One of my very deeply rooted, and strong beliefs is that every human being is genuinely good. That whatever their intentions may be at any given point of time, and however evil they may look, they are truly good and that is what they most often strive to be. I believe when Carl Rogers asks me to give everyone unconditional positive regard. I believe when the Humanists tell me that every Human strives to be the best they can. The reason for the existence of such a belief is so that I always remember to give others a second chance. Just because one particular act of a person was wrong does not mean they are destined to be so, right? After all, there is a saying that goes that every child who is born into this world is born innocent and how he turns out depends on how he was brought up. John B. Watson definitely backed that up when he said, "Give me a dozen healthy infants, well-formed, and my own specified world to bring them up in and I'll guarantee to take any one at random and train him to become any type of specialist I might select...regardless of his talents, penchants, tendencies, abilities, vocations, and race of his ancestors."
Yet, despite all this, there are those times, when I start questioning myself. When I start questioning my beliefs. And then I don't know what my beliefs stand for any more. I watch movies, read stories and hear news. I come across tales of Killers, Psychopaths, Cannibals, Rapists and other abominations. I think, I wonder, I question, but I can't find the Good in them. I can't understand them, or their actions. I can't understand how they fit in or are a part of the complex structure of our Universe. I can't understand. And it terrifies me, because I don't believe in my most basic philosophy anymore.
I do understand how they operate. Their needs, their motives. Psychology helps me understand that some people are just created that way. That something in their childhood traumatised them. Or they lack the basic empathy gland in the brain. Or their sex drive is overpowering. Or that there is something about them that just doesn't match with the "normal" people. People are different because they are shaped by their differing exposure to various stimuli of Nature and Nurture.
What I do not understand is, how can there be a creation of Nature that is so completely devoid of Good? A creation wrought just to create chaos in, what I would like to believe, a perfect Universe. Taking the example of a serial rapist -- driven by his need to aggress, rape and assert his dominance. What does he give back to the society or the Universe after taking so much from it? How can there not be any Good in him at all? What can justify his grotesque existence? Is he merely a vessel created to bring about Karma to the ones that supposedly "deserve" it? Is he merely a tool in His Grand Scheme fashioned to "teach" lessons?
There is a lack of balance. The scale is supposed to be tilted one way. But it remains straight, and I'm unable to see the invisible weight that balances the Bad out on the other side. And my questions continue to remain unanswered.
I heard a story. An old Cherokee story. The closest I've gotten to having my questions answered. The belief is that each of us have two wolves within us -- the Good Wolf and the Bad Wolf. Every action that we indulge in feeds either the Good Wolf or the Bad Wolf, and each grows stronger through our actions. One day, one Wolf will grow stronger and consume the weaker wolf. The choice between which Wolf we would like to feed depends entirely on each of our personal decisions.
Yet, despite all this, there are those times, when I start questioning myself. When I start questioning my beliefs. And then I don't know what my beliefs stand for any more. I watch movies, read stories and hear news. I come across tales of Killers, Psychopaths, Cannibals, Rapists and other abominations. I think, I wonder, I question, but I can't find the Good in them. I can't understand them, or their actions. I can't understand how they fit in or are a part of the complex structure of our Universe. I can't understand. And it terrifies me, because I don't believe in my most basic philosophy anymore.
I do understand how they operate. Their needs, their motives. Psychology helps me understand that some people are just created that way. That something in their childhood traumatised them. Or they lack the basic empathy gland in the brain. Or their sex drive is overpowering. Or that there is something about them that just doesn't match with the "normal" people. People are different because they are shaped by their differing exposure to various stimuli of Nature and Nurture.
What I do not understand is, how can there be a creation of Nature that is so completely devoid of Good? A creation wrought just to create chaos in, what I would like to believe, a perfect Universe. Taking the example of a serial rapist -- driven by his need to aggress, rape and assert his dominance. What does he give back to the society or the Universe after taking so much from it? How can there not be any Good in him at all? What can justify his grotesque existence? Is he merely a vessel created to bring about Karma to the ones that supposedly "deserve" it? Is he merely a tool in His Grand Scheme fashioned to "teach" lessons?
There is a lack of balance. The scale is supposed to be tilted one way. But it remains straight, and I'm unable to see the invisible weight that balances the Bad out on the other side. And my questions continue to remain unanswered.
I heard a story. An old Cherokee story. The closest I've gotten to having my questions answered. The belief is that each of us have two wolves within us -- the Good Wolf and the Bad Wolf. Every action that we indulge in feeds either the Good Wolf or the Bad Wolf, and each grows stronger through our actions. One day, one Wolf will grow stronger and consume the weaker wolf. The choice between which Wolf we would like to feed depends entirely on each of our personal decisions.
