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  %CONFLICT BETWEEN GOOD EVIL DISINTEGRATIVE IDEALS+960815
%RELIGION CHRIST CRUCIFY RELATIONSHIPS INTIMATE SIN+960815
%INCLUSIVE EXCLUSIVE CLUB CHURCHES PROFESSIONS KNOW+960815
 %CONFLICT RESOLUTION MAINTENANCE WAR VIOLENCE KILL 960815

     How we deal with evil depends upon how we  articulate
our  conception   of   the  nature  of  evil  and  of evil
relationships.

     1.  If  we   focus   upon   evil   relationships   as
relationships  which are generated by people seeking to be
faithful   to  disintegrative  ideas,   ideals,    values,
principles and goals---then we are guided into integrative
efforts by integrative ideas,  ideals, values,  principles
and  goals.    We  see  conflicts  as  conflicts   between
disintegrative  and  integrative  people.    We  seek   to
identify  which  are  which---and to  internalize  and  be
guided  by  integrative  guides;   while  seeking  to   be
reconciled with disintegrative guides by dealing with them
in a spirit of charity, love and honesty.    We seek to be
true to ourselves and each other---and to encourage others
to  do  likewise as loved neighbors.   Integration is  the
fruit of our focus.

     2.  If we  focus  upon  rules,   laws,   regulations,
prohibitions,  prescriptions, proscriptions,  commandments
and their like------then we are guided into disintegrative
relationships by disintegrative ideas,   ideals,   values,
principles  and  goals.   We  see conflicts  as  conflicts
between  our  selves as agents of God as the supreme power
for  Good---and  seek  to  identify  the  people  who  are
presumed  to  be the agents of the Devil  as  the  supreme
power for Evil; and who else is working with us as  agents
of God as the supreme power for  Good.    We invent rules,
laws,     regulations,    prohibitions,     prescriptions,
proscriptions,   commandments and their like---and  regard
people  who  do not conform according to them as agents of
the Devil;  and regard those people who do conform with us
as  the agents of  our God whom we  regard as the  supreme
enforcer of our rules,  laws,  regulations,  prohibitions,
prescriptions, proscriptions, commandments and their like.
We   become  agents   of  alienation,    misunderstanding,
ignorance,  confusion, disintegration and their like---and
so engender  disintegrative  relationships. Disintegration
is  the fruit of our focus.

     We  need  to  learn  how  to   recognize   alienative
relationships  as  the fruits of focusing  upon   presumed
evil demons,  powers, people and the Devil.  Focusing upon
presumed  agents  of demonic powers as  being   worthy  of
alienative    judgments,     condemnations,    exclusions,
excommunication    and    outright   destruction---is    a
disintegrative way to focus our attention and efforts.

     The  disintegrative  conflicts  of  our   lives   are
conflicts between  our conflicting  ways  of  focusing our
attention and efforts---as we respond to what we regard as
evil.    Some people are dedicated to  focusing  attention
upon people who are presumed to be evil---and are prone to
regard   integrative   people  as  evil   people   because
integrative people are honest  in  ways  which will expose
the dishonesty of the people who are dedicated to focusing
attention upon people whom they presume to be evil people.

     To promote personal and communal integrity we need to
honestly   promote  clarity  about  the  nature  of   evil
relationships and what ideas,  ideals,  values, principles
and goals promote the development  and maintenance of evil
relationships.    People who seek to promote personal  and
communal integrity are often attacked by and crucified  by
legalistic people who  are  dedicated to exclusive  ideas,
values,  principles and goals promote the development  and
maintenance  of evil relationships.    People who seek  to
promote personal and communal integrity are often attacked
by and crucified by legalistic people who are dedicated to
exclusive    ideas,   ideals,   values,    principles  and
dedicated to the goal of identifying who are good   people
like themselves;    and who  are  the  evil people who are
their enemies  and  the enemies of God.

     The above considerations have clear  implications  in
regards  to  the  behaviors of those people  who  wish  to
promote  conflict  resolution and  integrity:    Attention
needs to be shifted away from traditional foci and  toward
facilitating  the  open  and honest  dialogue.

     It  is  not  easy  to  shift  attention   away   from
traditional dysfunctional foci of attention---for it seems
most   natural   to  first  spend  time  criticizing   the
traditional dysfunctional foci  of  attention;  and  so to
continue   focusing   attention   upon   the   traditional
dysfunctional foci of attention.   To shift attention away
from  traditional dysfunctional foci of attention we  must
let   go of them,  and be willing to ignore them so   that
we  can  give  attention  to  truly  integrative  foci  of
attention. Yet,   how are we to decide that we need to let
go  of  the traditional  dysfunctional  foci of  attention
---   unless   we first  recognize  them  for   what  they
are,    name  them, describe  them and talk about them for
what they are.   We are caught in a paradoxical situation!
We  cannot  say  with  utter   confidence   what  foci  of
attention are unworthy  of our  attention and respect,  or
unworthy of the  attention and respect of others.

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