Some psychologists theorize that violence...
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Some psychologists theorize that violence is a learned response to pain. When people hurt, some fold up, but others strike back. There are many hurting people in our society. We are aware of the growing distance between the rich and poor. More people are richer, more people are poorer, and less are in the comfortable middle. We are part of a consumer culture that works day and night to make us want more than we have. There are hurts caused by racism. There are hurts caused by breakdowns in relationships. We know the harm caused by the embarrassingly high divorce rate. People are hurting in their addictions to alcohol and other drugs. Many over-the-counter and prescription remedies are prescribed to dull the pain. Should we be surprised then when people sometimes respond to our well-meaning overtures with hostility? Should we be surprised that prophets are abused and rejected? And when some people use religion as an opiate, should we be surprised that even religious leaders can miss the point?
-- Olson
-- Olson
