A modest proposal: respect

The true marks of holiness include humility, charity, and faith. There is also a mark called respect, respect for enemies, respect for sinners, respect for victim and oppressor. Unlike the attribute tolerance, which is perverted by this society far beyond it's use and ability, respect requires associating with the other not separating from the other.

Let's look at this from another aspect, humans are necessarily community beings. Even so called loners and hermits have interaction with the other. From the evolutionary perspective we have been designed for communication, from our brains which seem designed for languages to our tendency to create complex infrastructures for social development. Toleration isolates us, respect unites us. From this we can see that for any civilization to truly work requires respect to be permeated throughout the culture.

A respectful person is polite, caring, and honest. A respectful person would seek to understand differences. A respectful person does not push someone to make a decision, but encourages someone to “smell the roses” and offers to help. A respectful person may be offended, but if such a person is offended there would be a charitable response. How many respectful people do you know? Does your culture actively encourage such people to exist?

God bless,

>P<

Joshua Fahey