Childish Things

Those who refuse the tediously literalistic historical interpretation of Jesus, which views Him as a violently reactionary apocalyptic preacher who blamed the free and easy tolerance that characterised the Mosaic law upon the hardness of people's hearts, tend rather to see Him as a kind of moral revolutionary: someone who sought to overturn outmoded traditions in favour of a new and more favourable contract with a rebooted, loving and forgiving God. This latter is certainly the view of the heirs of St Peter, the latest of whom has refused to apologise to Canadian native Americans for setting brother against brother, for putting new wine into new bottles, and for providing the indigenous peoples of Canada with ample opportunity to gain favour in Heaven's eyes by forgiving those who tormented them on Heaven's authority. Given that the Saviour Himself threatened the direst punishments for those who led children astray, and given that the spiritual harm of non-conversion would far outweigh any physical or psychological collateral damage in the war to conquer new souls, it would indeed be surprising if any true believer felt the slightest need to apologise for such noble and pious undertakings.