This one-minute video (which I found on Dispatches from the Culture Wars [1]) raises dozens of questions (many of them having nothing to do with the subject being discussed between this mother and son). But this video also succinctly illustrates the way that mindless dogma can give wings to stupidity and cruelty.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8Aq00yJSxo[/youtube]
Are all conversations between parents and children regarding religion like this? Absolutley not. On the other hand, I suspect that hundreds of conversations like this occur every day and, further, that it is against the attitude displayed by this “mom” that so many of us non-believers spend so much energy rebelling. If we could somehow remove God from the conversation, we could see this exchange for what it is, a foolish and grotesque abuse of power. Such a sad, powerful and disturbing image.
This video reminds me that maybe it’s not really religion against which so many of us non-believers rebel. Even though this attitude all too often goes under the name of religion. I say this because innumerable acts of kindness are also “committed” in the name of religion.
I can only hope that this mother someday learns to patiently listen to her child and to feel some empathy for his concerns. If she doesn’t, she’s going to run him off forever. If she hasn’t already.
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