RE-humanize this Lent
Reflection Questions and ResponsesSee below the reflection responses and feedback from some of our members who attended RE-humanize the Lent. We offer these as a way to open dialogue and thus build relationships, something desperately needed in these troubling times.
Each week’s questions will be posted below the appropriate heading. (Jump to each specific week using the bookmarks in the beige strip below.)
To submit a response, click here.
Week One
What are my initial thoughts about the connection between speech that demonizes others and potential violence as well as polarization? Did anything I heard in the presentations surprise me or make me see the issue in a new light? Might I be called to re-examine my own speech during this sacred season?
Week 7. Janine
I have enjoyed the opportunity to reflect on my speech during Lent thanks to this event and the follow up.
Special Screening of “Youth vs Gov”
As Franciscan-hearted people of faith, we care about the integrity of creation and climate justice for future generations. The film YOUTH v GOV...
Faiths United Series on Guns in Houses of Worship
As a member of the Faiths United to Prevent Gun Violence, we share with you information on a 3-part series hosted by the coalition on “Guns in...
FAN Joins People of Faith in Welcoming end of Title 42
We wanted to make sure you saw the announcement on April 1 by the Biden administration that, effective May 23, it will end the expulsion policy,...
Week 6. Louise
I had a recent conversation with a friend who felt de-humanized. She identifies as a person of color and felt dismissed, unappreciated by someone she felt “should know better.”
Week 6. Michele
So….the person I’ve been trying to rehumanize for the last few weeks is….Vladimir Putin. This has been REALLY hard.
Week 5. Nora
I can make sure I vote in any election taking place and contribute to a respectful positive environment through my own presence and actions, by for example…
Week 5. Michele
On the subject of how to find out about political violence in my community, certainly there was plenty of it here in Washington DC in 2020-early 2021.
Week 5. Michele
The more I think about dehumanization/rehumanization, the more I hear other people talking about it! Two things to share:
Week Two
In the Gospel according to Luke (4:1-13), Jesus is tempted by the devil to abuse his power as the Son of God in several ways. As a child of God, can I think of times when I have underestimated or undervalued the power of my speech, thereby causing harm, even if unintentionally? And times when I’ve underestimated the power of my speech to do good?
Week 7. Janine
I have enjoyed the opportunity to reflect on my speech during Lent thanks to this event and the follow up.
Special Screening of “Youth vs Gov”
As Franciscan-hearted people of faith, we care about the integrity of creation and climate justice for future generations. The film YOUTH v GOV...
Faiths United Series on Guns in Houses of Worship
As a member of the Faiths United to Prevent Gun Violence, we share with you information on a 3-part series hosted by the coalition on “Guns in...
FAN Joins People of Faith in Welcoming end of Title 42
We wanted to make sure you saw the announcement on April 1 by the Biden administration that, effective May 23, it will end the expulsion policy,...
Week 6. Louise
I had a recent conversation with a friend who felt de-humanized. She identifies as a person of color and felt dismissed, unappreciated by someone she felt “should know better.”
Week 6. Michele
So….the person I’ve been trying to rehumanize for the last few weeks is….Vladimir Putin. This has been REALLY hard.
Week 5. Nora
I can make sure I vote in any election taking place and contribute to a respectful positive environment through my own presence and actions, by for example…
Week 5. Michele
On the subject of how to find out about political violence in my community, certainly there was plenty of it here in Washington DC in 2020-early 2021.
Week 5. Michele
The more I think about dehumanization/rehumanization, the more I hear other people talking about it! Two things to share:
Week Three
Cardinal Sean O’Malley has quoted Pope Paul VI in saying that dehumanizing discourse, including racism, not only wounds its target but that the speaker is also “mutilated by their selfishness.” In what way might my selfishness–the perceived self-interest that causes me to distance myself from others with whom I am at odds–mutilate me? Has my image of anyone been “mutilated” after I heard that person use dehumanizing or demonizing language about another?
