Dear People Whom God Loves,
SEVENTEEN STAGES OF EVIL-II
(See the 17 stages as listed in the June 27th letter)
When I look at the first five stages, I see value and dangers. I think that they are valuable in forming a community. I see danger in not doing them respectfully or in not consulting the people of the community.
I recognize this as an example of the fact that our world is made up of holons. A Holon is an individual whole that is a part of a larger whole made up of the individual wholes. The smaller holon must preserve its individuality This is its duty of autonomy. At the same time, it must work for the welfare of the larger group of which it is a part. This is its duty of communion.
The larger holon must preserve what is necessary to be able to seek the welfare of the group. This is its duty of autonomy. At the same time, it may not crush the individuality of the smaller holons that make it up. This is its duty of communion.
Keeping the proper balance is not easy. We must strive for that balance in our goal and make adjustments as we go along. We are bound to make some mistakes. That is why adjustments and reform are a continual part of the process. Adjustments and reform are also necessary because conditions change.
A familiar example is the larger holon we call the family and the smaller holons that are the individual persons in the family.
The human need we have for power and control is a danger. So is the human need to do whatever we want a danger. In fact we can have both[ tendencies at the same time. It is helpful if we see which tendency is stronger in us. Since we are usually not good at seeing our selves objectively, we need to see how others see us. As we move beyond step five, there is a strong decline in the good that is accomplished and an increasing harm which is done. It is so easy for us to slip into these dangerous steps and tell ourselves that we are doing it for the good of the group. When religion is involved, we easily tell ourselves that we are doing it for God.
I invite us to enter the difficult task of seeing ourselves as we really are. We have such false ideas about what we are truly like. I am in this same struggle as everyone one of you. The more powerful our position is in a group, the more important it is to see ourselves honestly. Also the more powerful our position is, the less likely we are to be honest. We do need the grace of God.
Smile, God Loves You,
Father Clay
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