Kerr, Donald wrote:
> David Steindl-Rast defines sin is alienation and salvation is belonging.
> Whenever I say "Yes" to belonging to a group or society, I agree to
> "Behave as people behave when they truly belong together." Love is saying
> "Yes" to that belonging without conditions. When I focus on my own
> self-interest, I separate myself from that belonging. When I feel this
> separatedness I am alienated. Behaving "immorally" is choosing separation
> over belonging. Our minds are the source of separation. Moral decay is
> an increase in alienation or separatedness, which is ironically brought
> about by the very rules put it place to help us behave "morally." Rules
> make us conscious of sin, guilt and separation. When I live in a
> sin-conscious society, I am focused on separation and more separation
> happens. When I live in a "salvation-conscious" society, I am focused on
> belonging and more belonging happens.
>
> What is moral? Unconditional belonging.
> What is immoral? Conditional separation.
> What is moral decay? Increased consciousness of our separation.
> What is moral victory? Increased consciousness of our belonging.
> When is moral victory? Here and now.
> What if someone separates? Choose.
> What if they keep doing it? Choose again.
> Won't the result be chaos and decay? Choose again and again...
Don, I find your thinking interesting. A couple of questions. Is it, in
your opinion, immoral to attempt to change the rules of a group or
society? What if the group or society rejects attempted change? Is it
immoral for me to separate at that point? Does separation under these
conditions imply that my morals are decaying? How does one group or
society look at the morality of another group or society? I could see how
it would be possible for one who feels as you do to view any other group
or society as immoral. But, of course, this does not suggest that one has
to believe this. . .
Thanks for helping me think in a new way. . .
-- Ben Compton The Accidental Learning Group Work: (801) 222-6178 Improving Business through Science and Art bcompton@geocities.com http://www.e-ad.com/ben/BEN.HTMLearning-org -- An Internet Dialog on Learning Organizations For info: <rkarash@karash.com> -or- <http://world.std.com/~lo/>