Rev. Dustin ParkerThe Pot and The Kettle
The subject of righteous indignation is one that everyone seems to enjoy joining in on. Whether Christian, HIndu, Jew or Muslim a lot of the fun of being part of an organised religion, or simply having a religious position is that you get to be offended by people who have a slightly different or completely contrary theory to you.
I think this picture explains it best.
I think it was Damo that posted on the subject (quite a good post too) that people who suffer pain have the potential of falling prey to the poor me, I'm a victim and whatever atrocity I cause unto others is justified by the atrocity they committed against me syndrome. I'm not saying that pain doesn't hurt, nor am I trying to take away from people who have suffered at other's hands. But surely, enough is enough.
THe ongoing war between the pot and the kettle to see which is darker has been the greatest waste of resources known to humanity. We've killed, insulted, revenged on, stolen from and demonised other human beings only for the sake of pride, either our own or that of our family or faith. In the name of Jesus, things have been done that He would condemn. I imagine that all other religions have a similar complaint. In our more rational moments, we find the time to look at these events for the truth of what they are. A low order reflex action, striking back as one that has been struck.
But, it's so much fun isn't it? To find a fault with someone else that we ourselves suffer from. To say that someone else is an intolerant bigot when we can't stand them because of what colour or creed they are. The human condition we all suffer from leads us to believe that the only way of co-existing with our enemies is to force them to be like us, through intimidation, or to wipe them out.
Though I do remember the words of a particular religious figure when He said "If a man slaps you on one side of your face, turn the other cheek. If someone sues you for your coat, give him your shirt as well. If someone forces you to walk a mile, walk two." Is this thinking so banal it couldn't work, or so great that we don't have the heart to make it work?
JZ
I think this picture explains it best.
I think it was Damo that posted on the subject (quite a good post too) that people who suffer pain have the potential of falling prey to the poor me, I'm a victim and whatever atrocity I cause unto others is justified by the atrocity they committed against me syndrome. I'm not saying that pain doesn't hurt, nor am I trying to take away from people who have suffered at other's hands. But surely, enough is enough.
THe ongoing war between the pot and the kettle to see which is darker has been the greatest waste of resources known to humanity. We've killed, insulted, revenged on, stolen from and demonised other human beings only for the sake of pride, either our own or that of our family or faith. In the name of Jesus, things have been done that He would condemn. I imagine that all other religions have a similar complaint. In our more rational moments, we find the time to look at these events for the truth of what they are. A low order reflex action, striking back as one that has been struck.
But, it's so much fun isn't it? To find a fault with someone else that we ourselves suffer from. To say that someone else is an intolerant bigot when we can't stand them because of what colour or creed they are. The human condition we all suffer from leads us to believe that the only way of co-existing with our enemies is to force them to be like us, through intimidation, or to wipe them out.
Though I do remember the words of a particular religious figure when He said "If a man slaps you on one side of your face, turn the other cheek. If someone sues you for your coat, give him your shirt as well. If someone forces you to walk a mile, walk two." Is this thinking so banal it couldn't work, or so great that we don't have the heart to make it work?
JZ
However often what looks like a very upset person is just a sham.
It is sometimes just a show for an audience.
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...Gandhi was the last one to use that tactic successfully, it seems...
Yeah, some people do like to milk it for all its worth.
The trouble is that some people's pain is very real, and needs moer attention than it gets.
Telling the difference is usually beyond our mere mortal abilities.
JZ
Martin Luther King was also fairly successful with it too.
JZ
Nice to see you're human.
JZ