Anyway, this process of web surfing often leads me to various Christian web sites as well as anti or non-Christian web sites, articles, blog entries, and video entries in YouTube or Vemio. I read and sometimes can't help but respond to some of the stuff I find. The latest was video link to an entry a young man made who seemed angry at the world because of western imperialism in the name of God. His attack was based on people of faith - primarily people who claim Christianity - who don't know the history of the evils that have been done in the name of God.
I interacted a little via comments only to receive this persons attacks on me! Not that I mind, but it was interesting to me that his somewhat justified rage against "Christianity" could so easily turn into hypocrisy. The funny thing is this: as human beings, we easily point at the evil of others and the injustice of the world without considering that we, too are evil. Everyone else is wrong, and we are right.
We don't need religion to think this way. We are all susceptible to viewing others as wrong and ourselves ethically, morally, and spiritually correct. We see ourselves as having the high moral ground. I even think this way as I write! Is it possible that in order to actually function in society and in life, we must THINK and FEEL as if the choices and decisions we make are justified? I'm sure there is some psychological study to answer that question. Maybe if we didn't think this way we would be fully aware of our duplicitous and contradictory behavior and thinking and either change or go crazy!
The only faith system that I have seen, however - and I don't claim to know them all - that incorporates this tendency is Christianity. The faith of Paul, Peter, James and John as followers of Jesus actually requires that the adherent accept and admit to their own brokenness and, if you will, sinfulness. My Youtube friend and many, many others do this self-justification thing (including my children who fight to be "righteous" regardless of who REALLY left the door open, used my computer without permission, or put the water bottle in the refrigerator empty!)
So, it is easy and natural to say that everyone else is wrong. Humility is not an easy characteristics to develop. For example, my YouTube friend said, "...I don't give ignorance a pass, nor do I understand why anyone would or should". At first glance, this seems reflexive and inclusive so as not to be arrogant, but the statement assumes he always knows more that the one he is not willing to give a pass. He also justified his anger by saying, "all human emotions are circumstantially justifiable, anyone willing to blanket all anger as negative is only bringing weakness on to others". It strikes me as a form of relativism that justifies anger and the vengeful attitude he was expressing based on the circumstances. Thus, if someone hurts my wife, son or daughter then my anger and vengeance would be justified. Yet, who am I? I may get a "pass" by the law, depending on the circumstances but who am I to execute ultimate judgement and promote justice? I am not perfectly just, and none of us are. Thus, humility must be incorporated regardless of our anger or for that matter, our happiness or success.
On a global scale, and greatly oversimplifying some very complex issues, wars and national violence occur because some believes that everyone else is wrong. Fights and conflict between people often involve a lack of humility on someones part. I pray that more and more people can fully embrace a type of humility that doesn't need to express their "righteousness" at the expense of the innocent or the guilty, the wise or the foolish, the intelligent or the ignorant.
