"Betterness"
[email protected]
I am posting this as a way to explain a PORTION of how I believe. I am not
interested in converting anyone to this way of thinking. . . I am not saying
that what you may believe is wrong or bad or "more evolved". I am putting
forth ideas for consideration if so desired. Some people have expressed
interest and in that vein, here you go. . .
We had hoped that, as the quality of life continued to rise in our contry and
around the world, our people and especially our young people, in whom should
reside, it if resides anywhere, would be our promise of tomorrow. But we are
seeing anger displayed in our youth as we have never seen it displayed
before, and we are frightened and deeply troubled. The brutal murder of
Matthew Shephard, left to die on the cow fence in Wyoming, and the startling
events at Columbine High School shock awake once again, just when we may
have been lulled into thinking, with our improving economic conditions and
our seemingly greater social justice, that we are at least on the right
track.
Yet, all that is happening here is not a mystery. THere is a reason that our
species seems addicted to these behaviors. The reason is found in one single
word: "better">
This one word, applied to themselves by members of the human family, has
caused all of the ills of human society. It is our idea that we are somehow
"better" than another that is making us act worse. As individuals. As
neighborhoods. As states. As nations.
Many people, most people, perhaps . . . seem to think that they are "better"
than those around them. THey believe that their neighborhood is "better" than
the surrounding neighborhood, that their state is "better" than the
neighboring state, and that their nation is better than the next nation.
All of this is part of our cultural history of Competition, which arises out
of our cultural history of Separation. A "cultural story" is a story we tell
oursleves about how life is. It is based on fiction and has nothing to do
with reality, yet it persists, becuase it is told over and over again, and
acted out, by the members of our species who have an interest in perpetuating
it. Others follow the model.
Our biggest cultural story, the one we have held onto the longest and that
has spread the farthest, is The Story Of Separation. In this story, we
imagine oursleves to be separate from God, and therefore seprate from each
other. As with most cultural myths, this story has nothing to do with
reality. Yet it persists, and has informed our indidvidual and collective
ideas and actions for millinea.
In truth, God and we are One. There is no separation, no disunity. And in
truth, our fellow humans and we are One. We are as different parts of the One
Body, called Humanity. Yet we do not know this, or if we do know it, we
cannot accept it. Our culture will not allow us to.
Out of our cultural story of separation, comes the idea of "competition:, for
if we are separate from each other, then we are each on our own, and must
compete with each other for the limited resources which we need to survive.
This is how the "story" goes. It is not the truth, but it is a long-told
story, and we believe it. And so, it might as well be the truth, since what
you believe is true enough for you.
Out of our cultural Story of Competition comes the idea of "better", for if
we are competing with each other, we must have a reason for ruthlessly
pursuing victory, for doing whatever it takes to come out on top. This
reason, we tell ourselves, is that we are Better than our opponents. We
deserve to win. They deserve to lose. This judgement about our relative
goodness, or "betterness", allows us to justify our actions. Any actions,
really, that we feel we have to take in order to "win". And there's the rub.
For it is what we DO when we imagine ourselves to be "better" that sets the
stage for the human tragedy. In the name of "betterness" we humans not only
knock down and punch in the face of other hockey players, we not only use
"unnecessary roughness" on our football fields, some of us "ethnically
cleanse" our nations. Some of us claim prerogatives which are not ours.
. . . . That is right, we actually end the life of others of our own species
because we believe we have a "better" way of approaching God, a "better"
method of governing, a "better' reason for claiming the land, a "better"
economic justicifation for our predatory action.
That is exactly what is happening today is Ksovo. It is what has happened
before in our human history, and it is what will happen again, unless and
until those who write our Cultural Story do so in a new way.
And so who are the writers of our story? They are, in the main, our
religions. It is our religions that, from the beginning and to this very day,
have told us about oursleves. They've told us who we are, and what to believe
about ourselves and others. And it is religions that have fostered and
furthered the Myth of Betterness.
Because religions teach their followers that they are "better than the
followers of other religions- so much better, in fact, that they, and only
they, will spend the Afterlife in the presence of God- and religions claim
and believe that this Declaration of Betterness has come directly from God,
cultures and traditons are ignited which give themselves permission to hurt
and to kill in the name of this "truth".
THe irony is that religions claim that this "truth" is what will save us, and
in fact, it is exactly what is killing us instead. Indeed, the idea that one
of us, or one group of us, is somehow "better" than another, and therefore
has a right and a need for more resources, more land, more oil, more
whatEVER, that has caused death and destruction on this planet hte likes of
which the love of God could never in purity or truth justify.
