RE: The Evolution of @son-of-satire - Part One
s it possible to be both a good person, and a good citizen?
the two go hand in hand.
unless you move out way in the boonies all by yourself, you are part of some society. as soon as you drag a mate out there to be with you, you are part of a society.
If you are convinced that the material world is the work of Satan (see the Yazidi for a culture that does believe this), then none of my argumentation that follows will apply.
There is objective good, and there is objective evil. In my view, it doesn't matter whether g*d gave us free will or whether the Big Bang was just an act of chaos.
In any situation, we have a duty to be good. Most of us look past that for survival, or for a burst of dopamine. Some of us willingly engage in evil.
In my view, the ultimate power is good. does that mean that force hugs babies, lights stinky incense, holds hands, and sings kumbiayah? no. does that force create a arden of Eden for us to enjoy w/o personal effort? no
that power expects US to take the responsibility of being good; of understanding good and evil, of accepting duty, and of acting upon it
god gave us eyes to see
...a heart to feel
...a brain to judge
...and hands to fix things
I hope that gives a different perspective, and maybe some hope
Then back in WWII, being a good person was also being a good German Nazi?
a good citizen of Germany would have assassinated Nazis choosing their targets based on each Nazi's value to the national socialist movement.
The Germans had good sniper rifles; Hitler should have had the back of his head disappear early on.
The German people are not a good example of evil incarnate, either. Most people aren't good, taking easy excuses to NOT learn and to NOT fulfill their duty