Fluff Piece

“Here are some examples of how eight different groups of human beings, historical and current, have been dehumanized using the same categories of words… By using dehumanizing language, we negatively shape the way we view groups of people. We may begin to view them as “less-than” or “subhuman”. When we view someone as less than us, it creates a psychological separation, which makes it easier to allow or commit violence against them. Every human being has inherent dignity by the virtue of our shared humanity and the rational nature that comes with it. No matter our age, innocence, size, race, nationality, or ability, we are all equally human; our language and actions should reflect that fact.”

Resin Art by Samantha Swanson on Instagram

Floral Cake Art by Soo Cake on Instagram

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By the time you read this, I’ll be dead. This is how I think it’s gonna happen: Dave will shoot me, then I’ll shoot Dave, then Eric will enter and get shot by Dave. Then, you’ll come in and get shot by Eric, Dave, and I multiple times.

Love, your brother Keith.

i really love being Catholic

I will never forget a talk by my Cru colleague, Suzy Silk, founder of the Hope Gathering, who has completed her MA in “Bible and Ancient Semitic Languages” from Jewish Theological Seminary. In her short, ten-minute speech during a conference, she highlighted how military language was consistently used for key biblical passages describing the identity of women: first, in Genesis 2, and then later in Proverbs 31.  

In Genesis 2:18, God said “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him” (emphasis mine). The Hebrew words used for “helper suitable” are “ezer kenegdo.” The word “ezer” is a military term used 21 times in the Old Testament, twice to describe Eve, and three times to describe Israel in her alliances with other nations. The remaining sixteen times that the word appears in the Old Testament, God uses the word “ezer” to describe himself. (For all my fellow bible nerds, here are all the verse references where you can find the word “ezer.”  

God describes himself as “ezer” during the times in war when Israel is about to lose. The Psalmist refers to God as “ezer” when he says, “I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth” (Psalm 120:1-2, emphasis mine).

Did you catch that? God names Eve “ezer” and then He consistently applies the same name to Himself. God is the aid, the strong help in desperate situations, and we women were created to follow suit.

The same theme is picked up in Proverbs 31, which describes a “noble woman”. This passage is the only time in the Old Testament in which the Hebrew word “chayil” is translated “noble” because it refers to a woman. Every other time that the word appears, it has to do with soldiers, and is closer to the word “valiant.” David’s mighty men? They were “men of valor.”