What is greed??

[lerxst]

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.

In observing the behavior of young children, it's obvous that before they are able to be "programmed" into behavioral discipline or "religious programming" of any sort or even comprehend these concepts, they have a propensity to
(as an example) steal and cover up for it. These traits are hardly the result of "social programming".. You can't blame that on religion, quite a stretch.

 

[LuciferSam]

In observing the behavior of young children, it's obvous that before they are able to be "programmed" into behavioral discipline or "religious programming" of any sort or even comprehend these concepts, they have a propensity to
(as an example) steal and cover up for it. These traits are hardly the result of "social programming".. You can't blame that on religion, quite a stretch.

Well then if they are covering it up, then they know it is wrong. If they know it is wrong without anybody telling them it's wrong, that gives evidence that a sense of right and wrong (i.e. morality) is innate.

 

[Miss Critter]

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.

I believe it all comes back to the ego, which Eckhart Tolle eloquently and precisely outlines in his book A New Earth. Recognizing the ego for what it is helps in the definition of greed and any other "deadly sin." We all know or know of wealthy people who enjoy their wealth as well as those who are miserable. I don't believe you have to live a monastic life to be happy (wool makes me itch ), but I do believe as I think Mango pointed out earlier, that one's happiness or lack thereof is directly related to one's attachment to "things." Owning and enjoying "things" is fine; after all, we are physical as well as spiritual beings. But "things" in and of themselves will never make us happy. Yes, they can make like much easier, offer a sense of beauty and contribute greatly to our comfort. But ultimately will not make us happy. As the old saying goes, happiness is an inside job. To me this is what the bible verse about it being easier for the camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to get into heaven. If heaven is a state of being, which I believe it is, we must lose all attachment to stuff to reach that state. Notice I did not say, we must lose the stuff, but our attachment to it. It's truly a fine line, and a difficult one to walk. As added proof that money does not buy happiness, read Richistan, by Wall Street Journal columnist Robert Frank. His interviews with the mega-rich led him to believe that the altruistic were the only happy ones in group. It is of note that so many "Richistanis," when asked if they have enough money, say "no". If they have $20 million, they think you need $40 million. Personally, I find that sad.

 

[LuciferSam]

. His interviews with the mega-rich led him to believe that the altruistic were the only happy ones in group. It is of note that so many "Richistanis," when asked if they have enough money, say "no". If they have $20 million, they think you need $40 million. Personally, I find that sad.

The book "Status Anxiety" by Alain De Botten talks about this.

 

[AAbsolute]

Greed is Yahoo's Jerry Yang not accepting Microsoft's bid of $44,600,000,000, AKA $31 per share for Yahoo. This morning, 9 months later Yahoo is worth $14,740,000,000. Nice job losing your shareholders $30,000,000,000 AKA $111,000,000 a day this year.

 

[poppy]

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 don't blame religion for the evils of man, just for some of the evils. Guns don't kill people but it sure makes it a hell of a lot easier just like religion makes it easier to kill.

Let's say I'm facing two groups of people wanting to kill me and one group is carrying guns and the other Bibles (or substitute any religious text). I will have less of a chance to survive against the Bible group because they believe they are doing God's will.
Now if they have guns and Bibles God help me.

 

[30ashopper]

If you eliminate religion completely, do you think that would also eliminate the people who use religion for positive purposes? For example, if you eliminated religion wouldn't you also eliminate people like Mother Teresa and Gandhi?

 

[mossyhead]

I don't blame religion for the evils of man, just for some of the evils. Guns don't kill people but it sure makes it a hell of a lot easier just like religion makes it easier to kill.

Let's say I'm facing two groups of people wanting to kill me and one group is carrying guns and the other Bibles (or substitute any religious text). I will have less of a chance to survive against the Bible group because they believe they are doing God's will.
Now if they have guns and Bibles God help me.

I'd like to know what you do that a religious person would think it was God's will to murder you?

I bet you are for abortion on demand also.

 

[AAbsolute]

I'd like to know what you do that a religious person would think it was God's will to murder you?

I bet you are for abortion on demand also.

There'd be know Jihad, Fatwas for death, etc. without the Islam faith. That's easy for ignorant Americans to condemn.

What I want to know from the Christians amongst us is how do the Crusades, seige of Jerusalem or the various witch trials fit in with the Bible? Our modern Christianity is the offspring of these and other true horrors.

 

[lerxst]

There'd be know Jihad, Fatwas for death, etc. without the Islam faith. That's easy for ignorant Americans to condemn.

What I want to know from the Christians amongst us is how do the Crusades, seige of Jerusalem or the various witch trials fit in with the Bible? Our modern Christianity is the offspring of these and other true horrors.

they don't fit in with the Bible that's how...
and no...these perversions were the offspring of Christianity.
Remember the FLDS offshoot a few months ago that mysteriously disappeared from the news? Same thing.