Reply #138: Changing one's heart [View All]

and having to acknowledge that some of what is there, is not consistent with how one sees oneself - is indeed a very hard and painful process. I think the post was reflecting upon the process of doing that level of soul searching (something many people willingly never choose to do - and hence we are stuck in society with so many people harboring prejudices and bigotry), rather than showing empathy for the particular viewpoint or prejudice being expressed.

I think the process of coming to terms is a difficult and sometimes painful one (mostly becuase of the self reflection required, and sometimes what one sees in that mirror - in a moment of clarity - is not pretty, and does not jibe with how one generally has perceived onself to be). I don't think it is more or less difficult due to whether the particular soul searching is related to religion or not. (eg a white person in the south, circa 1963, who had always been accepting of Jim Crow, suddenly appalled by the 16th Street Bombing, and/or other egregious - but now highly visible - action of other white folks fighting the civil rights marchers, suddenly - in reviling the actions of there fellow whites - has to look in the mirror and say... have I been complicit in this? While I see my attitudes diverging... have I bought into this system and what role have I played... this person might have a painful transition period to reconcile who he/she is currently, has been and wants to be... as identifying those differences he/she will have to face up to their complicitness. Ten to one that person did not walk around seeing themselves as hateful, causing pain, etc. - until going through this process.)