What is greed??

[poppy]

I think many people of all faiths would argue that radical islamism is morally wrong even though they believe that they are acting morally right based on their beliefs.


There are radicals in all religions, Timothy McVeigh , the KKK, the Branch Davidians, James Dobson, Jerry Falwell, Skinheads, Pat Robertson Neo Nazis, and on and on all claim to be Christian. Some are violent in actions, some want to control your behavior thru legislation. We should all remember, just because it says so in your religious text, doesn't mean it's true.

 

[AAbsolute]

Is Bill Gates greedy? Warren Buffet?

Good questions. This old piece is intriguing.
YouTube - Milton Friedman - Greed

 

[traderx]

I really miss Uncle Miltie...Thanks AA for posting it.

 

[30ashopper]

I think many people of all faiths would argue that radical islamism is morally wrong even though they believe that they are acting morally right based on their beliefs.


There are radicals in all religions, Timothy McVeigh , the KKK, the Branch Davidians, James Dobson, Jerry Falwell, Skinheads, Pat Robertson Neo Nazis, and on and on all claim to be Christian. Some are violent in actions, some want to control your behavior thru legislation. We should all remember, just because it says so in your religious text, doesn't mean it's true.

Do religious texts really promote violence, or is that just one man's twisted enterpretation? I personally do not blame religion for the 'evils' of men. That's like blaming guns for gang shootings. Ironically secularists often blame religion for all the world's ills, but it can be argued that the 'evils' of men are driven more by the Darwinian trait of survival through competition. Religion just acts as a valuable recruitment tool, and the scape goat. Taking it away however doesn't necessarily solve the problem.

 

[lerxst]

I think this astronomical brain stuff is a good segue for this Floyd video:

Classic video, thanks!

 

[Miss Kitty]

If you want to see greed, come watch me eat my "fair share" of PB bars tonight.

 

[Mango]

If you want to see greed, come watch me eat my "fair share" of PB bars tonight.

No, that is called chocoholism.

 

[LuciferSam]

Do religious texts really promote violence, or is that just one man's twisted enterpretation? I personally do not blame religion for the 'evils' of men. That's like blaming guns for gang shootings. Ironically secularists often blame religion for all the world's ills, but it can be argued that the 'evils' of men are driven more by the Darwinian trait of survival through competition. Religion just acts as a valuable recruitment tool, and the scape goat. Taking it away however doesn't necessarily solve the problem.

I have to disagree with what makes men evil. Most animals don't kill members of their own species just for fun. They may get in vicious fights over food, sex and territory, but they usually allow an opportunity for retreat. Man gets very creative about his evil ways. It's got to have something to do with his higher intelligence and ability to think, plan etc. . Some sort of social programming lies at the root of it. It may very well have to do with something like greed. Not necessarily desire for wealth, but maybe desire for greater social status. We are after all the only animals acutely aware of where we stand in relation to society's expectations. Also unlike animals, these expectations change all the time from generation to generation causing lots of confusion and anxiety. I think it's the people who get jerked around by their own programming, religious or otherwise, that we have to watch out for.

 

[30ashopper]

I have to disagree with what makes men evil. Most animals don't kill members of their own species just for fun. They may get in vicious fights over food, sex and territory, but they usually allow an opportunity for retreat. Man gets very creative about his evil ways. It's got to have something to do with his higher intelligence and ability to think, plan etc. . Some sort of social programming lies at the root of it. It may very well have to do with something like greed. Not necessarily desire for wealth, but maybe desire for greater social status. We are after all the only animals acutely aware of where we stand in relation to society's expectations. Also unlike animals, these expectations change all the time from generation to generation causing lots of confusion and anxiety. I think it's the people who get jerked around by their own programming, religious or otherwise, that we have to watch out for.

Chimpanzees are known to attack and kill neighboring clans for no reason, even when resources are plentiful, often in very cunning and brutal ways. They also kill for greater social standing within their own groups. These traits are more basic the farther down the evolutionary line you go, but they are still present.

 

[LuciferSam]

Chimpanzees are known to attack and kill neighboring clans for no reason, even when resources are plentiful, often in very cunning and brutal ways. They also kill for greater social standing within their own groups. These traits are more basic the farther down the evolutionary line you go, but they are still present.

I did look into that book Demonic Males you mentioned. Chimps seem to be about the only really notable exception, although even among them it's not universal and constant by any stretch. Maybe they are more sophisticated than we realize. I wonder if any of them realize the certainty of their own death like we do. Probably not because they haven't started religions (yet). I for one refuse to buy salvation from someone who would rip my nuts off with his bare hands while eating my face.