(Sources: See this recent talk by Cardinal O’Malley, as well as this 2007 post.)
Suggested action: Take a walk outside to find signs of the changing season, such as green shoots or blooms on plants springing out of older, dried out growth. Take a photo and use it to remind yourself that you can change–and others can as well.
Week 7. Janine
I have enjoyed the opportunity to reflect on my speech during Lent thanks to this event and the follow up.
Special Screening of “Youth vs Gov”
As Franciscan-hearted people of faith, we care about the integrity of creation and climate justice for future generations. The film YOUTH v GOV...
Faiths United Series on Guns in Houses of Worship
As a member of the Faiths United to Prevent Gun Violence, we share with you information on a 3-part series hosted by the coalition on “Guns in...
FAN Joins People of Faith in Welcoming end of Title 42
We wanted to make sure you saw the announcement on April 1 by the Biden administration that, effective May 23, it will end the expulsion policy,...
Week 6. Louise
I had a recent conversation with a friend who felt de-humanized. She identifies as a person of color and felt dismissed, unappreciated by someone she felt “should know better.”
Week 6. Michele
So….the person I’ve been trying to rehumanize for the last few weeks is….Vladimir Putin. This has been REALLY hard.
Week 5. Nora
I can make sure I vote in any election taking place and contribute to a respectful positive environment through my own presence and actions, by for example…
Week 5. Michele
On the subject of how to find out about political violence in my community, certainly there was plenty of it here in Washington DC in 2020-early 2021.
Week 5. Michele
The more I think about dehumanization/rehumanization, the more I hear other people talking about it! Two things to share:
Week Four
When was the last time you gave yourself the opportunity to have a serious conversation with someone with whom you didn’t agree, thereby allowing yourself to learn and grow? If you have avoided such conversations–or had them and regretted how they went–how could you approach the next one with a re-humanizing lens so as to be more open to growth?
Week 7. Janine
I have enjoyed the opportunity to reflect on my speech during Lent thanks to this event and the follow up.
Special Screening of “Youth vs Gov”
As Franciscan-hearted people of faith, we care about the integrity of creation and climate justice for future generations. The film YOUTH v GOV...
Faiths United Series on Guns in Houses of Worship
As a member of the Faiths United to Prevent Gun Violence, we share with you information on a 3-part series hosted by the coalition on “Guns in...
FAN Joins People of Faith in Welcoming end of Title 42
We wanted to make sure you saw the announcement on April 1 by the Biden administration that, effective May 23, it will end the expulsion policy,...
Week 6. Louise
I had a recent conversation with a friend who felt de-humanized. She identifies as a person of color and felt dismissed, unappreciated by someone she felt “should know better.”
Week 6. Michele
So….the person I’ve been trying to rehumanize for the last few weeks is….Vladimir Putin. This has been REALLY hard.
Week 5. Nora
I can make sure I vote in any election taking place and contribute to a respectful positive environment through my own presence and actions, by for example…
Week 5. Michele
On the subject of how to find out about political violence in my community, certainly there was plenty of it here in Washington DC in 2020-early 2021.
Week 5. Michele
The more I think about dehumanization/rehumanization, the more I hear other people talking about it! Two things to share:
Week Five
While we often think of political violence as involving many people (rioting, insurgency, etc.) or targeting elected officials, it can also involve acts or threats against ordinary citizens. A recent poll of nearly 600 local electoral officials showed that 77% believed that threats to their safety had increased in recent years and 17% had personally experienced threats, which often started with being demonized as “traitors.”
Ask yourself: How can I become more alert to potential violence or threats of violence taking place in my state or community?
Week 7. Janine
I have enjoyed the opportunity to reflect on my speech during Lent thanks to this event and the follow up.
Special Screening of “Youth vs Gov”
As Franciscan-hearted people of faith, we care about the integrity of creation and climate justice for future generations. The film YOUTH v GOV...
Faiths United Series on Guns in Houses of Worship
As a member of the Faiths United to Prevent Gun Violence, we share with you information on a 3-part series hosted by the coalition on “Guns in...
