tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1979194495561256604.post433953487417809404..comments2023-09-11T08:13:16.820-07:00Comments on living as if the Truth was true: Privilege, part 2: PrejudiceJoanna Hoythttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13447960126998692419noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1979194495561256604.post-63366563945768179252013-07-19T09:42:46.799-07:002013-07-19T09:42:46.799-07:00No indeed. There's pointless overanalyzing, a...No indeed. There's pointless overanalyzing, and then there's the necessary recognition of the lies we tell ourselves that determine whom we choose to fear and whom to trust.Joanna Hoythttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13447960126998692419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1979194495561256604.post-73569207312119595132013-07-19T04:06:23.952-07:002013-07-19T04:06:23.952-07:00Unfortunately, it's not over-analyzing to see ...Unfortunately, it's not over-analyzing to see that, in the latest case of "color-blind justice", white broad brush strokes on a pure white canvas does not do justice to the picture. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1979194495561256604.post-68411426146588221742013-07-17T16:39:26.738-07:002013-07-17T16:39:26.738-07:00Thank you, Kim, for a very thoughtful comment, and...Thank you, Kim, for a very thoughtful comment, and for a good example.<br /><br />I'm especially intrigued by what you said about sometimes having to imagine God in some people before you can see it. I think I know what you mean--I think I've experienced this--but I'd never thought to put it that way before.<br /><br />And yes, I can definitely over-analyze and dig myself into a hole. Though sometimes analyzing helps me to straighten out my thinking instead of going round in worry circles.Joanna Hoythttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13447960126998692419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1979194495561256604.post-70496015102260384552013-07-16T07:10:51.167-07:002013-07-16T07:10:51.167-07:00Thanks Joanna for sharing your thoughts.
The lat...Thanks Joanna for sharing your thoughts. <br /><br />The later paragraphs made me think of how I interact with people (my 'job' is basically talking to people about Jesus and God all day). I talk to a lot of people from all walks of life everyday so am fairly accustomed to having to adapt myself to all kinds of situations and people (although there is always something new to learn about relating to people!).<br /><br /><br />I think I have reached a place where I generally don't feel threatened by The Other, whether it's other beliefs or experience(although it's probably because I've had a lot of experience dealing with The Other). And what motivates me more these days is the idea that everyone has their own story, and that there are over 8 billion stories out there! I find that exciting. And it also helps me keep things in perspective by remembering that my story is just 1 of those 8 billion stories, and my own beliefs/opinions are just one out of 8 billion! My faith in God is important to me, but so the faith of 8 billion others is important to God. And so if being right with God is as simple as putting others first, it helps me keep things in some perspective (when I am having my better moments!).<br /><br />What helps me overcome fears I have about approaching different people is to act as much as I can as if that person is my best friend and someone I have a lot in common with. Or I simply try to talk to that place of God in everyone (even if I have to imagine it there first, before I 'see' it). It breaks down barriers and 'differences' in a way that can be quite amazing, at least, it gets the ball rolling. And I've been able to meet people from gangster girls in South-Central L.A. to members of the House of Lords in Central London, to farm workers in rural Latin America. A lot of people just want someone to talk to, and I think when I forget about myself and my own ego issues and just think about the other person, we can find even the smallest area of common ground to start with. <br /><br />It makes me think though that perhaps we sometimes analyse things too much, and worry too much about how we might be viewed, rather than just going out there and trying to show love to, and take an interest in who people are. It's a pattern I have tried to change, and I will I still sometimes overanalyse things, just getting busy with being practical about showing people I care (strangers or acquaintances or friends)helps me see that a lot of the supposed 'differences' or 'barriers' are really just constructs of my mind! (I think we are told by society that there are all these differences, in much the same way as any consumer product is advertised, and we believe what society says. This can happen on both sides of the divide, but I don't think the vast vast majority likes or agrees with those 'divisions'; I think acting free of those imposed divisions ourselves liberates others to be and act free of those imposed divisions too.)Kimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13024904029565415075noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1979194495561256604.post-70443647895748400952013-07-16T06:27:52.814-07:002013-07-16T06:27:52.814-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.Kimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13024904029565415075noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1979194495561256604.post-4472003376745040112013-07-15T15:41:42.206-07:002013-07-15T15:41:42.206-07:00Sorry for this delayed response--our Internet was ...Sorry for this delayed response--our Internet was down for a few days. I'm intrigued by what you write about discomfort at the thought of worshiping with other sorts of Christians, and I'd love to hear more about how your leading progresses. . . and, if you were open to sharing it, about whether the fear of not finding That of God in them comes from hard memories of other attempts or from lack of familiarity. I wasn't always a Friend, and I have had the Light in people from a wide variety of traditions brought strongly to my attention, so I haven't had this particular fear. But I do find some styles of worship really hard to engage with constructively. This usually seems to have to do with temperament more than theology. Joanna Hoythttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13447960126998692419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1979194495561256604.post-11032082048450831322013-07-12T05:13:58.141-07:002013-07-12T05:13:58.141-07:00By the way!
When I say "uncomfortable other&...By the way!<br /><br />When I say "uncomfortable other" I mean uncomfortable to us - just to be clear. Wow. Good example of what we're talking about here! :-)randyvohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06279844466583666934noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1979194495561256604.post-34153343504720500972013-07-12T04:18:07.752-07:002013-07-12T04:18:07.752-07:00I am truly sorry that you experienced such thought...I am truly sorry that you experienced such thoughtless comments from Friends. I don't know if you were with some of our conversations at QuakerSpring about the SoF as a place for "refugees" from damaging churches. It's an interesting idea, and what a wonderful witness it could be for Friends - except it isn't always the case. <br /><br />But you raise some really good questions. How do we identify and challenge the assumptions we carry with us? And how do we respond to the "uncomfortable other" in a way that really sees That of God in them and breaks through our assumptions and pre-conceived notions? <br /><br />I wrestle with these questions myself - particularly with the issue of religious "differences". I have sensed for some time a kind of "fear" to fellowship with Christians of other traditions. I don't know why - I don't know what I think will happen - maybe that I find that I will be unable to see That of God in them other than as a general theory and I want to avoid that.<br /><br />I have recently been testing what may be a leading and one which I will be weighing in the months ahead. I have been thinking of visiting churches of as many different traditions as possible in my area - as an ecumenical act of Christian brotherhood - but also to challenge my fear of the "religious other". I feel that fear itself may be a challenge to my faith journey and something I am meant to work through. And I know we never learn anything by simply thinking about it - we need to practice. So let's see where way opens.<br /><br />Peace, RandyOrandyvohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06279844466583666934noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1979194495561256604.post-34129002432733892162013-07-10T05:45:21.515-07:002013-07-10T05:45:21.515-07:00Thank you for your clarity and vulnerability in th...Thank you for your clarity and vulnerability in these posts, Joanna. I felt inspired to write a post of my own about some of the ways I have seen <a href="http://www.questforadequacy.blogspot.com/2013/07/fgc-gathering-some-thoughts-on-privilege.html" rel="nofollow">privilege in the Religious Society of Friends</a>. Blessings as you continue to write.Ashley Whttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04767912859236943934noreply@blogger.com