Scapegoat-maker is one who transfers his faults on others — the victim or scapegoat.
In Genesis when Adam ate the forbidden fruit from the Garden of Eden, he told God guiltily, “The woman you gave me brought it to me and I ate it.” Then Eve said, “The serpent tempted me, ‘What was I to do.” (Gen.3). Adam and Eve tried to pass on their faults. God drove them out of the garden as they disobeyed Him.
In the biblical book Leviticus we read that a goat was used to bear the sins of the people on its head, and then the high priest drove it away into the desert. (Lev.16:10.)
A more complex way of scapegoat method works when a man sees in others what he himself is. He feels the need to show that he is good; and the easiest way to achieve this he finds is to wash in public, others’ dirty linen. Such an example is found in the Bible where scribes and Pharisees said to Jesus, “Master, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. The law commanded us that such should be stoned. But, what do You say?”
Jesus said, “If there is one of you, who has not sinned, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” When they heard this, their unconscious guilt was brought to the conscious level and they went away. (Jn. 8: 4-7).
Oh, in the affairs of state, what a twisted trap our politicians think up when they play politics! They incite and divide people on different grounds! And when public opinion or law catches up with them, they cunningly withdraw from public glare pointing to someone else as the culprit, on whom, descends the entire choked up public wrath.
Alas! In domestic circles, parents also turn out to be scapegoat-makers! A soft son or shattered servant becomes the victim, on whose head falls all the blame for any unpleasant happening — if a toy is broken or a glass is smashed, or if his brothers and sisters quarrel, it is always his fault.
At times the parent heaps on the blame because he cannot stand the child who has traits and characteristics that are similar to his own or similar to a disliked relative.
The impact of our actions on the victim or scapegoat makes him feel hated by others. However, the persecutor or scapegoat-maker gets a relief from the bad feelings of shame or guilt and picks up some self-importance, enjoyment and pleasure, in him.
Scapegoat-maker can incite and divide people at home, at work-place and in the country. It seems as if we humans need someone to vent our anger by bullying and abusing; a need to free oneself of one’s guilt feelings and cover up one’s faults which one cannot face.
If the scapegoat-maker wants to get rid of his or her attitude of scapegoating others, then he must try to be a rescuing knight in shining armour and not a blamer. He must ask God to help him not to transfer blame on others. God can change our lives if we give ourselves into His hands. “God surrounds us; Satan grounds us.”
And the victims, who are made helpless scapegoats, should know that the greatest revenge a man can take is forgiveness for — “Justice belongs to Goa”.
