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This is http://www.essayz.com/a8702242.htm Previous-Essay <== This-Essay ==> Following-Essay Click HERE on this line to find essays via Your-Key-Words. {Most frequent wordstarts of each essay will be put here.} ========================================================== %SALVATION THROUGH CONFLICT 870224 Often people get trapped in striving to achieve their own salvation through conflict. For what or for whom do we best strive? If we strive primarily for our own welfare we generate conflict between our attempt to promote our own welfare and fulfilling the needs of others which are not served by an exclusive focus upon our needs as we see them. This is true whether we regard ourselves as individuals, small groups, or larger groups. When we focus exclusively upon fulfilling our needs as we see and understand them, then we lead toward the disintegration of our broader community. But it is only in unity with the larger community that we can enjoy salvation. We often focus our attention upon ideals and goals which transcend the provincial interests which we and our groups have. In our idealism we may be willing to sacrifice the provincial welfare of our narrow groupings. Yet our conceptions of salvation may still be provincial and lack the integrity needed to understand the need to balance various people's and groups' needs to achieve a dynamic interdependence between personal and communal integrity. We may emphasize one of the perceived needs over the other, and thereby lead to the disintegration of both. In our confusion and frustration we may seek our own salvation through conflict. We may perceive anybody who is afraid of any conflict as lacking in strength and conviction which we believe is essential to salvation. We may go to the extreme of believing in the inherent good of conflict, disagreement, saying no, and rebelling. As we disintegrate we become more and more dedicated to disintegrative means while believing we are striving for salvation. If so, we need to turn around and see our context more clearly. We need to reform our way of seeing in order to recognize the disintegration which flows from our convictions and disintegrative idealism. We need to learn from what happens when we faithfully act in keeping with our convictions and ideals, being honest with ourselves and others about our choices and describing the consequences of those choices. Playing collusive games of mutual self-deception will not lead us to salvation, no matter how many people join us in playing such games. (c) 2005 by Paul A. Smith in (On Being Yourself, Whole and Healthy) ==========================================================