Deception and hate are two topics I don't often think about but they really impact our character. Thurman points out that we should live out lives of sincerity like Jesus did, even in times of survival, because we are always in God's presence and we cannot hide who we are from Him. I cannot hide who I am from God so why should I try to deceive the people around me about who I am?
Thurman also brings up the point that anger can be used as a cover for our moral debasement. It becomes a tool to protect against one's "finer set of values". One might say something in anger or righteous indignation that they would normally not say to someone, and it becomes an easy excuse for saying something out of bitterness and hatred. This idea seems to ring true, as did the idea that "hatred cannot be controlled once it is set in motion" (Thurman, 87). It becomes all consuming and everything else is swallowed up. All goodness, creativity, and the spirit are quenched. Thurman encourages me to live a life of love and not let the ball of hatred start rolling. It seems to sneak to up on us sometimes, but Thurman's mapping out of the steps toward hatred was a good reminder of what leads one down that path. I hope to live a life of fellowship that is beyond contact, and then hopefully I will be on my way to understanding people with a truly empathetic heart and acting out in goodwill.
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I haven't gotten to the chapter on Hate yet, but it sounds solid. I can totally see where it becomes very easy to count something as a 'righteous' anger when really it is out of bitterness and hate. It seems that much of this anger is what divides the Church and will probably continue until there is forgiveness and reconciliation.
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