In the Old Testament in the book of Leviticus, the word "scapegoat" was originated. By God's instructions, Moses and Aaron were to sacrifice two goats each year. One was to be killed and the blood sprinkled on the Ark of the Covenant. It sounds bizarre, but much of the behavior in the OT is bizarre when put under a modern day LED. I am sure the future generations will say that about us. Oh yeah, they already do and rightfully so. Back to the goats, the second goat was supposedly the "lucky" goat because it was not killed. Instead, the High Priest layed hands upon the goats head, confessed the sins of the people, and released it into the wilderness, free to wander carrying its burden of sin. So, which goat got the best deal?
Today, psychologists use the term "scapegoat" to refer to the tendency to blame someone else for one's own problems. It may be a person, a group, or an object. It offers an opportunity to explain failure or misdeeds, while maintaing a positive image. I can see why it is such a hit. I find that it answers a multitude of questions about what is happening in my personal life as well as in our country and the world. As M. Scott Peck surmised in "The Road Less Traveled", people do not want to do the hard work of self evaluation. The scapegoat is the perfect answer offering a substitute for one's own failures and a broken mirror to one's own weaknesses. My thoughts today are not for the dead goat. We know what happened to it. My thoughts today are concerning the one set free in the wilderness. Lets just suppose the place they are set free from is home and family and "the wilderness" is life. Modern day Christians should understand this story completely. We worship a man who took on the roles of scapegoat one and scapegoat two. It's a tough "row to hoe" to say the least. However, sadly enough, big proponents of scapegoating are modern day Christians.
Something to think about. Peace. Love, Linda
Today, psychologists use the term "scapegoat" to refer to the tendency to blame someone else for one's own problems. It may be a person, a group, or an object. It offers an opportunity to explain failure or misdeeds, while maintaing a positive image. I can see why it is such a hit. I find that it answers a multitude of questions about what is happening in my personal life as well as in our country and the world. As M. Scott Peck surmised in "The Road Less Traveled", people do not want to do the hard work of self evaluation. The scapegoat is the perfect answer offering a substitute for one's own failures and a broken mirror to one's own weaknesses. My thoughts today are not for the dead goat. We know what happened to it. My thoughts today are concerning the one set free in the wilderness. Lets just suppose the place they are set free from is home and family and "the wilderness" is life. Modern day Christians should understand this story completely. We worship a man who took on the roles of scapegoat one and scapegoat two. It's a tough "row to hoe" to say the least. However, sadly enough, big proponents of scapegoating are modern day Christians.
Something to think about. Peace. Love, Linda
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