This-essay is a7708121.htm which is available at the web-site www.essayz.com. See more notes at the bottom. Previous-Essay <== This-Essay ==> Following-Essay By-Months By-Years By-Words Webs of Like-&-Un-Like ESSAYS <==> Like-&-UN-Like This-One ========================================================== %ROOTS OF EVIL-1 770812 The roots of evil are the positive values which we presume to be ultimately more important than the maintenance of open channels of communication. Such roots feed the alienation which occasions our evil actions. The values which are the roots of evil are positive values which have become exclusive. The gracious honesty which up-roots evil is love which places open communication above all many other values. Evil is not an active power which misleads us contrary to our highest values. The roots of evil are to be found in our exclusive valuing of our exclusive values---to the point that they undermine love. It is not evil which causes us to call our exclusive values into question. It is love which causes us to call our highest values into question. When we do not permit love to cause us to call our highest values into question---we become evil through our idolatry. Our fear of the power of love is occasioned by our idolatry. We recognize that love calls into question our most cherished possession---our exclusive value system. Its exclusivity undermines love which passes judgement upon it. Thus the battle is between love and our idolatry with its focus upon our highest values. Love judges the presumptuousness and arrogance of our value system which promotes alienation. Through collusions we attempt to defend our most valued possessions---our exclusive values and the value system which protects them. We defend and augment our exclusive values through our best institutions; churches, schools, colleges, universities, charitable organizations, reputable corporations, etc. They serve to underscore the ultimate importance of our exclusive values---to the point that we perceive them to be more important than love; i.e., the power to maintain open communication. God is love. When we make our created value system more important than love we stop worshiping God and start worshiping our own creation. Via collusion we pretend that our creation was created by God to be God. In this way we as idolaters worship our creation as God. Such worship undermines love and so is the tap-root of evil. (c) 2005 by Paul A. Smith in www.essayz.com Search for Integrity and Honesty (On Being Yourself, Whole and Healthy) ==========================================================
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