Vance, thank you for sharing these insights. I've been thinking a great deal about why people in churches hurt people. I've experienced it as well. I actually confronted someone who was being abusive. This caused a great divide in the church. There was far more concern for the person causing the abuse than there was for the person being abused. I ended up leaving because there was no way to offer healing to the congregation. I ended up seeing a counselor for many months afterward so that I could heal from the experience. I never regret confronting an abuser.

I appreciate the way you described the two Jesuses. I've used that language before too. I've said that I'm not sure that Christians all worship the same God - I'm not sure how to explain how Christians can use cruelty to get their way. This is in addition to this addiction to being right that dehumanizes others.

Again, thank you for writing on the topic. It's such a needed conversation.