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%IMPORTANT RECOGNITION NAME TALK DIALOGUE GOOD EVIL+950207
 %DISINTEGRATE CAUSE EFFECT OCCASION ALIEN ESTRANGE 950207

     It is important to recognize, name and talk about the
ways  in  which  disintegrative factors  are  embedded  in
people and communities.

     Often  people perceive "evil"  as residing in:  other
people,   forbidden actions,  places,  texts,  images  and
objects---in the objective realm.  Such perceptions of the
nature and focal points of "evil" usually lead to personal
and communal  disintegration, rather than to personal  and
communal  integration.   Such perceptions are one  of  the
ways  in  which  disintegrative factors  are  embedded  in
people and communities.

     Often people perceive their own "goodness"  to reside
in  their  own ideals and values,  and in  how  well  they
perceive themselves as  being the fulfillment of their own
ideals  and  values.    Self-righteous  people  are  often
arrogant  in  believing that because other people  do  not
measure  up to the ideals and values of the self-righteous
in  the eyes of the self-righteous---the other people  are
defective,   imperfect,   condemnable,   and  maybe  evil.
Disintegrative  factors are often embedded in  the  ideals
and   values  which  people  use  to  justify  their   own
righteousness.   They do not value and seek to  en-courage
both   personal  and  communal  integrity,  and  so  often
undermine both personal and communal integrity.

     Disintegrative factors are often embedded in our:

     Images of people and things as being evil.

     Forbidden actions, places and texts.

     Taboo images and objects---of the objective realm.

     Ideals and values which justify self-righteousness.

     Alienative attitudes, assumptions and habits.

     Rituals, traditions and religious practices.

     We  will  do  well  and become well  if  we  seek  to
recognize,  name and talk about the roots of personal  and
communal alienation and disintegration.

                                                                                                                               
                         (c) 2005 by Paul A. Smith in      
                    (On Being Yourself, Whole and Healthy)  
                                                                                                                               
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