10 years ago: Incivility

October 10, 2003, here on slacktivist: Incivility

The Gospels are full of such incivilities, as are the prophets. “You lie on beds inlaid with ivory and lounge on your couches. You dine on choice lambs and fattened calves. … You drink wine by the bowlful and use the finest lotions,” Amos says. “You sell the righteous for silver and the needy for a pair of sandals.” (Does this really sound like Amos is jealous of their sandals?)

Then Amos gets personal: “Hear this word, you cows of Bashan .. you women who oppress the poor and crush the needy and say to your husbands, ‘Bring us some drinks!'”

Where in anyone’s scripture does it say such things? Throw a Bible against the wall and read whatever page it lands open to — you’ll find more of the same.