Weekly Newsletter from Christian Vegetarian Association CVA - December 7, 2017
From Christian Vegetarian Association (CVA)

  1. Activist Feedback
  2. Original Sin, part 18
  3. This Week’s Sermon from Rev. Frank and Mary Hoffman

1. Activist Feedback

Rick, who leafleted with Chip at Church Night Out Tour events on December 1 and 2 writes:

Chip and I handed out 1150 CVA booklets at the Big Church Night Out concert at JQH Arena at Missouri State U in Springfield, MO. Then, we handed out another 550 CVA booklets from the city sidewalk at this event at Verizon Arena in North Little Rock, AR. Springfield had a much larger crowd. Dave and Judy also handed out another 250 CVA booklets at the North Little Rock event, for a total of 800 booklets. Verizon Arena security unlawfully tried to make me stand on the other side of the street, but I refused, and eventually they backed down. I recommend this event (listed with CVA as Newsboys, one of the bands) for CVA leafleting at other cities in the tour. Many of the attendees were young, and most attendees were receptive toward accepting a booklet. Thanks to Judy and Dave for helping to make this outreach successful!

2. Original Sin, part 18

I have been arguing that the likely reason that Jesus was killed is that his radical inclusiveness scandalized authorities. He defended those individuals who would typically become victims of the scapegoating process. Doing so, he undermined the role that scapegoating plays in generating and maintaining peace and order.

Rejecting scapegoating can be both frightening and liberating. Among power elites, it would be dangerous to categorically reject scapegoating, because scapegoating allows them to deflect blame from themselves when things are going badly, such as economic hardship, a lost battle, or a drought.

For other members of society, scapegoating offers other attractions. Blaming someone else for a crisis avoids being accused oneself and sides one with all those willing to agree. If one believes in the scapegoating victim’s guilt (and the widespread conviction about the victim’s guilt makes this seem true), then one can feel hopeful that punishing the victim will relieve the crisis. Most crises are transient, and their resolution makes people feel vindicated in their accusations against the scapegoating victim. Finally, the collective accusation and punishment of the victim generates a pleasant feeling of camaraderie that binds people together.

How might rejection of scapegoating be liberating? I will address this next week.

Stephen R. Kaufman, M.D.

3. This Week’s Sermon from Rev. Frank and Mary Hoffman

Spiritually Stand Against Evil

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