March 29, 2015 Editor

Mercy, Mr. Harper, Not Sacrifice (Jesus)

WN: Canada’s Prime Minister Harper has consistently chosen to “enemize” the other in response to Canada’s domestic (criminals) and international (whatever flavour) neighbours, thereby creating ever greater numbers of “enemies” to vanquish.

An excerpt:

Is the final biblical word for God love or hate? Is there any scriptural word for God that means hate? How often did Jesus call God (loving abba – ‘daddy’) Father? How often did he call God (harsh sentencing) Judge?1 [I counted them three times. Are you ready for the two numbers in order of the questions?: 177 and 0.] What has been the dominant image of God in (Christian) Western culture since the eleventh century?2 [You guessed it: Hangin’ Judge! See: Law and Revolution: The Formation of the Western Legal Tradition, Harold J. Berman, Harvard University Press, Cambridge and London, 1983.] Where is the family resemblance to Jesus in their “new” crime policies?

Please click on: Mercy. Mr. Harper, Not Sacrifice (Jesus)

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Editor

Wayne Northey was Director of Man-to-Man/Woman-to-Woman – Restorative Christian Ministries (M2/W2) in British Columbia, Canada from 1998 to 2014, when he retired. He has been active in the criminal justice arena and a keen promoter of Restorative Justice since 1974. He has published widely on peacemaking and justice themes. You will find more about that on this website: a work in progress.

Always appreciate constructive feedback! Thanks.