Which wolf is winning for you?

[Apodictic]

A man told his grandson: "A terrible fight is going on inside me -- a fight between two wolves. One is evil, and represents hate, anger, arrogance, intolerance, and superiority . The other is good, and represents joy, peace, love, tolerance, understanding, humility, kindness, empathy, generosity, and compassion. This same fight is going on inside you, inside every other person too."

The grandson then asked: "Which wolf will win?" The old man replied simply: "The one you feed." Anon.

http://www.religioustolerance.org/rel_hate.htm

 

[Apodictic]

[FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]The most mistrusted religion: Atheism:[/FONT]

[FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]There are probably hundreds of definitions of the term "religion" that people have proposed -- all different. We use a very inclusive definition: "Religion is any specific system of belief about deity, often involving rituals, a code of ethics, a philosophy of life, and a worldview." Atheism qualifies under this definition because Atheists either believe that God does not exist, or they have no belief in the existence of God.[/FONT]
[FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]In the Barna survey cited above, 92% of born-again Christians view Atheism's impact on society as negative; this is a higher percentage than for any other religion. Even 50% of non-Christians view Atheism's impact as negative -- again a higher percentage than any other religion.[/FONT]
[FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]University of Minnesota researchers conducted a telephone survey of over 2,000 households in early 2006. 7 They found that: [/FONT]

[FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica] [/FONT][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]"...Americans rate atheists below Muslims, recent immigrants, gays and lesbians and other minority groups in 'sharing their vision of American society.' Atheists are also the minority group most Americans are least willing to allow their children to marry."[/FONT]
​

[FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]Lead researcher, Penny Edgell, noted that Atheists:[/FONT]

[FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica] [/FONT][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]"...offer a glaring exception to the rule of increasing social tolerance over the last 30 years....It seems most Americans believe that diversity is fine, as long as every one shares a common 'core' of values that make them trustworthy—and in America, that 'core' has historically been religious'....Americans believe they share more than rules and procedures with their fellow citizens—they share an understanding of right and wrong. Our findings seem to rest on a view of atheists as self-interested individuals who are not concerned with the common good'." 7,8[/FONT]

http://www.religioustolerance.org/chr_othe1.htm

I found this interesting.
​

 

[arunma]

I noticed that the fruits of the second wolf are mostly the fruits of the Spirit from the Epistle to the Galatians, except that "tolerance" has been cleverly injected (along with a few, more innocuous fruits). Why add to Scripture?

 

[Apodictic]

I noticed that the fruits of the second wolf are mostly the fruits of the Spirit from the Epistle to the Galatians, except that "tolerance" has been cleverly injected (along with a few, more innocuous fruits). Why add to Scripture?

What's the problem with tolerance? I say leave the intolerance to God, because humans are too prone to error in their judgments.

Matthew 5:44
But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

Is tolerance really an addition to Scripture? I do not believe so...

 

[Rhamiel]

I like the story of the two wolves, thank you for posting that

 

[PhilosophicalBluster]

So, what exactly is the point of this thread?

 

[arunma]

What's the problem with tolerance? I say leave the intolerance to God, because humans are too prone to error in their judgments.

The problem is that you have a vastly different definition of the word tolerance than what is taught in the Bible. The Bible teaches that all non-Christians without exception are going to hell, and in teaching "tolerance," you also reject this teaching regarding condemnation of non-Christians. This is not what the Bible teaches.

Matthew 5:44
But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

Is tolerance really an addition to Scripture? I do not believe so...

Here also you seem to be randomly quoting Scripture containing the word "love," and then implicitly making the conclusion that non-Christians will be saved. Why do you even assume that the church ought to consider non-Christians to be her enemy? You'll be hard-pressed to find a Bible-believing Christian who denies the importance of doing good to one's enemies. You, however, appear to be conveniently failing to consider other passages of Scripture which teach that non-Christian religions are false. Here is one example:

Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son. No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also. (1 John 2:22-23)
​

You love Matthew 5:44, so how about this one?

 

[Apodictic]

The problem is that you have a vastly different definition of the word tolerance than what is taught in the Bible. The Bible teaches that all non-Christians without exception are going to hell, and in teaching "tolerance," you also reject this teaching regarding condemnation of non-Christians. This is not what the Bible teaches.



Here also you seem to be randomly quoting Scripture containing the word "love," and then implicitly making the conclusion that non-Christians will be saved. Why do you even assume that the church ought to consider non-Christians to be her enemy? You'll be hard-pressed to find a Bible-believing Christian who denies the importance of doing good to one's enemies. You, however, appear to be conveniently failing to consider other passages of Scripture which teach that non-Christian religions are false. Here is one example:

Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son. No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also. (1 John 2:22-23)
​

You love Matthew 5:44, so how about this one?

Oh, I agree for those who do not accept Jesus are going to hell. That goes without question. But that does not mean we should treat the condemned people any less. Like I said, leave the intolerance to God.

 

[Legion.As.One]

If in almost every religion, it is clearly pointed out that if you don't follow their path, you're going to 'hell' (if you will). So, it doesn't really matter, everyone's going to 'hell' anyway.
Not that I believe in hell, I'm just pointing it out.

Great story, and interesting one, very true of human nature. That is one situation where "god" has no control. It is you who should create you own path.

My wolf is both combined. As is the way of human nature. I can't change that.

 

[arunma]

Oh, I agree for those who do not accept Jesus are going to hell. That goes without question.

