If all men are created equal aren’t we all just as fundamentally good?

1. 64

   Longmireposted 8 years ago

   If all men are created equal aren’t we all just as fundamentally good?

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2. 60

   Diego Esperanteposted 8 years ago

   I´d say so, yes.
   I believe if you spoke to a specialist on the matter, they would tell you something that I agree with a lot: everyone is born good, but the circumstances they are exposed to are what changes a person. I really doubt, just to put an example, a Muslim bomber was born with the desire to kill a given number of people just because.
   Of course, this is questionable. There is no denying that even if children are exposed to a perfectly healthy environment, they might not turn out to be "good", yet if good is a type of standard that is somewhat given by society, there is no doubt in my mind that each and everyone of us, for some reason or another, have this almost intrinsic instinct (call it conscience, if you will) to know what is good and what is bad.
   That some people choose not to listen to this instinct and decide to instead follow the more primitive the more uncivilized paths are another story. This is what I believe.
   My regards, Longmire.

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3. 48

   Ericdierkerposted 8 years ago

   Indeed I think that we are just fundamentally good and it takes outside influence to give us bad traits. But I do not believe we are all created equal. That would be like saying an apple and an orange are equal. They are too different to make that case.
   With that said I believe we can and should all be equal in the eyes of the law. And that we are all equal in the eyes of our creator. However does a father love his 4 children equally in the sense of sameness, or does he love them differently and not comparatively?
   Well I think we can find one constant in all but the sickest of humans. That constant is that we all love in some way. So we are born equal in the capacity to love but we all nurture that differently and become unequal as life passes by.

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4. 74

   manatita44posted 8 years ago

   The Soul is part and parcel of the Divine and as such pure. However, it can be covered up and is very often covered up by Ignorance. So we are all fundamentally good in the sense that we are the Soul, the pure spark from God that gives us life.
   
   Still, this equality of which you speak is a greater problem. When the God-man enters the earth arena, many listen but few have the fire or receptivity to accept, and so He chooses only a few known as Disciples. Why doesn't He choose us all if we are all equal?
   
   Each Soul has the same potential, but again, we are all at different stages. The Seeker or Disciple is like us, yes, but he/she has travelled the road, has his/her experiences, and is much further along the journey.
   
   Can I do what St Francis or St Theresa of Avila did? No! But I have the potential! I just need to work on it. But you know something, God will choose them first, not because He is unfair, but because they will be of greater service to His mission. Hope this helps.

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5. 60

   Blessed Hillposted 8 years ago

   That's an interesting question for sure. Firstly, from what standpoint are you making the statement that all men are created equal. Certainly not in the area of abilities, talents, giftings and social and economic status. We are all equal in the right to life and free will, whether society allows that or not. In Gods eyes I believe we are all equal in regards to access to His grace and love, but we are not all equal in reward and responsibilities. Have a read what Jesus says in the parable of the servants and the talents. What God might ask me to do will most likely be way outside of your ability to perform and vice versa. But the reward would be a just reward in relation to the responsibility.
   By saying all men are equal may, if taken to the extreme, breed thoughts of communism. The whole idea of taking from one to give to the other because all should be equal. Just because we should TREAT all people as equal doesn't mean we should MAKE all people equal. That kind of thinking negates love in action towards our fellow man. I'm not just talking about financial charity, but charity in all forms. Good deeds if you will.
   Secondly, what is fundamentally good? How is that measured? Maybe a baby is fundamentally good, but it hasn't done anything yet to qualify it as such. Maybe a 90 year old inventor who has revolutionised the technological age, someone like Thomas Edison. But that's only taking his achievements into account. How about how he treated his wife and kids, was he an alcoholic? Did he give honour where honour was due everytime.
   So in my opinion I don't think we are all created equal but rather all people are created with a purpose they need to discover and fulfill. And I don't think we are all fundamentally good either but rather fundamentally flawed in need of help. I will leave these thoughts with you from the Master Jesus.
   Now behold, one came and said to Him, “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?” So He said to him, “Why do you call Me good?  No one is  good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.”
   Matthew 19:16‭-‬17

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