Re: Intentions

Dale Emery wrote:

>I believe that every behavior comes from positive intentions, and 
>that dysfunctional behaviors come not from bad intentions, but 
>from dysfunctional beliefs about how to achieve positive intentions.
>  
>
This reminds of some writings by C.S. Lewis where he discusses what in 
previous eras was called the "Law of (Human) Nature".

    This law was called the Law of Nature because people thought that
    every one knew it by nature ... . They did not mean, of course, that
    you might not find an odd individual here and there who did not know
    it ... [rather,] taking the race as a whole.

    I know that some people say the idea of a Law of Nature or decent
    behaviour known to all men is unsound, because different
    civilisations and different ages have had quite different moralities.

    But this is not true. There have been differences between their
    moralties, but these have never amounted to anything like a total
    difference. ... I need only ask the reader to think what a totally
    different morality would mean. Think of a country where people were
    admired for running away in battle, or where a man felt proud of
    double-crossing all the people who had been kindest to him.

    -- from Mere Christianity, Book I, Ch. 1

We may think of something like the mafia or a street gang as an 
exception to Lewis' example on double-crossing. But even within these 
circles, while disloyalty between rivals (or even members) may be sought 
and praised, it is only a means to the end of loyalty within the chosen 
few. Disloyalty in itself is not the ultimate end.

So I agree with Dale -- every core intention at its very root is pure, 
even if it is quickly (and sometimes violently) corrupted.

As Lewis illustrates, no one pursues hatred or deceit or cowardice in 
and of themselves. They are servants of a broken heart trying to meet 
pure needs.

-- 
Chris
http://clabs.org/blogki




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