Do We Still Need Scapegoats?
It is easy to be intolerant of those who are different from ourselves. Looking at whats “wrong” with others is a cheap and easy way to feel better about ourselves. If we can band together with other like-minded people and then judge those who are different, we can feel superior. We can blame the problems of the whole world on “those people.”
People have used scapegoats all throughout history. The ancient Jews originally used an actual goat. On the day of atonement, the sins of the children of Israel were proclaimed over the head of a goat, which was then sent into the wilderness. The scapegoat takes the blame for the wrongs of others. In Christianity, we worship a scapegoat who takes away the sins of the world. Jesus takes the blame of all people.
As waves of immigrants came to the US over the past hundreds of years, the newer immigrants became scapegoats. Swedes, Norwegians, Germans, Irish, Italian, Poles, other ethnic groups all took their turns at being the newcomers and scapegoats. Because these cultures have melded well into our modern society, it seems odd to think that these groups were ever scapegoated. Country of origin, race, and religious beliefs all are criteria to lump people into the goat category. As various groups of people fought for rights in our country, those groups were the goats. Women, black people, American Indians have all taken turns being held in lesser regard and having fewer rights. Nowadays the big group of scapegoats is the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender community.
Its a long process to learn to loving and inclusive of others who are different. As soon as one group is accepted, people will find another to be the outcasts. It’s in our nature. And yet Jesus calls us to move beyond our human nature and take on god nature. Jesus has taken the sins of the world away and we no longer need a scapegoat. We are to learn to love all people, regardless of any category we can find to separate them from ourselves.
When we can’t blame an “other,” then we are forced to look at ourselves. We have to admit that we are a part of the problems happening around us, and that we are also part of the solution. Whereas finding another to blame for everything is cheap, fast and easy, looking within ourselves for answers is emotionally expensive, difficult and painful, and can take a lifetime.
Thanks! I’m with you and am encouraged by these thoughts.