Hostility As Distraction

“One is that the ‘us versus them’ motif can be manipulated to revive a group’s esprit de corps and to ‘divert attention from internal problems.’ That is to say, communal violence is an antidote for internal strife and the ‘civil’ or domestic violence to which it might otherwise lead. Campaigns against outsiders or evildoers revive …

Homily at EEF Worship Service for Anselm Presbytery

Many political commentators and observers have often commented on what they call American exceptionalism. This is not political exhortation at all—I simply want to use this as a potent illustration. I am aware that we are a presbytery that crosses national borders here—we have churches and men assembled here from Poland, and Russia, and Canada, …