Leo Volont
Registered Senior Member
Moral Distinctions
When we say ‘Good’ and ‘Evil’, it is difficult to know what people are thinking. We have Politicians willing screw over their own People and commit Genocide against the entire rest of the World, but they think themselves ‘Good’ when compared to a former President who is ‘Evil’ because he once relaxed with a young lady for a minute and a half against a context of 8 years of 24/7 Work. We need to de-trivialize ‘Good’ and ‘Evil’.
We should rather think in terms of ‘Civilized’ and ‘Barbarian’. A ‘Civilized’ attitude is one that is intent upon cooperation and sharing, where the welfare of the Entire Society becomes the central concern. Barbarism, however, is concerned with Individual Liberties and Freedoms, that is, rape and pillage.
But, yes, there are the Spiritual Virtues. The thing to be remembered about the Spiritual Virtues, is that one cannot expect to derive much practical advantage from their cultivation, or at least, practical advantage is not the point of it all. The Spiritual Virtues – abstinence from the Appetites of Lust and Gluttony, and the Impulses of Jealousy and Anger – are exercised so as to make oneself fitting company in Heaven, the Spiritual Realm. The Appetites and the Impulses do indeed have their practical side while we are Incarnate and not really much different from the brute animals doing their utmost to merely survive. But taken out of that context of Mortal Survival, the Appetites and the Impulses become ridiculous.
For instance, sex. Spiritual Beings do not need to copulate. Reproduction is not a concern in the Spiritual Realm. Therefore, Souls are expected to transcend the urge to be poking and wrapping around the other Spiritual Entities. While still Mortal, if a person sees sex as a ‘want’ – an important part of their life definition – then they will take this attitude with them into the Spiritual Realm, where it will be most embarrassing for them. They will be like the Dog at the cocktail party that humps the legs of the guests. Nobody wears a tuxedo to have his leg humped. The most charitable view that can be taken of such behavior is one of bemused disgust. Such dogs are ushered out and not invited back.
So, for this World we should be ‘Civilized’. And in preparation of the Next, we should practice Virtue – making sure we do not want what we merely only need.
When we say ‘Good’ and ‘Evil’, it is difficult to know what people are thinking. We have Politicians willing screw over their own People and commit Genocide against the entire rest of the World, but they think themselves ‘Good’ when compared to a former President who is ‘Evil’ because he once relaxed with a young lady for a minute and a half against a context of 8 years of 24/7 Work. We need to de-trivialize ‘Good’ and ‘Evil’.
We should rather think in terms of ‘Civilized’ and ‘Barbarian’. A ‘Civilized’ attitude is one that is intent upon cooperation and sharing, where the welfare of the Entire Society becomes the central concern. Barbarism, however, is concerned with Individual Liberties and Freedoms, that is, rape and pillage.
But, yes, there are the Spiritual Virtues. The thing to be remembered about the Spiritual Virtues, is that one cannot expect to derive much practical advantage from their cultivation, or at least, practical advantage is not the point of it all. The Spiritual Virtues – abstinence from the Appetites of Lust and Gluttony, and the Impulses of Jealousy and Anger – are exercised so as to make oneself fitting company in Heaven, the Spiritual Realm. The Appetites and the Impulses do indeed have their practical side while we are Incarnate and not really much different from the brute animals doing their utmost to merely survive. But taken out of that context of Mortal Survival, the Appetites and the Impulses become ridiculous.
For instance, sex. Spiritual Beings do not need to copulate. Reproduction is not a concern in the Spiritual Realm. Therefore, Souls are expected to transcend the urge to be poking and wrapping around the other Spiritual Entities. While still Mortal, if a person sees sex as a ‘want’ – an important part of their life definition – then they will take this attitude with them into the Spiritual Realm, where it will be most embarrassing for them. They will be like the Dog at the cocktail party that humps the legs of the guests. Nobody wears a tuxedo to have his leg humped. The most charitable view that can be taken of such behavior is one of bemused disgust. Such dogs are ushered out and not invited back.
So, for this World we should be ‘Civilized’. And in preparation of the Next, we should practice Virtue – making sure we do not want what we merely only need.