No one can deny that violence is the dominant topic of the day and much of this violence is blamed on religions. Like many creatures, the human species is violent which has to large degree helped us attain dominance in the animal kingdom. Most of us no longer need to be violent to survive from day to day. What do we do with this violent nature? Those of us with decent behavioral filters manage to keep it between the lines . . . or at least limit them to verbal violence (something we see a lot of on social media). As a species we struggle to contain our violence but obviously there are some who struggle more than others due to genetic make-up. Studies of twins separated at birth are far more alike than they are different on many measures. Two points: criminal behavior and violence are heritable traits and nature gives us a window within which we will act (said another way, nurture and environment determines where we fall within the genetic window we are born with). Those who can’t contain their violent nature look for ways to rationalize their marginal behaviors. The rest of us look for ways to understand why violent people do what they do (hence all the bad press for religions and neglect for the good religious people exhibit). . . rather than acknowledging that we humans are violent and must find ways to manage those who cannot control themselves. Its much easier to look for cultural phenomenon like religion to place the blame upon. Interestingly, many respond with a violence of their own . . . inner hatred, verbal hatred, etc. How many gazillions of times have we witnessed people spewing hatred toward violent people rather than a logical response to their violent behavior. We humans need to get past this phase and move forward . . . first correctly defining the issues . . . secondly addressing the issues. Responding to hatred and violence with hatred and violence (physical or verbal) is just two sides of the same coin . . . both parties feeling self-righteously justified. As “natural” as this might be . . . it makes a bad situation worse. Back to violence vs. religion, I’m not saying that some aspects of religion don’t encourage violence. Clearly there are cultural phenomenon that lends itself more easily to these behaviors . . . just as they also lend themselves to many good behaviors as evidenced all throughout history. Take the “religion” phenomenon away . . . you will still have just as much of both good and poor behaviors until we humans stop playing the blame game and get serious. Blanket statements about religions (or any population of people) hardly bears credibility. If you are persistent in believing that one particular religion is more prone to violence then another, then it may be instructional for you to take a closer look at all the other religions and cultures (perhaps found in all cultures) who have engaged in similar behaviors at one time or another. Yes, if you take a snap-shot of a specific time-frame, one group will be more violent than another – because you are catching that group in a single phase (if you will) of their evolution. Violence is an inseparable part of human nature. Until we stop placing blame and initiate methodologies and technologies to address this phenomenon, it will continue its endless cycle. See Barry Kort’s article at barrykort.wordpress/2013/04/05/contagion/ to see a logical methodology for understanding and reacting to violence. If this isn’t the answer, it is at minimum an example of a rational approach to deal with violence. Also read a book titled, The Infinite Resource: The Power of Ideas on a Finite Planet by Ramez Naam for positive approaches to these difficult problems. Just my opinion, ~Jeffery Mercer
Posted on: Sun, 02 Nov 2014 16:07:56 +0000
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