How could envy be good.?

Question

I need to clarify to aviod miss-understanding.
The emotion that we feel when we feel envy is an emotion that drives us to get what other people posess.
In my case, I feel the same emotion but not to gain what other people have; but to ensure that there is justice and good-will.
That same feeling has also been felt with envy; I do not know how.
It has had the ability in one person to save 150,000 lives!
This is varient of this emotion effects me too.
This blog shows you are about this feeling I have and I have saved some lives to because of it....
http://sabretoothiscool.blogspot.com/
What is your virdict on this phenomena?

Wolf

Answer 1

Envy could never be good, it's a yucky feeling and we are supposed to try to be content with what we have, not being jealous of what others have, give me a break.

Answer 2

Krister Stendahl is the Lutheran Bishop of Stockholm and former Dean of Harvard Divinity School. He mentioned a HOLY ENVY among the ways someone should view another religion:

1. If you want to learn about a religious faith, don't go to its enemies, go to its adherents.

2. The second one was if you're going to compare your faith to somebody else's faith, don't compare your best with their worst. It's not fair to say for example, 'Well we Christians have Mother Teresa and you have Osama bin Laden.' That's not quite fair.

3. Always leave room for what he called holy envy.

"The real trick [to religious understanding] is what I call ‘Holy Envy. There is something in the other that is beautiful, that even tells you something about God. But it ain't yours; it's different.... We are different, and we should celebrate that diversity.

Answer 3

Maybe the feeling you feel is the "opposite" of envy. Many things/situations/thoughts can be used for good or bad. Could the feeling you have be described as "passion"?
- - you have a passion for justice and good-will - -??
I suppose "passion" in this sense could be the other side of the coin to "envy". Or some other positive emotion could be it.

Answer 4

envy can be a good thing when you strive to acheive what is is youre envious of. say an artist is envious of another artist for that artist is more skilled. the less talented artist will be puched forward to become better than the rival.

in a nutshell, thats about it.

(honestly i think this is the best answer so far since i didnt just say "ooh envy is bad" i actually answered the question.)

Answer 5

Envy is truly a weakness. The signs of being true to ones self, are independence, maturity, believing in yourself, not being selfish, sharing love and strenght with your fellow man, lending a hand when someone else is down and out. Finding inner peace within yourself. Sharing knowledge and wisdom.

Answer 6

Envy can be used for both good and bad. Bad that ends up hurting others or making you look like a fool...good when it makes you reflect on your own life, helps you figure out what you want out of life, and motivates you to pursue these goals.

Answer 7

Hmm.. I read your blog and I really don't understand why you call what you are feeling "envy", since you said yourself that envy is when we want what others have.

Perhaps what you are feeling isn't envy, but some other emotion? :\

Answer 8

Envy is a horrible state and word and is never good in any form

Answer 9

it helped you to challenge yourself in achieving whatever you never acquired.

Answer 10

you are right.