Violence cannot tolerate the presence of one who owes it nothing. It’s why everyone at a stoning needs to throw a rock. If someone at a stoning doesn’t participate, they are in danger of becoming the next victim. For the illusion of innocence to work, everyone must participate in the collective murder. The one who won’t throw a rock becomes a prophet shining light on the evil of stoning. The community must then either repent or stone the prophet.
