Among my beliefs, none are treated with more respect and centrality than duty to truth. I cannot abide the thought of serving a false god, nor serving none when one exists to be served. When combined with the fact of inherent human subjectivity, personal religious freedom naturally emerges. One cannot and should not coerce conscience because everyone perceives reality a little differently, and who's to say that your perception is the right one? This is not to say, however, that you should not endeavor to persuade others to your way of thinking, because who's to say that it's wrong? The bottom line is that truth will prevail in the end, and nothing can change that.
However, this should not be taken fatalistically, as just because the laws of the universe are constant, it doesn't mean that circumstance must be so as well. Just as much effort should go into making the world a better place, it is just that unless these efforts are based in true principles, there is no guarantee that your efforts will stay, and if they do, it will only be by coincidence.
It should be noted with equal fervor that just because truth will prevail, it doesn't necessarily follow that humanity will as well. The principles of truth can be used for destruction just as much as for growth. A history of technology can be consulted for examples. For this reason, evil should not be ignored. It should be fought with all energy of heart.
Another important note is that just because truth can be both used and abused, it doesn't mean that evil and good are of equal strength. By the nature of truth and current circumstance, evil may be more natural, but good is far more powerful. Good must triumph over evil in the end. The only way for it to be otherwise is for good to not put up a fight. Evil is self-defeating by nature. Good is self-enforcing. So again, good must triumph over evil. All it needs is truth.
Very deep and well written. I'm curious to wonder if man is naturally evil as they would rather destroy each other and try to take each other freedoms. Its hard to determine if there is any real good in the world when everyone is taking advantage of each other.
ReplyDelete@Czar Squid, your question has been entertained by philosophers and theologians for quite a long time. St. Augustine, in his confessions, wrote about an experience he had stealing pears, which led to the development of the doctrine of original sin, which stains humanity with a predisposition to evil. Yet, I personally believe that we are as in pandora's myth, the inner potential for good (hope in the myth)is surrounded by evil. Human are capable of committing horrific acts, but also are capable of love. Love according to St. Augustine ultimately redeems us. In the end, we are ought to embrace our humanity, and as boccaccio said " Human it is to have compassion".
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