Today, I issue an invitation to all the world's religions. Say to your
leaders and say to your followers this one sentence: "Our religion is no
better than any other, and WE are no better than any other. Our way is not a
better way, our way is merely another way."
Neil Donald Walsch
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
interested in converting anyone to this way of thinking. . . I am not saying
that what you may believe is wrong or bad or "more evolved". I am putting
forth ideas for consideration if so desired. Some people have expressed
interest and in that vein, here you go. . .
We had hoped that, as the quality of life continued to rise in our contry and
around the world, our people and especially our young people, in whom should
reside, it if resides anywhere, would be our promise of tomorrow. But we are
seeing anger displayed in our youth as we have never seen it displayed
before, and we are frightened and deeply troubled. The brutal murder of
Matthew Shephard, left to die on the cow fence in Wyoming, and the startling
events at Columbine High School shock awake once again, just when we may
have been lulled into thinking, with our improving economic conditions and
our seemingly greater social justice, that we are at least on the right
track.
Yet, all that is happening here is not a mystery. THere is a reason that our
species seems addicted to these behaviors. The reason is found in one single
word: "better">
This one word, applied to themselves by members of the human family, has
caused all of the ills of human society. It is our idea that we are somehow
"better" than another that is making us act worse. As individuals. As
neighborhoods. As states. As nations.
Many people, most people, perhaps . . . seem to think that they are "better"
than those around them. THey believe that their neighborhood is "better" than
the surrounding neighborhood, that their state is "better" than the
neighboring state, and that their nation is better than the next nation.
All of this is part of our cultural history of Competition, which arises out
of our cultural history of Separation. A "cultural story" is a story we tell
oursleves about how life is. It is based on fiction and has nothing to do
with reality, yet it persists, becuase it is told over and over again, and
acted out, by the members of our species who have an interest in perpetuating
it. Others follow the model.
Our biggest cultural story, the one we have held onto the longest and that
has spread the farthest, is The Story Of Separation. In this story, we
imagine oursleves to be separate from God, and therefore seprate from each
other. As with most cultural myths, this story has nothing to do with
reality. Yet it persists, and has informed our indidvidual and collective
ideas and actions for millinea.
In truth, God and we are One. There is no separation, no disunity. And in
truth, our fellow humans and we are One. We are as different parts of the One
Body, called Humanity. Yet we do not know this, or if we do know it, we
cannot accept it. Our culture will not allow us to.
Out of our cultural story of separation, comes the idea of "competition:, for
if we are separate from each other, then we are each on our own, and must
compete with each other for the limited resources which we need to survive.
This is how the "story" goes. It is not the truth, but it is a long-told
story, and we believe it. And so, it might as well be the truth, since what
you believe is true enough for you.
Out of our cultural Story of Competition comes the idea of "better", for if
we are competing with each other, we must have a reason for ruthlessly
pursuing victory, for doing whatever it takes to come out on top. This
reason, we tell ourselves, is that we are Better than our opponents. We
deserve to win. They deserve to lose. This judgement about our relative
goodness, or "betterness", allows us to justify our actions. Any actions,
really, that we feel we have to take in order to "win". And there's the rub.
For it is what we DO when we imagine ourselves to be "better" that sets the
stage for the human tragedy. In the name of "betterness" we humans not only
knock down and punch in the face of other hockey players, we not only use
"unnecessary roughness" on our football fields, some of us "ethnically
cleanse" our nations. Some of us claim prerogatives which are not ours.
. . . . That is right, we actually end the life of others of our own species
because we believe we have a "better" way of approaching God, a "better"
method of governing, a "better' reason for claiming the land, a "better"
economic justicifation for our predatory action.
That is exactly what is happening today is Ksovo. It is what has happened
before in our human history, and it is what will happen again, unless and
until those who write our Cultural Story do so in a new way.
And so who are the writers of our story? They are, in the main, our
religions. It is our religions that, from the beginning and to this very day,
have told us about oursleves. They've told us who we are, and what to believe
about ourselves and others. And it is religions that have fostered and
furthered the Myth of Betterness.
Because religions teach their followers that they are "better than the
followers of other religions- so much better, in fact, that they, and only
they, will spend the Afterlife in the presence of God- and religions claim
and believe that this Declaration of Betterness has come directly from God,
cultures and traditons are ignited which give themselves permission to hurt
and to kill in the name of this "truth".
