This is http://www.essayz.com/a9710211.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.} ========================================================== %PERSONAL COMMUNAL IDENTITY INTEGRITY TOLERANCE 971021 Personal and communal identities and integrities are interdependent upon each other. Communities are defined and maintain their identities in terms of: (1) how the members of the community enter into cordial relationships with each other individually and communally; and (2) how they break off cordial relationships with each other individually and communally. Human relationships depend upon overt and tacit: agreements and promises; disagreements and broken promises; tolerance, judgements, condemnations and excommunications. Communities are defined in terms of levels of mutuality in patterns of agreements, promises, support, respect and presence --- in regards to beliefs, rituals, language, symbols, dogmas, perceptions and behaviors. The levels of personal and communal integrity depend upon the kinds and levels of mutuality in patterns of agreements, promises, support, respect and presence --- in regards to beliefs, rituals, language, symbols, dogmas, perceptions and behaviors. Mutuality may be contentious or cooperative. People and communities may disintegrate through agreements to and mutuality in conflicts which are coercive, violent and destructive. Agreements about and mutuality in regards to intolerance towards each other --- are likely to lead into conflicts which are coercive, violent and destructive. Most people feel comfortable with other people who are "like them" in some basic ways; and get bored with people who are too much "like them". People get into trouble when they become intolerant of differences which are essential to personal and communal integrity. When conformity is demanded in ways which are alienative --- personal and communal integrity are threatened. Such demands are often far more destructive than are the circumstances which were regarded as adequate justification for making the demands. Such demands are often motivated by fears which are not well grounded in knowledge and understanding of human realities and possibilities. Personal and communal integrity depend upon the kinds and levels of knowledge and understanding of the members of each community; in regards to each other and in regards to what is possible and what is impossible --- in regards to what are the real alternatives which may or may not be realized through how people set priorities and make choices within and in regards to patterns of human relationships. If we are indifferent to the integrity of our relationships --- we are likely to disintegrate as persons and communities. Ideals, values and principles which ignore the importance of open and honest dialogue within healthy relationships --- are ideals, values and principles which are likely to lead their incarnations into disintegrative conflicts, battles and wars. Such ideals, values and principles do not merit respect and support. (c) 2005 by Paul A. Smith in (On Being Yourself, Whole and Healthy) ==========================================================