I finally caught up on this controversy (I was off last night, and occupied with my inbox this morning). I think the complaint is not you aren't even trying to empathize with the point of view which might produce the behavior you complain about, but are casting it in the worst light possible. For example, sacrifice: a common way of expressing gratitude and celebrate good fortune is to throw a feast. But how do you make a feast for the Deity, when you consider that you have been blessed with a good harvest or had a prayer answered? Well, you make a sacrifice on an altar, ceremonially offering something for His delectation, although it may be that He does not literally eat, being spirit.
Or again, penitential expressions, like the beating of breasts. Getting clean is a big issue for those who have done much mischief in their lives. They can only have peace when they feel not only juridically forgiven, but as if they have purged themselves of the guilt.
In Japan, unexpectedly, many women who have had abortions have showed remorse, and done things like make graves to honor the child that was aborted, seeking some kind of peace through symbolic amends. This is not even pushed by any of the prevailing sects, but has arisen spontaneously.
The groveling, then, is a means of relieving feelings of guilt or self- contempt, in order to feel relief on the other side, when one experiences reconciliation with God.
Well, I will leave it at this, for the moment....... |
