I recall a video clip featuring Paul Ekman that I regularly included in my general psychology class. It showed an elder man from a remote tribe in India being greeted by females. In the ritualistic greeting, he placed his bare foot atop their heads, one by one, as they knelt before him. Dominance/submissive gesture, anyone?
One of the most interesting questions concerning the evolution of Bible religions, if you ask me, is why the baldly despotic deity of the Old Testament became the more touchy-feely, Alan-Alda-like deity of the New: Jesus “I’m kinda-one-of-you” Christ.
To illustrate the significance of the transition consider this verse from the Old Testament:
“Who knows the power of your anger? For your wrath is as great as the fear that is due you.” (Psalms 90:11, New International Version)
A quick online search of the New International Version of the Bible revealed that mention of “wrath” falls off 50% in the New Testament. As for the word “anger” that appears at roughly 5% of the rate in the New Testament as it does the old. Why?
Additionally, the agent to be worshipped in the Old Testament tended to speak with select, elite intermediaries. Only Moses was allowed on the mountain top. Meanwhile, with Jesus we find a significantly different dynamic. In John 13:1 he washes his disciples feet, for crying out loud! He rubs elbows with prostitutes and outcastes of all sorts. As a leader, Jesus was one who did not rule by fear and intimidation (at least not nearly as much), but rather by messages of love and togetherness. Why?
Allow me to give my short, albeit speculative, answer. Jesus — a presumably human individual — lived and preached in a time when he faced two entrenched hierarchies: the Jewish priesthood and the ruling Roman empire that occupied the land. Facing those odds, Jesus chose the route of arguing for a reverse hierarchy (see previous posts in the “Alpha” series for more on this). He preached about egalitarianism. At least on earth. What does a reverse hierarchy do but level the playing field? It emphasizes the equality of individuals and in doing so it brings those in power down to earth. It dethrones them, so to speak.
Jesus was not a king nor a tribe leader. Why would then behave like a typical alpha? Instead, he became a charismatic leader. Which is an alpha of sorts. But you might say one that inspires others not to accept the subordinate position they occupy. Again, what this accomplishes, at least theoretically, is to knock the current leaders down a peg or two.
As many a biblical scholar has pointed out — look at the standing of Jesus’ followers. Basically, they were outsiders. Outcasts, you might say. What ladder was there to ascend? If there is one, they had many a missing rung before them.
Matthew 21:32 (New International Version) provides an apt example of the “reverse hierarchy” Jesus preached about:
“Jesus said to them, ‘I tell you the truth, the tax collectors [despised individuals] and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.’”
And of course there is this from Matthew 5:5:
“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.”
The meek — gee, what social position do they occupy?
Yet, with all Jesus’ talk about raising up the lowly (and, consequently, lowering the lofty) he still left open a huge door to his own exalted nature. Though on earth he was elbow-to-elbow with the common man and woman, he had an alliance with the greatest of alphas. Or perhaps he was the greatest of alphas incarnate and disguised as an omega.
“Are you the king of the Jews?” asked Pilate. “Yes, it is as you say,” Jesus replied. (Mark 15:2)
“They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, ‘Jesus, Master, have pity on us!’” (Luke 17: 12,13)
A master who rubs elbows with us? That is radical.
“Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’ ” (Matthew 4:10)
Exclusivity, such as expressed above is certainly a hallmark of alpha-thinking.
Perhaps another element unique to Jesus was his use of a metaphysical carrot — the promise of a kingdom to come — as well as a stick. While the stick of the Old Testament consisted of such things as plagues and occupations by foreign people, in the New it consisted of a hell. Later. Did a relative hell on earth already exist for the meek, thus that threat carried little heft?
In the United States today a common refrain of one class of Christians is, “You have a friend in Jesus.” A friend? That word expresses relative equality. Similarly, in some churches you will witness forms of worship including singing and dancing. Any fearful subordinate would not draw attention to him/herself that way. Just what is going on?
As mentioned in previous “Alpha” posts, it is possible for one primate to gain an alliance with another, higher ranking individual. An alpha, even. Among chimpanzees, provided the lesser doesn’t directly challenge the greater, he or she does not have to show the same degree of social caution and deference.
So when, say, congregations of southern blacks stand up and sing, waving their arms, etc. — a no-no to fearful subordinates — rather than expressing insubordination, they are celebrating their perceived alliance with a revolutionary leader. Although they may have a socio-economically meek position (historically, at least), they have an ally in a deity who promises to elevate them.
On the other hand, Christian congregations that represent the other end of the socio-economic spectrum would naturally favor an alpha not so fond of potentially order-disrupting behavior. Bow your heads. Stay in line. Because things are good and we don’t want to rock the boat.
The cleverness and perhaps success of Christianity lies in a deity that viewed a number of ways, including the following two. First, Jesus is a god who judges and wields a gavel that can send a person to a heaven or a hell. He may even initiate the end of times and a cataclysm that comes with it. So watch out. Second is the messenger/intermediary hero, the “one of us,” who can feel compassion and who works to right the wrongs of those lacking the power to do it themselves. Naturally, the currently or historically downtrodden, the social outcasts, would be more interested in Jesus the friend. Those Christians in power, or on the cusp of it, are more likely to worship the Jesus Almighty. The one who brought the sword and will enforce the laws. At least the laws deemed important by the more liberal, educated believers of our century.
Of course, all of the above may be a simple case of just-so, post-hoc reasoning. In a future series of posts I will explore ways in which my-god-as-an-alpha idea could be tested.
