OUR VALUES & SPIRITUAL BELIEFS HELP CAUSE THE VIOLENCE
The following excerpt is from the self help
psychology book, Be Your Own Therapist.
Many years ago our population generally believed in good, evil,
heaven and the devil. Punishment was expected in the hereafter
for all the sins committed on this earthly plane. Few were
willing to risk roasting in hell forever when by acting nice one
could avoid such a fate. Today, however, believing in just one
chance at this incredibly "unjust" world often leads to
"reaching for the gusto" even if that means doing others
physical or monetary harm. "Why not be violent and greedy if
there is nothing to fear? The criminal justice system will
probably not catch me. Even if it does, at least I will have had
the momentary pleasure of power or money."
| So-called spiritual values that consider humans to be essentially evil or flawed still contribute heavily to our problems with violence. |
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How many of us believe there is punishment in the hereafter?
Christian religions believe there is punishment for sins in this
life. Similarly, the idea of karma, (paying back in future lives
for wrongdoings this time around) influences the 25% of us who
believe in reincarnation. It has become unfashionable to talk of
paying for one's sins. Perhaps the 75% or more of us, who do
believe that wrongdoings will be paid back, need to vocally
object to the widespread media bias against such a belief. Just
because it is unfashionable in the media does not mean that that
it is undesirable. Continued promulgation of such a belief held
only by a minority of the population seems to me to be a
definite factor in the continuation of our society's violence.
It has become fashionable to violate laws because they are
inconvenient. This is a slippery slope, for more and more often
it is not just exceeding 55mph but on to inflating a few income
tax deductions (convincing ourselves everyone else does it), to
claiming that your group has mistreated mine (so I'll rob you or
beat you), and to going after whatever I want in a violent way
with no regard for others' rights (because I have been
mistreated). We lose an ounce of integrity every time we disobey
the 55mph law, every time we inflate a tax deduction, every time
we lie, etc. Personal authenticity and integrity are goals that
are important if we are ever to find some inner contentment.
Current societal laws and values do not make that easy for
anyone to achieve. Personal authenticity and integrity are not
always convenient.
Next Excerpt 
| Your dreadful sexual dream last night indicates that you have sexual lessons to learn, not necessarily that you need to enact the dream's contents. |
More Excerpts This Chapter
VIOLENCE: HOW DO I CONTRIBUTE TO THE ADDED VIOLENCE?
TEACHING OUR CHILDREN TO BE UNHAPPY
OUR VALUES & SPIRITUAL BELIEFS HELP CAUSE THE VIOLENCE
THE NUMBING PROCESS
HOW DO WE CONTRIBUTE TO THE HOMELESS PROBLEM?
VERBAL BASHING CAN LEAD TO VIOLENCE
OPPORTUNITIES TO CHANGE THE VIOLENCE
HOW INGRAINED IS THE VIOLENCE?
This Chapter's Quiz
Book Table of Contents
Psychology of Sex Education - Psychological Sexual Health Care
Self Help Free Read - Book Online
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