FAN Joins People of Faith in Welcoming end of Title 42
We wanted to make sure you saw the announcement on April 1 by the Biden administration that, effective May 23, it will end the expulsion policy,...
Week 6. Louise
I had a recent conversation with a friend who felt de-humanized. She identifies as a person of color and felt dismissed, unappreciated by someone she felt “should know better.”
Week 6. Michele
So….the person I’ve been trying to rehumanize for the last few weeks is….Vladimir Putin. This has been REALLY hard.
Week 5. Nora
I can make sure I vote in any election taking place and contribute to a respectful positive environment through my own presence and actions, by for example…
Week 5. Michele
On the subject of how to find out about political violence in my community, certainly there was plenty of it here in Washington DC in 2020-early 2021.
Week 5. Michele
The more I think about dehumanization/rehumanization, the more I hear other people talking about it! Two things to share:
Week Six
When have I spoken up for someone else who was dehumanized or demonized for their views? Was it someone with whose views I agreed or disagreed? What words did I use to object to their dehumanization and how did that go?
Week 7. Janine
I have enjoyed the opportunity to reflect on my speech during Lent thanks to this event and the follow up.
Special Screening of “Youth vs Gov”
As Franciscan-hearted people of faith, we care about the integrity of creation and climate justice for future generations. The film YOUTH v GOV...
Faiths United Series on Guns in Houses of Worship
As a member of the Faiths United to Prevent Gun Violence, we share with you information on a 3-part series hosted by the coalition on “Guns in...
FAN Joins People of Faith in Welcoming end of Title 42
We wanted to make sure you saw the announcement on April 1 by the Biden administration that, effective May 23, it will end the expulsion policy,...
Week 6. Louise
I had a recent conversation with a friend who felt de-humanized. She identifies as a person of color and felt dismissed, unappreciated by someone she felt “should know better.”
Week 6. Michele
So….the person I’ve been trying to rehumanize for the last few weeks is….Vladimir Putin. This has been REALLY hard.
Week 5. Nora
I can make sure I vote in any election taking place and contribute to a respectful positive environment through my own presence and actions, by for example…
Week 5. Michele
On the subject of how to find out about political violence in my community, certainly there was plenty of it here in Washington DC in 2020-early 2021.
Week 5. Michele
The more I think about dehumanization/rehumanization, the more I hear other people talking about it! Two things to share:
Week Seven
How has this Lenten process of considering the links among dehumanization, polarization, and political violence changed my way of thinking and/or behaving? What new tools have I acquired to cope with these issues? What’s the best tip I have learned to help me be a RE-humanizer? What new questions do I have?
Week 7. Janine
I have enjoyed the opportunity to reflect on my speech during Lent thanks to this event and the follow up.
Special Screening of “Youth vs Gov”
As Franciscan-hearted people of faith, we care about the integrity of creation and climate justice for future generations. The film YOUTH v GOV...
Faiths United Series on Guns in Houses of Worship
As a member of the Faiths United to Prevent Gun Violence, we share with you information on a 3-part series hosted by the coalition on “Guns in...
FAN Joins People of Faith in Welcoming end of Title 42
We wanted to make sure you saw the announcement on April 1 by the Biden administration that, effective May 23, it will end the expulsion policy,...
Week 6. Louise
I had a recent conversation with a friend who felt de-humanized. She identifies as a person of color and felt dismissed, unappreciated by someone she felt “should know better.”
Week 6. Michele
So….the person I’ve been trying to rehumanize for the last few weeks is….Vladimir Putin. This has been REALLY hard.
Week 5. Nora
I can make sure I vote in any election taking place and contribute to a respectful positive environment through my own presence and actions, by for example…
Week 5. Michele
On the subject of how to find out about political violence in my community, certainly there was plenty of it here in Washington DC in 2020-early 2021.
Week 5. Michele
The more I think about dehumanization/rehumanization, the more I hear other people talking about it! Two things to share: