Depends on force used, tools, and area of application. On Wed, Dec 24, 2008 at 11:46 AM, CrossBow <[email protected]> wrote:
> sadist! > > > On Wed, Dec 24, 2008 at 11:40 AM, Clogtowner <[email protected]> wrote: > >> >> Hi y'all - I suppose one could think of an evolutionary benefit to >> cruelty. If one needed food to survive, cruelty could be used to >> acquire it in the form of torture. This being the case we have some >> innate cruelty. This begs the question that if Crossbow were to spank >> Isparklaria, would that be a form of cruelty? I would submit not, if >> Isparklaria enjoyed it! >> >> On Dec 24, 9:22 am, CrossBow <[email protected]> wrote: >> > 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/-H...- >> > >> > > > > > - Show quoted text - >> > >> > > > -- >> > > > gnothe se auton- Hide quoted text - >> > >> > > > - Show quoted text - >> > >> > -- >> > gnothe se auton- Hide quoted text - >> > >> > - Show quoted text - >> >> >> > > > -- > gnothe se auton > -- gnothe se auton --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Memphis Freethought Alliance" group. 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