The term “peer pressure” is usually applied to teen-agers who do dangerous or illegal things in order to fit in with the crowd. However, anyone can feel compelled to do something they know they shouldn’t do in order to look good to others. Think of King Herod when “pressured” by Herodias’ daughter (not named in the gospels but called Salome in a contemporary history) to execute John the Baptist. The king was deeply distressed, but because of his oaths and the guests he did not wish to break his word to her. Standing out from the crowd, sticking to what you know is right despite the opinions of others is not only a challenge for teen-agers but for each one of us.