THe irony is that religions claim that this "truth" is what will save us, and
in fact, it is exactly what is killing us instead. Indeed, the idea that one
of us, or one group of us, is somehow "better" than another, and therefore
has a right and a need for more resources, more land, more oil, more
whatEVER, that has caused death and destruction on this planet hte likes of
which the love of God could never in purity or truth justify.
Today, I issue an invitation to all the world's religions. Say to your
leaders and say to your followers this one sentence: "Our religion is no
better than any other, and WE are no better than any other. Our way is not a
better way, our way is merely another way."
Neil Donald Walsch
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[email protected]
<< As with most cultural myths, this story has nothing to do with reality. >>
This has a lot to do with language and concept. The parts about religion,
and truth, and belief all go back to the very basics of language and kids
asking "Why?"
Kids think their parents are godlike when they're little, so the earliest
answer to "why is this this way?" are answered and believed with big
certainty. And because people speak different languages and have different
traditions of "why," the answers are different from a very basic, toddler
level.
If there were only two tribes of cavemen and they spoke different languages,
all the problems mentioned would still be there.
I don't think we can ignore human nature or the realities of cultures. The
reminder (reminder for some, news for others) that different religions grew
up differently from the same kinds of roots is valid only for the
philosophical and fairly non-religious.
The three religions with which most of us are most familiar--Christianity,
Judaism and Islam--all have something at the base of them which doesn't allow
for the idea that others are equally as valid or applicable to them. For
them to say "we're all the same" is the same as saying "I've been wrong and
all my ancestors, and not only what my parents siad was wrong, but what I've
believed God said was wrong."
Most people don't want that denial of their ancestry and beliefs.
Culture is a reality. The existence of mythology is a reality. Linguistic
differences are big, limiting realities.
Maybe under all big questions needs to be an "IF"--what is best if one wants
to be a good Baptist? Don't go to the bar, get drunk, dance and take a woman
home and sleep with her. Within the set of "b and some things don't.
If on a larger, cultural scale someone could persuade all religious leaders
and followers to agree to the idea that they were all equally valid and right
about the afterlife and one another (it cancels itself out right there, but
"if") then that still woudln't change what it takes to be a good Baptist, or
unchooler, or balloonist, or sculptor or plumber.
This is a big philosophical issue, but it makes more sense with the quote.
Thanks.
Sandra
This has a lot to do with language and concept. The parts about religion,
and truth, and belief all go back to the very basics of language and kids
asking "Why?"
Kids think their parents are godlike when they're little, so the earliest
answer to "why is this this way?" are answered and believed with big
certainty. And because people speak different languages and have different
traditions of "why," the answers are different from a very basic, toddler
level.
If there were only two tribes of cavemen and they spoke different languages,
all the problems mentioned would still be there.
I don't think we can ignore human nature or the realities of cultures. The
reminder (reminder for some, news for others) that different religions grew
up differently from the same kinds of roots is valid only for the
philosophical and fairly non-religious.
The three religions with which most of us are most familiar--Christianity,
Judaism and Islam--all have something at the base of them which doesn't allow
for the idea that others are equally as valid or applicable to them. For
them to say "we're all the same" is the same as saying "I've been wrong and
all my ancestors, and not only what my parents siad was wrong, but what I've
believed God said was wrong."
Most people don't want that denial of their ancestry and beliefs.
Culture is a reality. The existence of mythology is a reality. Linguistic
differences are big, limiting realities.
Maybe under all big questions needs to be an "IF"--what is best if one wants
to be a good Baptist? Don't go to the bar, get drunk, dance and take a woman
home and sleep with her. Within the set of "b and some things don't.
If on a larger, cultural scale someone could persuade all religious leaders
and followers to agree to the idea that they were all equally valid and right
about the afterlife and one another (it cancels itself out right there, but
"if") then that still woudln't change what it takes to be a good Baptist, or
unchooler, or balloonist, or sculptor or plumber.
This is a big philosophical issue, but it makes more sense with the quote.
Thanks.
Sandra
[email protected]
In a message dated 9/28/2001 2:50:52 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
crma@... writes:
just doesn't fit in with Who I Am.
