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the god and the beast - 5/7/2008 9:45:08 AM

LadyEllen

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One of my many musings on the subject of human nature in terms of psychology and sociology, religion and politics.

I found I could divide human characteristics into two groups - the god (representing our more civilised side) and the beast (representing our more natural side).

Under the god heading, I had;
Cooperation, Liberality, Freedom, Equality, Rights For All, "All For One And One For All", Individualisation of Identity, Variety of Identity, Loyalty to Civilisation and Freedom

Under the beast heading, I had;
Competition, Hierarchy, Discipline, "Might Makes Right", Rights For the Powerful, "Every Man For Himself", Common Group Identity, Invalidity Of Others, Us vs Them, Loyalty To Group and Hierarchy

The god seemed to be represented by more left wing, progressive types and the beast by the more right wing, conservative types. But what was interesting too, was that characteristics from either set could be found and had been employed by both ends of the political spectrum.

Interesting too, that the god cannot survive and flourish in the absence of the beast to provide a safe place for its characteristics - and that the beast without the god tends to dispossess and disenfranchise all but those at the top of its pecking order.

E

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RE: the god and the beast - 5/7/2008 9:46:12 AM

LuckyAlbatross

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Is this just Freud with synonyms?

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RE: the god and the beast - 5/7/2008 9:47:29 AM

LadyEllen

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Make of it what you will LA!

But there is a point to its seeming pointlessness....!

E

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RE: the god and the beast - 5/7/2008 10:05:14 AM

Gwynvyd

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There can be no light with out the dark for it to shine in. One mans heaven is another mans hell. I am very progressive socialy, but decently conservitive in other ways. *shrugs* I throw people off from both sides of the isle. I make a better republican then the one I currently live with if you went by check lists. LOL But I could never call myself one. Thier social stance just sucks eggs.

Gwyn

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RE: the god and the beast - 5/7/2008 10:07:53 AM

kdsub

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Hi LadyEllen

I think your groups are ok but your types are way off...in fact i don't think you can assign a majority of left or right to either one.

Perhaps more to the point is how the god side uses the beast side to dictate their morality.

Butch

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RE: the god and the beast - 5/7/2008 10:14:46 AM

Irishknight

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I would have to say that my lists would look a bit different. To me, discipline and its associate, self discipline (which you left out) would be on the God side. These are two of the things that seperate us from animals. We say that "This behavior is unacceptable," and most of us have the self discipline to live by that. Then we have the courage to discipline those who don't. Without discipline, murderers would walk free with no consequences ... ever.

As for one without the other, look to the yin and yang symbol. They are seperate but contain a bit of the other in them. It as at the same time a simpleconcept and the most complicated. it is a mirror for life.

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RE: the god and the beast - 5/7/2008 11:27:18 AM

OrionTheWolf

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I recommend you read some of Carl Jung's stuff and understand archtypes that he used. Then you will understand why you use representation to list your virtues/morals and what you consider sins or vices. Man has been doing this since the creation of the first worshipped entity. Just reflections of Man's archtypes, and to examine it many have to think external to themselves.

I do not agree with everything you have in the two categories, because people have different definitions of those words and how they are applied.

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RE: the god and the beast - 5/7/2008 11:41:15 AM

Zensee

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Interesting thesis LE though, as you will have noticed, many of the attributes you have assigned are more complex or share more meanings than you perhaps anticipated.

Basically we do live at the mercy of contradictory qualities in our nature, qualities which manifest themselves as dualities (solitary vs social - authoritarian vs democratic - feminine vs masculine - form vs content....). And as you observe, each is complimentary. The solitary genius requires the dull soil of society in which to grow and plant the seeds of change and the stiflingly resistive force of society needs the regular, if disruptive inspiration of radicals.

Even in highly regimented social animals like bees this is true. A certain small but consistent percentage do not follow the herd and these radical bees open up new possibilities for the hive, finding new nesting places, new food sources, identifying threats and so forth.

Z.

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