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%EXTREMISTS PARADOX CONTRADICTORY CRITERIA LAW LOVE+980421                                           
 %FULFILLMENT LETTING GO DETACH INCLUSIVE EXCLUSIVE 980421                       
                                                                                                                               
     It  is  difficult to moderate our tendencies  towards                                                            
fragmentive extremism.  We tend towards exclusivity in our                       
demands  ---   especially  regarding  the  fulfillment  of                                 
apparently contradictory  demands  --- which must be fully                                                           
satisfied  for people to enjoy both personal and  communal                                                                
integrity.                                                                   
                                                                                                                               
     Fragmentive  extremism  leads to fragmentation of  us                                                                     
and  our  communities ---  often leading us  into  forming  
opposing armies ---  which are  preoccupied with affirming                                                                     
in exclusive ways  certain  conflicting interpretations of      
chosen texts which point to paradoxical truths.   "Our way      
must  be  right.   They do not tell the truth in  our way.      
They must be wrong ---  and probably they are evil.   They                                       
must  be excluded from our fellowship in order to  protect                       
our truths from  misinterpretations  which are evil.   Our                      
purity is important,  essential.    Impure people must not                  
threaten the integrity of our church."                                                            
                                                                                                                               
     Exclusive   people   who   are  seeking   to   affirm                       
conflicting interpretations   of  particular  texts  which                      
point to important paradoxical truths --- are people who:                                                                    
                                                                                                                               
     1.  Often  deny  the  validity  each  other's  way of      
pointing to the various meanings of paradoxical truths.                                                                        
                                                                                                                               
     2.  Are  fearful  of  the implications  of  essential                  
meanings  which  are  complementary to  those  which  they                                                                     
prefer to point to.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                               
     3.  Are  driven and guided by fear of each other  ---                                                               
and  of  what is within themselves which reminds  them  of    
what they fear most in each other.                                                               
                                                                                                                               
     4.  Are fearful of the demands of Love ---  that call                                           
them to prudently let go of their fears ---  in order that                                                                     
reconciliation,  mutual understanding and integration  may                            
begin.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                               
     5.  Are   fearful  that  they  may  find  each  other                                                               
pointing to  complementary meanings of paradoxical  truths                                                                     
---  and so find  their own offensive/alienative behaviors                   
exposed to the light of true Love.                        
                                                                                                                               
     6.  Are (within  their own groups) engaged in playing                   
collusive  games of mutual self deception ---  which  they 
conceal from themselves and each other --- and threaten to    
excommunicate  any  traitors  who are honest  about  their               
games and/or drop out.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                               
     7.  Chose  texts  which  suit  their  needs  to  show                 
themselves as "better"  than other people --- whom they do    
not know, understand, or trust.                                                    
                                                                                                                               
     8.  Are   more   preoccupied   with   "righteousness"       
understood  in  conformal  terms  ---   rather  than  with            
righteousness understood  in  terms  of  participating  in       
"right   relationships"   which  are   characterized   by:       
gentleness, humility,  listening, respect, reconciliation,                                      
mutuality, balance, and integration.                            
                                                                                                                               
     9.  Are  willing  to  see open  and  honest  dialogue                                                                  
between  differing  people be discouraged,  inhibited  and                                     
stopped  ---   as direct results  of their own efforts  to                   
advance  their  own narrow  perspectives,    perspectives,                   
agendas and self-centered-interests.                      
                                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                               
                         (c) 2005 by Paul A. Smith in      
                    (On Being Yourself, Whole and Healthy)  
                                                                                                                               
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