A Closer Look... Denial is a well-known defensive mechanism. Defensive mechanisms enable us to distance ourselves from a full awareness of unpleasant thoughts, feelings and behaviors. Denial often kicks-in when we are seemingly unable or unwilling to face reality or admit an obvious truth. Clergyman, and activist Elder Vander Jones says, "It s a strong probability that Judas entered denial when saying, "Master, is it I?" Doing so would be a good way to distance himself from the painful reality of exposure. Denial protects the ego from things we cannot cope with. Was truth spoken by Jesus just that excruciating, or merely too uncomfortable for Judas to face? If denial did kick-in, did it manifest appropriately as a temporal coping skill? Denial could have eased up on Judas, whispering to minimize the reality set before and within him. Or, did it surface as a flat-out rejection of truth? Moreover, if he had an evil conscience Judas would not experience guilt. A desensitized conscience is what it is: evil." Elder Jones goes further, "Today's evil manifestations are strikingly like those in scripture. Many witnessed the excessive force Jesus endured when arrested and many more knew he was unjustly executed. Pontius Pilate officiated as judge (supposedly) seeking truth. However, he folded under political pressure, somewhat like Judge O Donnell in Timothy Russell/Malissa Williams case in Ohio. In Eric Garners case, did denial distance the New York grand jury from a full awareness or was the decision not to indict police officers a flat-out rejection of truth? While examining my exegesis of biblical episodes it is my prayer that readers enter a comparative back-and forth, then-and-now flow in a personal self-reflective way. I will remain prayerful that you prayerfully watch how you watch what you ve been watching. Amen"