There's an event (some might call it a circus) called Annapolis. Actually, Annapolis is a place. A city. The capital of Maryland. And most famously the location of the United States Naval Academy. That's where there's a gathering this week to Make Peace in the Middle East. At first I thought this was a great example of my Primary Working Hypothesis
"Good Idea - Too Bad It's Wrong".
But, umm, that's wrong! Truly, this idea of peace is not wrong at all; it's very right. Extremely right, even. The meeting is an example, rather, of "Good Idea - Too Bad It Won't Work."
The underlying problem is that in the Middle East there are just too many versions of the One-And-Only-God; each with it's own set of adherents, each calling on it's fans, apparently, to rid It's Favorite Place On Earth (rumored to be Jerusalem) of all the fans of the other versions of Itself. This (or those) is (or are) a very violent and self-sentered God (or Gods).
As is to be expected. How can an only entity learn to play well with others? THis (these) God(s) are as a result of this isolation, very poorly socialized. Also extremely needy.
I'd like to think that if only there were lots and lots of Gods, they wouldn't need to be worshipped quite so violently. But when we consider Hinduism, which has more Gods than you can shake a stick at, still the violence; still the killing. Onlly now it's not to establish which one is the true One-And-Only-God; it's to raise my favorite One-Among-Many-Gods in the hierarchy. Give It a boost in the pecking order, so to speak.
Maybe this isn't about God at all - maybe it's about people and the reasons they use to justify killing others.
But, umm, that's wrong! Truly, this idea of peace is not wrong at all; it's very right. Extremely right, even. The meeting is an example, rather, of "Good Idea - Too Bad It Won't Work."
The underlying problem is that in the Middle East there are just too many versions of the One-And-Only-God; each with it's own set of adherents, each calling on it's fans, apparently, to rid It's Favorite Place On Earth (rumored to be Jerusalem) of all the fans of the other versions of Itself. This (or those) is (or are) a very violent and self-sentered God (or Gods).
As is to be expected. How can an only entity learn to play well with others? THis (these) God(s) are as a result of this isolation, very poorly socialized. Also extremely needy.
I'd like to think that if only there were lots and lots of Gods, they wouldn't need to be worshipped quite so violently. But when we consider Hinduism, which has more Gods than you can shake a stick at, still the violence; still the killing. Onlly now it's not to establish which one is the true One-And-Only-God; it's to raise my favorite One-Among-Many-Gods in the hierarchy. Give It a boost in the pecking order, so to speak.
Maybe this isn't about God at all - maybe it's about people and the reasons they use to justify killing others.
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