Ever feel like you are in the midst of a loop?
With the world going to hell in a hand basket, I find myself fending off a fog of despair. I woke up thinking of that phrase. It apparently originated from the French Revolution’s gruesome beheadings.
Cycles, recurrence, patterns
This week the local cops and FBI arrested a man for making threats to stage a mass shooting on our local university campus. Yesterday the Tech Park of the university, remote from the main campus, was on lockdown because a Citi call center had received threats.
I could not get away from the notices that rang through on my phone. I did mute it after I determined that my husband was not in danger from these situations.
I turned on TV. Big mistake. Wars rage on with women and children suffering the most, on all sides, as always.
Flip the channel. Mass casualty event in Maine.
“No, no, no!”
Ancient and Selfish Acts Streamed Straight to Me
An ancient battles, wars, and conflicts in the near-east on up through the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire are incredibly numerous. A really huge list can be perused here. Then for the 20th and 21st century another list of conflicts in the Middle East can be found here. It seems there has never been peace in this area. From the time of Egyptians and Canaanites, then the battles between Egypt and Judea, date from the time of Moses.
Judaism, Christianity, and Islam all view Abraham/Abram as the patriarchal founder of their lineage, the founder of their faith, or an early prophet of their faith. Abraham is found through examination of many ancient religious records to have lived around 2100 BC to 1800 BC. 4,000 years is a long, long time. Writing began, as far as we know, around 3,500 years BC, that is 5,000 years ago. Patriarchy was certainly around at this time, and the adoption of agriculture seems to usher in patriarchy. Defense of areas where crops are grown and stored seems to lead to this male-dominated behavior.
Agriculture, Patriarchy, and Religion
I believe that grudges and arguments over resources can continue for thousands of years. The disagreements and battles evolve as historical justification for current grievances. My father told stories of how the early alpine rebellions against Catholicism occurred before the Protestant Reformation. Those stories fed from very different beliefs that fueled battles 500 years ago. The stories seem to change, but the anger remains.
I feel some of this difference of belief to this day. I do not believe that any person’s religious beliefs are ever justly imposed on people who believe differently from that person.
The problem may well be as simple as that people believe they are right. They believe they have access to the truth, and that everyone should believe as they do. This is a selfish, ignorant behavior that leads to criminal violence. So sayeth me.
Most religion is ensconced in such beliefs. I blame Abraham.
Love and recognition of similarities cannot co-exist with such selfish behavior.
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