Why is it that we. . .

[joebudda]

Why is it that we (humans) always and enviably find and embrace ways of driving a wedge between ourselves? This has been going on for as long as history can reveal to us. Why is it we feel such need to have others also embrace what we have come to believe?

We continue to invent ways to create an “us and them” attitude. From classes, politics, race, culture, to religion. Do we do this to find comfort in people who believe as we do? What is the purpose of this trait within us all when it enviably leads to conflict?

We are a social species yet we tend to find and exploit what we don’t see eye to eye on and ignore what we do.

 

[Stormy]

and at the same time, we would simply die if we were all the same!

 

[Soul_Searcher]

Hi JB,

"Why is it that we (humans) always and enviably find and embrace ways of driving a wedge between ourselves? This has been going on for as long as history can reveal to us. Why is it we feel such need to have others also embrace what we have come to believe?"

Fear, plain and simple. We're afraid we're wrong about something, so we build up the illusion that we can't be wrong. Obviously, we haven't learned from history, we haven't learned from Jesus, or Buddha, or Confucius or anyone else who has preached peace and cooperation and love and brotherhood.

And Stormy, it's not about us being all the same and bored, it's about us TREATING each other all the same. We can celebrate our differences and still love each other. THAT is what Jesus taught us..

 

[Edward Vil - E for short]

I think it's mostly because I am correct. People who think differently from me are incorrect and do stupid things as a result. The possibility exists I might be placed in danger because of this. Therefore I must kill everyone else.

 

[Stormy]

I think it's mostly because I am correct. People who think differently from me are incorrect and do stupid things as a result. The possibility exists I might be placed in danger because of this. Therefore I must kill everyone else.

Fear factor?

 

[beyelzu]

Why is it that we (humans) always and enviably find and embrace ways of driving a wedge between ourselves? This has been going on for as long as history can reveal to us. Why is it we feel such need to have others also embrace what we have come to believe?

We continue to invent ways to create an “us and them” attitude. From classes, politics, race, culture, to religion. Do we do this to find comfort in people who believe as we do? What is the purpose of this trait within us all when it enviably leads to conflict?

We are a social species yet we tend to find and exploit what we don’t see eye to eye on and ignore what we do.

actually group identity was/is important to man. its all about an evolutionary perspective, cultural adaptations, and societal needs. People naturally self identify with pretty small groups because we lived in tribes for millions of years going back to the ancestors of man. Part of belonging to groups is viewing the people in other groups as alien.

 

[Wolf_Shade]

Because we are naturally selfish creatures, and something that does not agree with us will not allow us to have all we want, as such it must be removed. Removal requires force because it won't go willingly.

 

[All4one]

The answer to your question is simple. The Body of Christ opporates on unity. When two parts of the body disagree they disperse. One is the virus and the other the counterpart. It is hardly confussion for your question actually realizes that there is absolute truth.

In Love,
All4one

 

[TrueQ]

I don't know, beyelzu, people often identify very strongly with large groups as well, black people, democrats, Christians, and so on. And I wouldn't put to much stock in the 'fearing aliens' part either, I'm at equal ease with folk of any race, political orientation is barely worth considering in my eyes...religion I still have a hang up on, but nobody's perfect.

I do think this sort of thing is disgusting though, separating humans into different little cliques, we're all brothers and sisters, family, and it is...just...revolting to me to see the ways some of my family treat each other.

 

[MoonlessNight]

I think it's a simple process. Humans are social animals, so no matter what we believe we want to make sure that we're not alone in said beliefs. And with the world as populous as it is, chances are we aren't. So we find a group of like-minded people, and in discussing whatever belief brought us together we become more and more assured that we are right. After all, these other rational people came to the same conclusion, didn't they? So we've found the "us". And with that we get to the perspective that our view must be right, not only that, and not only must it be right, it should be obvious to anyone that it is right. It should be noted that this viewpoint usually doesn't take long to get to, in many cases people will have it since childhood (since they were with the "us" since birth).

But there's the problem, there are many people who disagree with the belief, no matter what it is. By this time, this is highly confusing. If our belief is so obvious, why can't they see it? It's unthinkable that they are blind to it, so they must be actively opposing our view and/or stance. In this way they become the enemy, no matter what they do. And everyone likes to know their enemy, so we start thinking of the "them". We of course emphasize the differences, since it was the differences that made us notice them in the first place. And there we have the situation of "us" versus "them". From this point it isn't likely to get much better.

That's probably horribly confusing, but as I was formulating this and writing it at the same time, it's to be expected, I suppose.