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 %RESPOND TRANSCEND ESCAPE REACT EVIL DEED BEHAVIOR+970310
%GOOD CONFORMITY COERCION VIOLENCE CONTROL DISCIPLE+970310
%ALIENATION ESTRANGEMENT EXCOMMUNICATE CONDEMN FAIL 970310

     How   can  we  respond  to  evil ---  in  ways  which
are integrative, liberating, transcendent, and healthy?

     If we regard evil as having to do with some form of a
failure  to conform ---  we are likely to respond to  what
we regard as being evil ---  in ways which try to  control
people's evil  behaviors.    Our understanding/beliefs are
likely  to lead us into coercive and violent  patterns  of
behaviors---which generate ALIENATION;   which is the root
and  essence of all that is  evil.    Thus regarding  evil
as  having to do with some form of failure to  conform  is
tragically misleading.

     If  we  regard  evil  as an attribute  of  particular
people,  actions,  places, ideas, thoughts,  desires,  and
groups ---  we  are  likely  to respond to what we  regard
as  being  evil ---  in ways  which try to  segregate  all
that   is evil ---  away  from  all  that  we  regard   as
good.      Our  understanding/beliefs   are    likely   to
lead    us    into  alienative activities as  we  seek  to
alienate  our  selves from all people  and groups whom  we
have   labeled  as being  "evil".  Alienative   activities
generate  alienation;   which is  the root and essence  of
all that  is evil.   Thus regarding evil  as  an attribute
of particular  people,  places,  ideas, thoughts,  desires
and groups --- is tragically misleading.

     If  we regard evil as a pollution which  can  pollute
people,   places, ideas, thoughts,  desires and groups ---
we  are  likely  to respond to what we regard as ---  evil
by  trying  to remove the pollutant from people,   places,
ideas, thoughts,  desires and  groups;   by whatever means
may be necessary.    Our understanding/beliefs are  likely
to   lead  us into activities  which do violence  to   the
integrities  of  people and communities about whom we  are
ignorant  and whom we do not understand---because we  have
not  engaged in open  and honest dialogue with  them about
their    and   our  unique   experiences,     perceptions,
insights,    attitudes,  assumptions, hopes,  aspirations,
desires, and fears.

     If we regard evil as being rooted in and flowing from
alienative relationships between people---we are likely to
respond to evil in the presence of God who is Love --- and
transcend evil through Love.  Love which   works   through
forgiveness,  reconciliation,   conflict resolution,   and
the  exchange  of  security  known as the  freedom  to  be
safely  vulnerable   in  open    and    honest   dialogue.
People  need  the freedom to talk safely about  their  own
personal experiences,  perceptions,  insights,  attitudes,
assumptions, hopes, aspirations, desires, and fears.  Love
works towards personal and communal integrity.  Alienative
relationships   lead   towards   personal   and   communal
disintegration.

     Our  personal and communal integrity depend upon  how
we  regard evil and how we respond to what  we  regard  as
evil.  Many "good"   people  are tragically misled by  how
they  regard  evil ---  and how they respond to what  they
regard as 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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