So it would be predatory and hierarchical in those respects? does that mean it's rooted in our evolution? "Artificial Schism" sounds very true and it it is a construct as you say. I agree that it could only be cathartic to a psychopath..
Is Cruelty built on an innate an evolutionary tool gone wrong..misused? a Machiavellian tool. On Tue, Dec 23, 2008 at 4:43 PM, Isparklaria <[email protected]>wrote: > > Good Questions CrossBow. I'll take a stab (cruel?) at a few. > > I don't don't see how cruelity can be cathartic. No doubt catharsis > can lead to violence, but I would would not consider that cruel. I > think of cruelity as the use of violence, threats of violence, verbal > abuse and other tactics inorder to inflict pain on others for the > purpose of dominating them or even eliminatig them. > > Fundamentalist Christianity has an odd relationship with violence. I > think the root of the problem is the artificial schism between good > and evil it attempts to impose on believers. The cruelity of the > crucifiction is supposed to be the just wrath of an all good god, a > wrath that we supposedly deserved. Many Christians, who accept this > atonement feel so guilty because poor little Jesus suffered in their > place. They cannot bear this guilt, so they blame others such as the > Jews, homos, atheists or any one else that's convienient. Soon they > think that they have the right to kill these "sinners". After all, > isn't that what their all powerful, all good god would want them to > do? Until they are ready to accept the fact that the god of the bible > is a lunatic monster, they will not be able to deal with non believers > in a loving way. > > On Dec 23, 2:40 pm, CrossBow <[email protected]> wrote: > > What is cruelty? Is it predatory, hierarchical, cathartic, galvanizing - > the > > result of frustration? All those things? > > > > It is not odd that Christianity glorifies in the cruelty at the > > crucifiction. It seems to be necessary...why? > > > > "cruelty is fed, not weakened by tears?" > > > > On Tue, Dec 23, 2008 at 1:11 PM, Isparklaria <[email protected] > >wrote: > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > I think that at the present time the below is true. I don't think it > > > is true of primatives, though they are far from perfect. However, > > > primatives and their societies are far less cruel that we are. I > > > believe that it is possible to improve the situation even though I > > > don't think that anyone knows how to improve it at this time, > > > including me. It may be that no formula or scheme will work, but > > > things will change through natural selection. > > > > > "Man is a cruel animal," he wrote to a friend. "His cruelty must be > > > organized. Society is essentially criminal,—or it wouldn't exist. It > > > is selfishness that saves everything,—absolutely everything, -- > > > everything that we abhor, everything that we love." > > > > > Conrad rejected all formulas or schemes for the moral improvement of > > > the human condition. Political institutions, he said, "whether > > > contrived by the wisdom of the few or the ignorance of the many, are > > > incapable of securing the happiness of mankind." > > > > > On Dec 23, 12:03 pm, Clogtowner <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > Hi y'all - yes, check the inventories at your local gun store. When > > > > they are low you know that we are close to the "every man for > himself" > > > > phase. > > > > > > On Dec 23, 11:07 am, "Jason (Memphis)" <[email protected]> > > > > wrote: > > > > > > > Here is an interesting article. It reminds me of the introduction > of > > > > > "history of western philosophy" by bertrand russell when he talks > > > > > about the social fabric of law and order quickly collapsing and the > > > > > ensuing chaos including horror tales from failed Greek city states. > > > > > > > > http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/20081221_man_is_a_cruel_animal/-Hidequotedtext > - > > > > > > - Show quoted text - > > > > -- > > gnothe se auton- Hide quoted text - > > > > - Show quoted text - > > > -- gnothe se auton --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Memphis Freethought Alliance" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/memphisfreethoughtalliance?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
