By
demonize I don’t mean to find someone a devil. I mean rather that
we see the devil as the ultimate source of the person’s actions or
beliefs. Why is this approach the kind thing to do rather than to
place the blame entirely on the person? For example, I could say
something like the following to someone I strongly disagree with
regarding an issue:
“You
are dead wrong here. You are totally blind as to the underlying
issues. This is because you simply don’t have the equipment to see
the truth. Your father and mother passed along to you damaged
Neanderthal genes. You cannot and will never see the truth because
of your innate deficiencies. In a real sense I cannot respect you as
a full human being.”
Now
compare this to the following:
“You
are dead wrong here. You are totally blind to the underlying issues.
There is a real sense in which you are not to blame because the
Great Adversary Satan has deceived you. You have all the necessary
facilities to see the truth. I will always have deepest regard for
you as a human being with full intellectual competencies and look
forward to the day that the devil is defeated and your vision
clears.”
In
this light, if I were the person being confronted, I would much
prefer the respect of the one over the disrespect of the other
treating me, as he does, as his innate inferior. I came to this
realization today when a neighbor and friend came by for a visit.
Negille is a Jehovah Witness who has graciously instructed me
(sometimes with his wife Veronica) on the views and faith of the
Jehovah Witness. Today I told him that all of us have a lot to learn
from Jehovah Witnesses for they are often the recipients of great
opprobrium, yet continue to serve with politeness and grace never, so
far as I know, getting into bitter arguments during their witnessing.
I am just the opposite when I find disagreement with others.
Frequently the conversation degenerates from discussion, to debate,
to outright bitter charge and countercharge as loaded bombs are
thrown back and forth. I never find this with the Jehovah Witnesses
(though I disagree with them on some matters—for example
nonparticipation in politics), and I asked Negille why this is so.
He said it was because he never sees an individual as an adversary or
enemy, rather the enemy is the Great Adversary, Satan himself. Thus,
he has no reason to disrespect or hate anyone—even those
vociferously unkind to him.
It
is in this light that I strongly recommend we take up the
Jehovah Witness view of public discourse when profound differences
persist.
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