Then you'd better let those people know, so that they can do something about their state of condemnation. It is unloving to not tell a hell-bound person about the state of his soul. If you say that you are a Christian, then you have the rivers of living water, whereas non-Christians only have the fruits that bear death. It's your responsibility to tell them that they need Jesus to be saved. "Tolerance" of their false religions will do them no good.. And if you need a more selfish motive, then here it is:

If I say to the wicked, 'You shall surely die,' and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, in order to save his life, that wicked person shall die for his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand. But if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, or from his wicked way, he shall die for his iniquity, but you will have delivered your soul. (Ezekiel 3:18-19)
​

God will require at your hands the blood of every pagan with whom you didn't share the good news.

But that does not mean we should treat the condemned people any less. Like I said, leave the intolerance to God.

By all means treat the condemned with the love that Christ commanded. Give them what they need to be saved.

 

[dnihila]

http://www.religioustolerance.org/rel_hate.htm

Wolves are accused of guilts they didn't do. And prophet Joseph story is a proof of the innocence of the wolves. They attack when they are hungry. They don't attack just to attack and prove their power.
And the old man wanted to show the good and evil in every human.
I do have a better story of what happened when you are in grave after death. The angels who are charged of punishment come to the dead wanting to punish him/her. If he did good deeds, the good deeds stand between him/her and the angels. The same for the Holy Quran, it stands as a defender because the dead have no power compared to the power of angels.
This shows how good deeds defend you instead of winning and crying. Good deeds defend you the same way you defended them when you were alive.

 

[Anon Sequitur]

[FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]The most mistrusted religion: Atheism:[/FONT]

[FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]There are probably hundreds of defintions of religion that people have proposed -- all different. We use a very inclusive definition: "Religion is any specific system of belief about deity, often involving rituals, a code of ethics, a philosophy of life, and a worldview." Atheism qualifies under this definition because Atheists either believe that God does not exist, or they have no belief in the existence of God.[/FONT]

No it does not. How is the lack of belief in the existence of a God a complex of methods or rules governing behavior?

[FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]In the Barna survey cited above, 92% of born-again Christians view Atheism's impact on society as negative; this is a higher percentage than for any other religion. Even 50% of non-Christians view Atheism's impact as negative -- again a higher percentage than any other religion.[/FONT]
[FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]University of Minnesota researchers conducted a telephone survey of over 2,000 households in early 2006. 7 They found that: [/FONT]

[FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]"...Americans rate atheists below Muslims, recent immigrants, gays and lesbians and other minority groups in 'sharing their vision of American society.' Atheists are also the minority group most Americans are least willing to allow their children to marry."[/FONT]

​

[FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]Lead researcher, Penny Edgell, noted that Atheists:[/FONT]

[FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]"...offer a glaring exception to the rule of increasing social tolerance over the last 30 years....It seems most Americans believe that diversity is fine, as long as every one shares a common 'core' of values that make them trustworthy—and in America, that 'core' has historically been religious'....Americans believe they share more than rules and procedures with their fellow citizens—they share an understanding of right and wrong. Our findings seem to rest on a view of atheists as self-interested individuals who are not concerned with the common good'." 7,8[/FONT]



I found this interesting.

​

I find it disgusting that atheism is seen as negative and destructive of society. These facts are true(to come out as an Atheist as a politicion is viewed as being worse than being homosexual!), and show the deplorable state our country is in. It also certainly helps to support my hypothesis that a fourth of America is mentally retarded.

PS I had to delete you links and picture it wouldn't allow me to quote them...

 

[Im_A]

http://www.religioustolerance.org/rel_hate.htm

mine mated and created a beautiful and adorable cub. (i'm not meaning to be funny here btw)

 

[Booko]

If in almost every religion, it is clearly pointed out that if you don't follow their path, you're going to 'hell' (if you will). So, it doesn't really matter, everyone's going to 'hell' anyway.
Not that I believe in hell, I'm just pointing it out.

Almost every religion doesn't even believe in hell, much less that if you don't follow their path you'll be going there.

If you want to start a new thread we could go through a list and see?

 

[Legion.As.One]

Almost every religion doesn't even believe in hell, much less that if you don't follow their path you'll be going there.

If you want to start a new thread we could go through a list and see?

Too right. Let's debate!
I'll call it "Hell"

 

[BlueStarSkyMonkey]

i feed my two wolves evenly so that they get along.

 

[heron]

So, what exactly is the point of this thread?

Wilderness camping skills, I think. Good stuff.

 

[Morcova]

Drive by theology strikes again?

 

[Eudaimonist]

I think the same point as that made in the OP was made in some recent movies, such as Spiderman 3 and one of the Harry Potter films.

I think it oversimplifies matters to reduce human psychology down to two opposing forces (one good and one evil), but it's probably correct that you should only "feed" those psychological motivations that you judge to be good, and to the extent that doing so produces good results.


eudaimonia,

Mark

 

[skylark1]

Rev. Sharon Watkins used this story in her sermon at the inaugural prayer service January, 29.

There is a story attributed to Cherokee wisdom:

One evening a grandfather was teaching his young grandson about the internal battle that each person faces.
“There are two wolves struggling inside each of us,” the old man said.
“One wolf is vengefulness, anger, resentment, self-pity, fear . . .
“The other wolf is compassion, faithfulness, hope, truth, love . . .”
The grandson sat, thinking, then asked: “Which wolf wins, Grandfather?”
His grandfather replied, “The one you feed.”​

I thought that is was interesting how she related this story to leading a nation. It is worth reading, no matter what your religion may be.

http://thepage.time.com/text-of-national-cathedral-sermon-by-rev-sharon-watkins/

Or listen at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1tUSYe_20g