I don’t expect this discussion to be finished tonight, not even this week.
For background, I just watched it for the first time all the way to the end. It took courage for me because I don’t like the battle scenes, blood and gore.
But I did see so many correlations to our forefathers fighting the American Revolution, and even the Civil War.
I’m left with William Wallace’s war cry …”FREEDOM”!
So what does that really mean?
Freedom to chose a product on Amazon that is most likely made outside America, or freedom to express yourself as an individual without persecution? Or freedom from anyone telling you that you must follow their lead so you can “win”…
There are so many thoughts to reflect on from watching this movie.
I would like others who have seen the movie to give their thoughts.
I am having such a hard time really , because I want to consider myself a human companion on this earth to other humans, no matter their ideology. But I am understanding I must first consider my own preservation.
To me, that is a family unit and a faith in God. But if I want to I understand and accept others for their beliefs, how do you reconcile that with your own, without conflict?
...you can't...
...but you have noble intentions....
🙏
...hold the line Lassie....
Thank you Ashland :-) I am truly going through some existential thoughts.
I'm going to disagree with tren ashlanddog here -- who says "you can't" -- but perhaps that depends on the definition of "reconcile" -- which actually has several definitions . . . here are two:
Viewpoint and causality must be taken into account for evil behavior to be understood. That doesn't mean evil and virtue can be reconciled in the sense that they can or should "coexist in harmony" -- virtue should NOT coexist in harmony with evil, although it certainly is not possible to overcome every evil in the world and one must cease trying at least some of the time to have a healthy life.
But understanding the causes of evil -- seeing that harmful actions and attitudes are consistent with human nature, given certain harmful prior experiences or events -- teaches us what, other than punishment, we can do to reduce evil in the future; what we might do to turn people acting in evil ways back to less harmful behavior, and when it makes sense to shutter our compassion and do what is necessary to destroy, if necessary, those who are destroying the lives of others.
This begins a much longer discussion than we have room for here, but I'll say that Jesus' teachings on the nature and treatment of children -- in particular, on not offending them -- plus an understanding of sociopathy (being walled off to some extent from one's soul, due to early trauma) and psychopathy (being physically cut off to some extent from one's soul, due to brain deficit, mostly in the prefrontal cortex) -- are, together, an excellent start on the topic.
The outmost you can do is ask.
What is it that you belief and how does it work for you? It is not in the belief section we find common ground, but in real life.
No matter what background, walk of life or religion: Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness are inalienable.
The problem arises when these are no longer honored.