Why should one be more disgusted about the Penn State football sex tragedy than the abuses of the Catholic Church, Baptist Church, Boy Scouts, our military, or any organization which harbors leaders who prey on our children and young adults? Why did these people, men mostly, go wrong? Selfishness? Power and paternalism?
Rae Piepho suggested in her letter of Nov 19 that our country has chosen to turn away from God’s Word. I dare say that this Word does not condemn misogyny, slavery, forced marriage, caning and sacrifice of children, nor genocide. God even commanded genocide. So how many of us would really choose to follow God’s yardstick, the Bible” as a positive model of behavior?
Our nation was founded on democracy (something not mentioned in the Bible) and with freedom to choose one’s religious persuasion. We could study the books of the Bible in the context of its various authors, learn the politics of those selecting and translating the books included, and gain some sense of its influence on history for perspective, but please, not for role models.
Except that Jesus the Son spoke of forgiveness, maybe even tolerance. This must be an expression of his mom’s genes, not his Dad’s. God the Dad is the bully. He demands a blood sacrifice, and threatens with a remote torture site called “hell.” Speaking of “God’s yardstick”, what do you call the behavior by which Mary became pregnant with Jesus? Sexual abuse by God?
Instead of mythology, we can find inspiration in humanity, from those who unselfishly demonstrate loving and respectful lives. The world and our own community are abundant with such people. Shelve the religious dogma. Support for all victims of abuse…
Geri Jensen
Grand Marais
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