This is http://www.essayz.com/a9711101.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.} ========================================================== %DIFFERENCES BETWEEN SELF OTHER RIGHTEOUSNESS SIN 971110 People who believe that righteousness depends upon differences between those individuals who are righteous and those individuals who are not righteous --- are bound to conceive righteousness in terms of differences between those who are righteous and those who are not righteous. They are bound to focus upon individual differences --- and to exaggerate differences between people. They will be interested in, and find it in their chosen best interests to promote conflicts which exaggerate differences between people. They will find separations, coercions, manipulations, violence, dishonesty, alienation and excommunications to be useful tools in promoting their "best interests." People who believe that righteousness is fulfilled in enduring open, honest and intimate dialogue among people who are different --- are bound to conceive righteousness in terms of facilitating and encouraging openness, honesty, intimacy and dialogue among people who are different. They are bound to focus upon dialogue which transcends differences --- in order to take practical advantage of the differences. They will be interested in, and find it in their best interests to promote, peace-making, conflict resolution; and syntheses of complementary ideas, principles, values and ideals. People who are preoccupied with accentuating differences between people --- will be threatened by integrators who believe that righteousness is fulfilled within enduring open, honest and intimate dialogue among people who are different. Such people will seek to exclude integrators from their own special interest groups; for disintegration is in their nature. People who believe that righteousness is fulfilled within enduring open, honest and intimate dialogue among people who are different --- will seek to include in their open and honest dialogue people who are preoccupied with accentuating differences between people; for such is their nature. Each group of different people is bound to believe that their nature is a God-given blessing which others should learn to enjoy --- even if they do not enjoy it now. One group wants people in the other group to learn to enjoy conflict, contentious disputations, coercions, manipulations, violence, dishonesty, alienation and excommunications. The other group wants the contentious group to learn to enjoy true security enjoyed as the freedom to be safely vulnerable within open and honest dialogue. Each group views with fear and alarm what the other group seeks to promote. They find it terrifyingly difficult to conceive that there can ever be any common ground between them; not even within God's Love. The people within groups which accentuate differences find fulfillment in differentiating and separating themselves from others whom they regard as lesser than themselves. They base their distinctions upon complementary criteria in terms of which they regard each other as less worthy of respect, honor, support, and inclusion in open and honest dialogue. Self-righteousness and alienation prevails --- even though different people base their self-righteousness upon different but complementary criteria. In the end disintegration prevails --- as personal and communal integrity are sacrificed upon the many different alters of self- righteousness. The disintegration is an exponential decay process --- because the more it has progressed, the faster it progresses. In the end there is pure chaos, disorder, and confusion. The people within groups which believe that righteousness is fulfilled within enduring open, honest and intimate dialogue among people who are different --- find their fulfillment in integrating themselves with others who are complementary to them in their approaches to life and daily situations. They seek to transcend their differences in ways which will help all to profit from their differences. Their righteousness is strengthened through the free exchange of gifts of the freedom to be safely vulnerable within the open and honest dialogue of healthy intimate relationships among unique people who respect and celebrate their complementary differences. The integration is an exponential growth process --- because the more it has progressed the faster it progresses. In the end all are uniquely united in one integrative whole which transcends all in Love. (c) 2005 by Paul A. Smith in Download it! (On Being Yourself, Whole and Healthy) ==========================================================