and will occur as a result of the 9.11.01 Attack on America.

New offerings waiting for you to review on our site today are:

9.11 Coping Strategies now with specific sections on Adult, Child, and Spiritual coping.
Memorial for Victims of 9.11 now has America the Tribute listed with all of the current sites you can get it at. The list of memorials has expanded.
The History and Survivor sections have expanded
The Rumor section has now listed all of the current rumors which Urban Legends is tracking
The Terrorist section has expanded with incredible coverage from a variety of perspectives
The Voices of Reason section has new articles of interest to challenge our thinking at this time
The Pictures in the Mood Sidebars has expanded greatly especially the Bizarre, the Irreverent with links to interactive activities, the Artistic with wonderful new exhibits and the Political Cartoons which just keeps growing.
The Written Materials in the Mood Sidebars have grown extensively also with serious, humorous and the bizarre all expanded.

It is our hope that we will continue to grow and serve your needs. If you have any questions, suggestions, ideas, new material, or new links for us to tie into please email them to jjmess@tampabay.rr.com. Please also sign in at our guestbook which appears on the front page of Coping with the 9.11 Aftermath. Sincerely, Jim and Connie Messina

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Coping.org is a Public Service of James J. Messina, Ph.D. & Constance M. Messina, Ph.D., Email: jjmess@tampabay.rr.com ©1999-2007 James J. Messina, Ph.D. & Constance Messina, Ph.D. Note: Original materials on this site may be reproduced for your personal, educational, or noncommercial use as long as you credit the authors and website.