"In the mind's eye conjure up a picture of one of your primitive ancestors of cave-dwelling times--a short, misshapen, filthy, snarling hulk of a man standing, legs spread, club upraised, breathing hate and animosity as he looks fiercely just ahead. Such a picture hardly depicts the divine dignity of man. But allow us to enlarge the picture. In front of this animated human crouches a saber-toothed tiger. Behind him, a woman and two children. Immediately you recognize that such a picture stands for the beginnings of much that is fine and noble in the human race, but the man is the same in both pictures. Only in the second sketch you are favored with a widened horizon. You therein discern the motivation of this evolving mortal. His attitude becomes praiseworthy because you understand him. If you could only fathom the motives of your associates, how much better you would understand them. If you could only know your fellows, you would eventually fall in love with them."
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2007-09-18 02:49:36 · 11 answers · asked by ? 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Sniff, sounds like my husband
2007-09-18 02:55:12 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
And..... God created man in His own image! LOL...maybe I'm not understanding this question. If this nasty, snarling filthy caveman were let's say, one of our ancestors according to evolution then one must have the concept where the hatred and aggressiveness in us humans comes from. It's an animal instinct since these cavemen were of the primitive race and had no knowledge what peace meant. Now through the ages the concept of man's image changes and with the physical change comes the behavioral change. The behavioral change enters the human ability since man and his brain has become more knowledgeable. With more knowledge comes the concept of peaceful relations towards another. With the concept of knowledge then one can say they have widened the horizon for human emotions and the concept of 'love' towards another human being and understand the motives of others. Have a great day!
2007-09-18 13:19:00 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I don't think they found evidence of much cave dwelling. After all, how many caves are there, unless caves devolved also. I rather think people were more innocent at that time and we have only devolved, pun intended. If we could, and we can, get back to our innocence we could start evolving in the right direction again, except a change of mind makes that a rather quick process. It takes about a second to change your mind.
As far as ego being stronger than altruism or fear stronger than love, That depends on us. I still believe altruism/love is stronger. It's not that uncommon, we have a lot of examples down through history. That love is stronger is just an example of truth being stranger than fiction and people not being careful observers, listeners or readers.
2007-09-18 23:57:40 · answer #3 · answered by hb12 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hey, why would I hate him in the first place? Cavemen were primitive. They wouldn't "breathe hate and animosity" because
1. They kind of were animals...they were primitive and hadn't evolved into humans yet, and
2. Humans didn't even have wars until they figured out how to domesticate animals and plants.
But yeah, I guess I agree with the general idea.
2007-09-18 11:32:25 · answer #4 · answered by kelsii 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well put. But, until humans are offered a 'more profitable' reason (than falling in love with their enemies!) for disengaging from the defensive ego's attachment - to projecting its defects on to others - we are not likely to see much progress. Just for the sake of peace and pure altruism? Not likely. And, not even for the sake of the ego FEELING altruistically pious. It is ALWAYS fleeting. At present karma appears humanity's only mode of spiritual evolution. Faith only leads one 'down the garden path' to greater destructiveness.
2007-09-18 11:31:55 · answer #5 · answered by MysticMaze 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
So hard for people to believe that, that is exactly why God loves us all. He sees and understands our hearts and why we have done what we have done in the past and still loves us.
2007-09-18 12:12:56 · answer #6 · answered by Connie D 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
And your point is? Apart that the caveman needs a bath.
2007-09-18 10:04:08 · answer #7 · answered by didi 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree with Allen T.
2007-09-18 11:01:25 · answer #8 · answered by Isabella 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Pretty much sounds like "evolution" to me.
2007-09-21 13:05:34 · answer #9 · answered by Cindy Roo 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We could all take a wider view.
2007-09-18 10:23:39 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