Kristin Garey wrote (July 4 issue) of how hatred and racism are learned through instruction, and of the challenge “to let our words come gently” to dispel this abomination.
Another challenge is to find gentle words to expose the persistent indoctrination of youth and adults as “unworthy, “as “wretched” in the eyes of a supernatural, “loving God” and to fear his punishment if one does not toe the line.
As the story goes, an innocent Jew who was half god and half human (God’s son with Mary) was tortured to death as a blood sacrifice as demanded by this “God” as payment for our human imperfections. This demonstrates “God’s” love for humanity! The dead son later became alive again, undead, and left the earth. Believe this or you will go to “hell.”
The story is so often repeated and reinforced through music, ritual, symbolism, and drama that it can become so integral to culture as to seem a natural event. Adults could know better if they would stop, think about it with perspective to recognize it as a fable which was sometimes useful historically and was propagated through coercion, power, and politics.
Using Kris’s words: “Our young people depend on us to begin to change what has been customary for too long.”
Geri Jensen
Grand Marais
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