Furiously Enraged

Indeed, I myself was convinced that I ought to do many things against . . . 

 - From Acts 26

Ways to get normally centered/balanced people beside themselves in anger:

1) Suggest that we all try to become kinder towards, and accepting of, others. Utter Kindness.

That sounds okay, right? But what if you mean all others? As in . . . people with different opinions? What if it refers to people with different values? What if it means - - - be kinder to people that vote different than you do?

What if your acts of kindness mean: thinking so deferentially towards other people, that you are willing to entertain the idea that they may have information, or a perspective, that you are lacking? 

Do I really have to be open to Liberals? To Conservatives? To Bernie supporters? To Trump followers?

This is where people do more than draw the line. Despite their uplifting words about WWJD, etc, they think and act in ways that are decidedly hateful. Should we egg each other on, on-line? Should we stir the pot? Should we open up old wounds? Is it really smart to keep sharing articles, over and over again, that will "help" others understand how they should behave, or think, differently?

I was carrying on a rather respectful dialogue with a guy on-line recently. I think he is a Never-Trump Conservative. My point was, consistently, that we have to give some deference to people that vote differently. It's none of our business why they think differently. They are humans worthy of dignity and respect, and we should treat others accordingly, without qualification. This went back and forth, until finally he erupted in a barrage of vulgar invective against me. And all I did was suggest we be kind to each other. 

2) Take a good value that others are expressing, but nudge it a couple of levels further out, beyond their own definition of virtue. Utter Self-Control.

An interesting thing is how the great reform movements throughout history, always come back to issues raised by The Church, centuries before. Slavery is one example. And now, the "Me Too" movement is acting like it invented proper behavior between the sexes. I personally articulated such values for years, and for most of my life the people most likely to mock me for that, today are participating in "Me Too" events. 

Respect women. Absolutely. But take it one step further, and suggest people observe The Feast of St Agnes of Rome (January 21 - I'll leave it to the reader to research the background). What happens if we call on men to treat women as though they are equals . . . while simultaneously holding up as our example, history's model of chastity and virtue (self control)?

Well, on-line, the result is digital "crickets". Men of virtue absolutely control themselves, because they admire most, women that control themselves. Okay, I have just suggested "self-control" in the context of sexuality . . . which is fighting words in modern on-line debates. 

Suggest people be kind. Really kind. Suggest they be sexually proper . . . really proper; and you will get, not agreement, but anger.

Why?

Before Saul became The Apostle Paul, he was convinced he was doing the right thing. He was a religious guy. Of course, he believed in self-control. He had studied the Law and the Prophets. He knew about kindness and charity. He did all those things. 

By choosing to practice utter kindness, and utter self-control, these Christians, who agreed but preferred to ratchet up their values, a couple notches higher, frustrated and vexed Paul and his cohorts, desperately.

So much so . . . that he became "furiously enraged."

I don't get it, but I recognize it. I know that I have been subject to it before. 

Utter kindness. Utter self-control. 

It drives intelligent, successful, and respected people crazy.

And they know better.