I believe that partly an ideal world is impossible because we believe that it is impossible. As long as we keep believing that, it will continue to be true. It's a form of mass formation psychosis: a groupthink that "we can't have that."
When we begin to believe that it is possible, then we will see that it is.
I'm sorry but the next question is so logical: why do we believe it is impossible? And if we magically start believing otherwise what do we do to make it possible? Wouldn't other processes start interfering with that path to perfection?
One of the first steps to recovery for any addict is to admit there's a problem. Then work on it from that base, be it in the context of some AA meetings or personal strength. But the recognition is the first step. If humans recognize first that they are fundamentally flawed then there's a path for improvement. Maybe even for a complete recovery but that would require everyone to be on board.
And we know that's never the case. There's always a significant bunch that thinks they know The Way. They themselves are perfect and if only everyone followed them...
In the first place, it's defeatist to say that we "magically" start believing otherwise. Ask yourself this: how did we magically start believing that this is the way things have to be?
Or ask yourself "How did other great changes in human history come about, and how did people's thinking magically start to change about it?"
Actually, there are always a few voices saying that this change is possible, but we don't listen to them. When do we open our ears and start to create that change?
Think about the American Revolution or the Civil Rights Movement: when did people magically change their thinking to believe that these major shifts in the way things had always been done could be changed?
And another part of the problem is that people DO "admit that they are fundamentally flawed," and I blame Christian thinking for this.
Most major religions are all about control, and the Christian religion has used the idea that "humans are fundamentally flawed" (think of Original Sin!) to maintain a control of fear. Other religions, such as Buddhism, don't start with that premise.
Of course people who have been brainwashed into believing that they are fundamentally flawed will think that anything they try to do will fail.
Maybe it's about time that we think a little more highly of ourselves. And this doesn't mean that we get to go to the other extreme and think that we are "perfect"!
Then we don't disagree. Where we don't agree is that I think an ideal world is impossible. And in that case the question is why.
I believe that partly an ideal world is impossible because we believe that it is impossible. As long as we keep believing that, it will continue to be true. It's a form of mass formation psychosis: a groupthink that "we can't have that."
When we begin to believe that it is possible, then we will see that it is.
I'm sorry but the next question is so logical: why do we believe it is impossible? And if we magically start believing otherwise what do we do to make it possible? Wouldn't other processes start interfering with that path to perfection?
One of the first steps to recovery for any addict is to admit there's a problem. Then work on it from that base, be it in the context of some AA meetings or personal strength. But the recognition is the first step. If humans recognize first that they are fundamentally flawed then there's a path for improvement. Maybe even for a complete recovery but that would require everyone to be on board.
And we know that's never the case. There's always a significant bunch that thinks they know The Way. They themselves are perfect and if only everyone followed them...
In the first place, it's defeatist to say that we "magically" start believing otherwise. Ask yourself this: how did we magically start believing that this is the way things have to be?
Or ask yourself "How did other great changes in human history come about, and how did people's thinking magically start to change about it?"
Actually, there are always a few voices saying that this change is possible, but we don't listen to them. When do we open our ears and start to create that change?
Think about the American Revolution or the Civil Rights Movement: when did people magically change their thinking to believe that these major shifts in the way things had always been done could be changed?
And another part of the problem is that people DO "admit that they are fundamentally flawed," and I blame Christian thinking for this.
Most major religions are all about control, and the Christian religion has used the idea that "humans are fundamentally flawed" (think of Original Sin!) to maintain a control of fear. Other religions, such as Buddhism, don't start with that premise.
Of course people who have been brainwashed into believing that they are fundamentally flawed will think that anything they try to do will fail.
Maybe it's about time that we think a little more highly of ourselves. And this doesn't mean that we get to go to the other extreme and think that we are "perfect"!