Episode 187: Esther, Part 3--Villains and Schemes

"To be led by a coward is to be controlled by all that the coward fears. To be led by a fool is to be led by the opportunitsts who control the fool.... to be led by a liar is to ask to be told lies."  So warns famous novelist Octavia Butler, but it just as easily could have been a commentary on the book of Esther, as well.  As pastors Erica, Sarah, and Steve continue exploring this lesser-known book of the Bible, we turn to the rise of a villain, Haman, who persuades the king to permit a government-sanctioned policy to murder all of the Jewish people because their laws, customs, and culture were different, all becuase he feels slighted by one Jewish person (Mordecai) who won't bow down to him.  In addition to being a thrilling twist in the storytelling of this book, this episode explores how easy it is in any time period to find some group who stands out for being different and to blame them for all your problems... and once you've made "those people" your scapegoat, how easy it is to accept the idea of making them disappear without asking too many questions.  The threats of racial violence, genocide, and state-sponsored persecution of people who are deemed dangerous becuase they are different are hardly new issues--in fact, the book of Esther might just offer us some insights for how to deal with those threats in our day, too.  Join us for this important conversation here on Crazy Faith Talk!