The less aware you are of your own nature, the more "moral" you think you are, the less likely I think you may be to resist your own animal side, your own passions, your own violence. I think religion can help make people very bad indeed when it convinces them that there is some path to "salvation". IMO the only "path" is the path to humanity- the only goal I keep in mind- and it can only be obtained by eternal vigilance over the animal side.
This reminded me how Jackie Stewart, [Formula 1 driver], thought about self-control, in order to be capable of performing at his absolute best. First, he had to learn what his own limitations were and continuously be aware of them. Then he would push himself to those limits but never go beyond.
Evidently, his philosophy paid off big time, as he became World Champion 3 times. Not only was he one of the fastest drivers and most difficult opponent to beat. He was the safest driver, who changed the sport forever, forcing a number of safety features on the race organizers, track managers and race car manufacturers, making one of the riskiest sports ever safer.
The point here is that regardless of your environment, it is always up to the individual to do what is necessary to gain control of one's actions.
In the particular case of the story I related in my previous post, about a "normal" guy enraged and going to beat up on a guy... just because...
I can not possibly imagine that after the first ... say two blows, the guy could not stop, and realize what he was doing... I mean, let's say that the other guy killed your son, or raped one's girlfriend... or something along those lines... then I would see a justification for a total attack on the bastard...
But, to beat up another person to death because of a stupid hockey game ? How weak of a person this man is ? to completely lose control over a high school game ?
A conclusion I get out of this is that we as humans are in a sorry state and getting worse. If the great majority of people think in this manner, then, I can see the logic that the masses view religion as their "salvation" (I guess, of whatever hells exists in their own minds).
However, the optimist in me thinks that if we could get control of the population explosion and be capable of increasing the level of education of the masses, then, we may have a fighting chance to survive and become better.
Otherwise, pass the wine Nero, let me watch Rome burn from the front row, might as well enjoy it. *g* |