Also, let me just add, that is not something that I am able to put into
practice all the time as yet. . . as I have been programmed to believe lots
of things, it is at times difficult to totally change old habits, just like
it is with unschooling. . . hard to totally get rid of that teacher or school
mentality. . . my goal is to just keep at it day in and day out.
lovemary
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
crma@... writes:
> it helps me understandIt's not a bad word. . . its a concept I dont wish to engage in, one that
> why "better" is a 'bad' word for you.
>
>
just doesn't fit in with Who I Am.
Also, let me just add, that is not something that I am able to put into
practice all the time as yet. . . as I have been programmed to believe lots
of things, it is at times difficult to totally change old habits, just like
it is with unschooling. . . hard to totally get rid of that teacher or school
mentality. . . my goal is to just keep at it day in and day out.
lovemary
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Rachel Wolfe Ravenhart
Beautifully expressed. I don't think that way at all. But this was a
clear example of YOUR meanings, so thank you. *S*
Rachel
lite2yu@... wrote:
clear example of YOUR meanings, so thank you. *S*
Rachel
lite2yu@... wrote:
> I am posting this as a way to explain a PORTION of how I believe. I am[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> not
> interested in converting anyone to this way of thinking. . . I am not
> saying
> that what you may believe is wrong or bad or "more evolved". I am
> putting
> forth ideas for consideration if so desired. Some people have
> expressed
> interest and in that vein, here you go. . .
[email protected]
On Fri, 28 Sep 2001 11:12:16 EDT lite2yu@... writes (quoting someone
named Neil Donald Walsch) :
the one I've been discussing, anyway. I see a big difference between a
person and a person's actions. You and I might both bake cakes, and you
might bake a better cake, but that doesn't mean you're a better person.
Baking skills can be improved and changed, they're not an unchangeable
part of you. Over the years, people have shown me better ways to knit and
bowl and write and make coffee and bake pizza... and better ways to be
with my kid, as well. I would be really sad and hurt if my friends saw me
doing something they thought was harmful to my kid - and that's really
what this is about, because as an unschooler, I do believe that forcing
"schoolwork" is harmful - and didn't say anything to me, didn't point out
what I was doing and why I might want to change it. How would I learn and
grow that way? It would sure be a slow process, for me to have to find
all of the answers on my own.
And of course, like everyone, I always have the right to say, "I hear you
saying that you think it would be better if Cacie had a schedule for
sleeping and waking, and I'll keep it in mind if we start to have issues
around fatigue, but right now this works for us." Although if I said it
on a list called "The Joys of Scheduling every minute of Your Child's
Day", then I might wonder what I was doing there...
Daron
________________________________________________________________
GET INTERNET ACCESS FROM JUNO!
Juno offers FREE or PREMIUM Internet access for less!
Join Juno today! For your FREE software, visit:
http://dl.www.juno.com/get/web/.
named Neil Donald Walsch) :
> Many people, most people, perhaps . . . seem to think that they areis "better" than
> "better" than those around them. THey believe that their neighborhood
> the surrounding neighborhood, that their state is "better" than theI don't thinkt his is the same "better" we've been discussing. It's not
> neighboring state, and that their nation is better than the next
> nation.
the one I've been discussing, anyway. I see a big difference between a
person and a person's actions. You and I might both bake cakes, and you
might bake a better cake, but that doesn't mean you're a better person.
Baking skills can be improved and changed, they're not an unchangeable
part of you. Over the years, people have shown me better ways to knit and
bowl and write and make coffee and bake pizza... and better ways to be
with my kid, as well. I would be really sad and hurt if my friends saw me
doing something they thought was harmful to my kid - and that's really
what this is about, because as an unschooler, I do believe that forcing
"schoolwork" is harmful - and didn't say anything to me, didn't point out
what I was doing and why I might want to change it. How would I learn and
grow that way? It would sure be a slow process, for me to have to find
all of the answers on my own.
And of course, like everyone, I always have the right to say, "I hear you
saying that you think it would be better if Cacie had a schedule for
sleeping and waking, and I'll keep it in mind if we start to have issues
around fatigue, but right now this works for us." Although if I said it
on a list called "The Joys of Scheduling every minute of Your Child's
Day", then I might wonder what I was doing there...
Daron
________________________________________________________________
GET INTERNET ACCESS FROM JUNO!
Juno offers FREE or PREMIUM Internet access for less!
Join Juno today! For your FREE software, visit:
http://dl.www.juno.com/get/web/.
[email protected]
In a message dated 9/28/2001 6:24:03 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
freeform@... writes:
lovemary
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
freeform@... writes:
>It's exactly what I have been discussing.
lovemary
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]