We so desperately need to escape the "tribal" mindset where we decide whether to get upset or not based on if it is "our side" or "the other side" being questioned. A meme made the case powerfully just by juxtaposing these two widely shared images.
Does one stir our blood while the other seems harmless? Do we see people offended by one as "easily provoked" even as we "feel the burn" from the other? Are we already formulating an explanation for why one is OK, but not the other?
If my social media is any indicator, our political tribe -- not our religious or moral beliefs -- best predicts which image will trouble us. It's unfortunate that whether something comes from the Left or Right seems to matter more than whether it is right or wrong.
I'm uncomfortable with *any* images of Jesus (my conviction is that the 2nd Commandment prohibits them), especially an irreverent portrayal like the Olympic spectacle, so that image bothers me _more_. But, I also find the papal image unsettling, driven by my respect for how the pope ends up representing Christians (not just Catholics), and for my Catholic brothers and sisters who are grieving and would be pained by _any_ politician making light of Francis's passing and the conclave to choose a successor.
My piece from last week: https://ofb.biz/sa1312
#Catholicism #PopeFrancis #Christianity #Respect #DonaldTrump #theLastSupper #Olympics