While Kristi O’Harran was no doubt well-intentioned, she was far too generous with the individual who was the subject of her Nov. 16 column which concluded as follows: “We aren’t all believers, or see the same things, but we can appreciate one another’s vision.”
While that is true in many instances, the reference here is to someone who claims to see the image of Jesus on various things; most recently the wall of an Everett store. The word “vision” therefore, is just a polite but misleading substitute for “nonsense.” To the best of my knowledge, no authentic snapshot or portrait of Jesus has yet been discovered. Thus, any perceived similarity can be only to that of one’s mental image; a product of creativity, depictions by others, or both.
A paraphrased saying seems fitting here: if one person believes something goofy, he or she is considered delusional but when people in large enough numbers share equally far-fetched ideas, they are called religious. Granted, those who see Jesus in their fried egg at breakfast probably pose little threat. The same may perhaps be said of folks who claim that the guy walked on water and awoke from the dead. Still, as pointed out by a Nov. 16 writer’s excellent letter, much of the world’s past evil and injustice continues as a result of thoughts and actions motivated by blind, unquestioning faith. Thus, whenever reason is rejected simply because it conflicts with some need fulfilling fantasy, it should not be “appreciated.”
Dan Postema
Everett
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