21 November 2005

We will continue in "Do No Harm" by Stephen G. Ray, Jr. and how he deals with the false attributes of defilement/essentialization.

...defilement/essentialization relies on a powerful presumption... This presumption is that there are those persons and groups within society who by the very way that they exist, apart from any activities they may engage in, exemplify social and moral decay and disruption. Their presence is one that challenges the presumptive moral order of society, and hence is viewed as unnatural and dangerous.

I want to stop short on this quote and I will pick up the rest tomorrow. But here, already, we have this casting of social stones at those whose existence can be and is depicted as dirty, wrong, and out of place among us. This is the kind of nonsense that is cast in the likes of some strong voices on the religious right who tried to blame 9/11 on feminists or gays. It is as though there are people who can be discarded and, as some might suggest, be eliminated because of the threat they are to society just by their being. It is this kind of sin-talk that reveals that the one who cast these stones, in the name of "good religious life," are really dabbling in blasphemy...attempting to be the eternal judge and savior of the "good" people and those they say are people of "faith." I often laugh at these accusation because it simply shows how little they trust in the power of the one they call Lord. What Lord, needs to be protected. The one we call Lord can live among us even when we are not sure of what is at hand. Instead though, some like to throw around sin-talk as a way of controlling the situation and trying to play at being God...when really they are loud-mouth gods.

Connection: Before you go on into this day, give thanks to the God whose grace is wider than we can imagine...and then...imagine yourself and those around you -all of them- within bounds of that grace. I might have an impact on who you are today.

Lord of All, as we wonder about how your blessed Reign will take shape among us, we long to be a a part of its life now. Lead us and guide us into this life even as wander through this day. Amen.