BAD THEOLOGY

Bad theology has been around for centuries and it is dry and brittle like these branches.  There is now coming new growth from scientific knowledge and honest searching.

Bad theology is cruel and abusive as was portrayed in the movie Indian Horse Boy. A heart breaking story about the abuse that was used to beat religion into the lives and hearts of these young people.  God was dehumanized as one who judges and condemns instead of a loving God who loves unconditionally.  The God who suffers with us.

I think that the teachers at the school had suffered from this kind of teaching.  The one priest that we admired among the strict and abusive teachers decided o make a hockey rink that because the boy had a gift of being a good hockey player this would be his salvation.

He had a promising career ahead of him as he moves in with a kind hockey family who accept him and care for him. He cannot take all the violence and abuse he is given by the other teams.  He is mocked because he is an Indian. 

He takes off to become just another drunken Indian.  He is now destroying his own life and is invited to be a part of a self-help group.  He finds it too painful to share so he takes off again.

This time he visits his old school and relives the memories that have haunted him.  He has been taught that there was no good in him and the priest will come and apologize but can he forgive.

He returns to the lake where he had lived with his grandmother, who died trying to hide him from the cruel captors.

A very painful story of soul destroying religion.

Religion is now changing to become a welcoming presence especially for the broken and damaged.