People behaving badly

“What I noticed at Grace-Calvary is the same thing I notice whenever people aim to solve their conflicts with one another by turning to the bible: defending the dried ink marks on the page becomes more vital than defending their neighbor. As a general rule, I would say that human beings never behave more badly toward one another than when they believe they are protecting God.”

Barbara Brown Taylor, Leaving Church: A Memoir of Faith

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when faith is about ink marks on the page

when faith is about the book

and the laws and codes

within

then faith is about dogma

and ideology

when faith was about ink marks on the page

and not a matter of the heart

the poor were oppressed

the hungry neglected

Israel and Judah fell

When faith was about ink marks on the page

Jesus died

When faith was about ink marks on the page

Peter (the rock) became gravel

When faith was about ink marks

Crusaders marched

the inquisition happened

Natives in the Americas were slaughtered

Mennonites were burned

When faith is about ink marks

The poor are oppressed

The hungry starve

Children suffer

People are rejected and excluded

dogma becomes more important than compassion

people kill other people in the name of God

oppression is made a spiritual discipline

forgive us O Sacred One

for in our protection of you (as if)

religion becomes

people behaving badly