Puritan Hangover

I do believe there is what I call a "Puritan Hangover" in that once misguided religious tradition of thinking shame and punishment (sticks to beat ourselves with) is the path to making people choose to be righteous. It is a path based on fear and punitive measures rather than on faith and love.

That tradition based in the Puritan religion can still rear its ugly head and tempts us into believing that control and punishment are essential. I know I have often fallen prey to that false belief and behavior when I was fearful that someone I love was at risk.

In that climate of fear, then we can use religion as a stick to beat someone with rather than having the faith that it is just a star to guide us.