Culture, Faith and Politics with Pat Kahnke "Charlie Kirk, Political Violence, and the Christian Witness" with Tihomir Kukolja
Sep 16, 2025
Tihomir Kukolja, a Balkan conflict survivor and reconciliation minister, shares profound insights on political violence and Christian responses, drawing from his experiences during the Yugoslav wars. He highlights alarming parallels between the past and current U.S. tensions, cautioning against incendiary rhetoric. Kukolja critiques the dangers of Christian nationalism, media manipulation, and collective guilt. Emphasizing love, justice, and truth, he urges Christians to engage meaningfully and advocate for mercy while navigating today’s polarized landscape.
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Balkan War Experience Shapes Perspective
- Tihomir Kukolja recounts living through the Yugoslav wars and leading a reconciliation ministry across the Balkans.
- He used that experience to draw parallels with rising political violence and rhetoric in the U.S.
Small Triggers Can Ignite Large Conflicts
- Small trigger events can rapidly escalate longstanding tensions into full-scale violence.
- Media demonization and dehumanizing language accelerate spirals that become hard to stop.
Media Language Enables Violence
- Media platforms weaponize rhetoric by demonizing groups and normalizing dehumanizing terms.
- Those language patterns enable opportunistic leaders and militias to mobilize quickly.