Religion in Daily Life

Written 18 January 2000

Ryan Wilson lives in the Fishtown section of Philadelphia. He operates a web site for his group, ALPHA HQ. The group describes itself as “the racial/political/paramilitary organization of the Aryan people.” It is one of 27 hate groups in Pennsylvania. In 1998, the ALPHA HQ web site allegedly carried a picture of a building in Reading, PA, exploding in flames. The building contained the office of Bonnie Jouhari. This woman’s job was to help victims of housing discrimination to file complaints under the Fair Housing Act. The hate group’s web site had her picture on it and the message, “Traitors like this should beware, for in our day, they will be hung from the neck from the nearest tree or lamppost” (The Philadelphia Inquirer, 18 January 2000).

The image of “race criminals” lynched and hung from utility poles occurs in a 1978 book titled “The Turner Diaries.” William Pierce, leader of the neo-Nazi National Alliance, wrote this book under the pseudonym “Andrew MacDonald.” The book is a fictional account of a racist, anti-Semitic underground group. Through a series of violent acts, it gains power in the U.S. and eventually the world. “The Turner Diaries” has become “the Bible of the extreme right.”

By his web site, Fishtown resident Ryan Wilson reminds us of the power of thoughts. A Hebrew wrote, “Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts” (Proverbs 4:23, TEV). Likewise, Jesus of Nazareth recognized the crucial role of a person’s thoughts. He said, “Out of his mind come evil thoughts, murder . . . and saying bad things against other people” (Matthew 15:19, NCV). Jesus’ follower, Paul, also realized the importance of thoughts. He wrote, “We capture every thought and make it give up and obey Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5, NCV). Elsewhere, Paul wrote, “Be changed within by a new way of thinking” (Romans 12:2, NCV).

In the current battle for people’s minds, Jesus’ first public words are significant. He said, “This is the time of opportunity. The power [kingdom] of God is available. Keep on changing and shampooing the thoughts in your mind and keep on putting your confidence in God” (Mark 1:15, my translation). We often miss Jesus’ emphasis on “shampooing our thoughts” because common English translations use the word “repent.” Behind it is the Greek word that St. Mark used, “metanoeite” (from “meta” = change + “nous” = mind). Never mistake remorse or regret for repentance. Because the Greek word “metanoeite” is in the present tense, it implies a continual action. Therefore, my translation of “repent” is “keep on shampooing your thoughts.”

Cheers,

(The Rev.) Edward Chinn, D.Min.

Rector, All Saints’ Church

http://www.libertynet.org/~allsaint/

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