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Sacred Violence

“Hate can be helpful to certain causes. It unites a group quickly, it gives a person identity—even if it is a negative one—and, most of all, it takes away doubt and all free-floating anxiety. It gives us a place to stand that feels superior and in control. Hate settles the dust and ambiguity that none of us like. Hate is much more common, and more immediately effective, than love. Hate, as we will sadly see below, makes the world go ’round (my emphasis)...

We’re living in a time when the far right and the far left in almost every institution are using the eccentricities and evils of the other end to justify their own extremes…

Remember, anthropologically, religion begins with the making of a distinction between the pure and the impure. Jesus consistently ignores such a distinction. In fact, it is at the heart of almost half of his gospel actions!” (from Richard Rohr, The Wisdom Pattern: Order, Disorder, Reorder 2020)

Among many other things Father Rohr said: “The process of creating sacred violence is so effective that it is now in the ‘hard wiring’ of human personality. As Aquinas noted, no one intentionally does evil.  They have to explain it to themselves as good! (my emphasis). I am sad to say that, historically, religion is the most effective proponent of hatred and fear, and therefore, violence.  Sacred violence is the more common form of violence. How strange we  could arrive at this place after Jesus said that he came for the ‘forgiveness of sin’ and to share the perfect love that casts out all fear…Religion is, ironically, the safest place to hide from God.”

We must stop hiding.  We must also recognize sacred violence for what it is: a betrayal of Jesus.  The Holy Spirit has given us wisdom.  Let’s use it.

Deacon David Pierce


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