Selfishness

[Michie]

True but 'self' was a product of the Garden, the original sin we are meant to overcome. Self works great in a self oriented world, but is of no use in the Kingdom.

I think many Christians display these things, avarice, greed, etc. But it is part of our fallen state. It’s not an excuse but it seems the way it is.

 

[rambot]

Rejoicing in tax cuts that help poor or repressed people.

 

[Godcrazy]

Depends how self-oriented they become, Christian or not..

that is a ongoing work, depending on if one allow it or not

 

[Godcrazy]

I think many Christians display these things, avarice, greed, etc. But it is part of our fallen state. It’s not an excuse but it seems the way it is.

well it is not an excuse to not try do something about it however. Fight against. with what ever needed. Purify themselves. take their cross on them. strive for virtue. some do get set free with deliverance. after years of struggling. about open doors,and allowing. It is a difference between having a sin nature and a I can`t do anything about it but I am forgiven so lets just ignore it.

 

[Yarddog]

Here is a chance for one of those thread games where people list things. Add your comment to the list of what can be described as human selfishness.

Trying to justify oneself.

 

[fhansen]

True but 'self' was a product of the Garden, the original sin we are meant to overcome. Self works great in a self oriented world, but is of no use in the Kingdom.

It actually doesn’t work great anywhere; it’s the cause of all our problems here, of our sin. That’s what we’re here to learn, in fact, in this selfish, godless world.

 

[fhansen]

Here is a chance for one of those thread games where people list things. Add your comment to the list of what can be described as human selfishness.

Adultery

 

[timothyu]

It actually doesn’t work great anywhere; it’s the cause of all our problems here, of our sin. That’s what we’re here to learn, in fact, in this selfish, godless world.

Agreed, but the world based on self expects us to go with the flow. We are bombarded daily with everything related to self-absorption from politics/consumerism to prosperity gospels. Even Christianity turned from a Him religion to a me one, more concerned about what's in it for us than God's overcoming adversity. His will be done, not ours.

 

[fhansen]

Agreed, but the world based on self expects us to go with the flow. We are bombarded daily with everything related to self-absorption from politics/consumerism to prosperity gospels. Even Christianity turned from a Him religion to a me one, more concerned about what's in it for us than God's overcoming adversity. His will be done, not ours.

I see, yes, it's easier to go with the flow. At least for a time

 

[timothyu]

I see, yes, it's easier to go with the flow. At least for a time

I didn't say that lol but yes, some do choose to do so, going with the flow, thinking in not doing God's will that they will still get a reprieve. Even Christianity went back to the flow and rejected the ways of the Kingdom which run opposite, parable of the Sower and all that, falling back into the world.

 

[fhansen]

I didn't say that lol but yes, some do choose to do so, going with the flow, thinking in not doing God's will that they will still get a reprieve. Even Christianity went back to the flow and rejected the ways of the Kingdom which run opposite, parable of the Sower and all that, falling back into the world.

Ok, and I didnt say-or think you meant- that it's ok to go with the flow-only that it's easier while we're here which is really kind of a given. And I agree-there's lots of "Christian" theology out there that seems to make it ok to disobey, almost laudable to remain in one's sins as if that's some kind of humility or something.

 

[o_mlly]

Yes. Such as stealing bread when your family is starving....where have I heard from that before? Hmmm....

To steal is to take w/o permit the property of another who has the right to possess it. One who is starving may take the food of another who possesses surplus food. Such an act is not one of theft under the universal right of all to life and the created goods to sustain it.

 

[partinobodycular]

To steal is to take w/o permit the property of another who has the right to possess it.

The problem is that determining who has the right to possess it can be rather subjective. So who determines the 'right to possess' when my version of it differs from your version of it?

One who is starving may take the food of another who possesses surplus food. Such an act is not one of theft under the universal right of all to life and the created goods to sustain it.

A "Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" clause only serves to obfuscate premise number one. What makes one person's 'pursuit of happiness' subordinate to another person's 'pursuit of happiness'?

 

[Hawkins]

Everyone is selfish to a certain extent. The effect is rather how individuals' selfishness affects the building up of a society. It all bowls down to a supply chain where people (citizens) serving as the supplier of politicians and government officials. This supply chain will be corrupted when selfishness overwhelms. How health is your society is closely tied to how many corrupt politicians and government officials as supplied by the supply chain formed from the people of that society.

 

[o_mlly]

The problem is that determining who has the right to possess it can be rather subjective. So who determines the 'right to possess' when my version of it differs from your version of it?

Do you have a principled argument that contradicts the universal right of all to life and the property necessary to sustain it?

A "Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" clause only serves to obfuscate premise number one. What makes one person's 'pursuit of happiness' subordinate to another person's 'pursuit of happiness'?

That is not my claim.

However, one's pursuit of happiness is not an unlimited right. If your pursuit of happiness transgresses another's then the regulating principle of justice applies.

 

[timothyu]

Self-justification

 

[RileyG]

To steal is to take w/o permit the property of another who has the right to possess it. One who is starving may take the food of another who possesses surplus food. Such an act is not one of theft under the universal right of all to life and the created goods to sustain it.

Thanks for the input!

Peace

 

[partinobodycular]

Do you have a principled argument that contradicts the universal right of all to life and the property necessary to sustain it?

I have absolutely no problem with a 'universal right of all to life and the property necessary to sustain it?'

In fact, go ahead and carve that on my tombstone.

However, one's pursuit of happiness is not an unlimited right. If your pursuit of happiness transgresses another's then the regulating principle of justice applies.

And there's the rub, because who gets to decide when your right to the pursuit of happiness supersedes my right to the pursuit of happiness? Your so-called 'regulating principle of justice'? And who gets to determine that?