Website owner: James Miller
The desire to harm, a motivation for conduct
I believe that a very large portion of the things that the vast majority of people do every day are motivated by one of the following:
1) Sexual desire (or sexual interest) or desire for some other type of pleasure (food, music, etc.)
2) Greed (desire to extract money from someone) or desire for material things
3) The desire to harm (due to anger, malice, envy, jealousy, dislike, resentment, etc.)
I believe that one or more of the above three play a big part in the behavior and conduct of most people. With regard to greed, the world is filled with ripoff artists who live by plundering others. In regard to the desire to harm, a great many people carry within themselves feelings of dislike, anger, malice, envy, jealousy, resentment, etc. that causes them to not miss any opportunity to do harm to the object of their dislike, whether it is by speaking badly of them or whatever. They gain a pleasure from doing harm to the object of their dislike. They carry a wish to do him bad, and don’t miss an opportunity to do it.
Most people act from feeling, impulse and desire rather than reason. They do according to what gives them pleasure rather than doing what reason or conscience would dictate.
Jesus told us to put away hatred, resentment, envy, jealousy, etc. To get rid of them. To treat all people charitably and well. But few people follow his teachings. Few do it. An important key to personal happiness lies in following the teachings of Jesus in regard to this.
June 2014
Jesus Christ and His Teachings
Way of enlightenment, wisdom, and understanding
America, a corrupt, depraved, shameless country
On integrity and the lack of it
The test of a person's Christianity is what he is
Ninety five percent of the problems that most people have come from personal foolishness
Liberalism, socialism and the modern welfare state
The desire to harm, a motivation for conduct
On Self-sufficient Country Living, Homesteading
Topically Arranged Proverbs, Precepts, Quotations. Common Sayings. Poor Richard's Almanac.
Theory on the Formation of Character
People are like radio tuners --- they pick out and listen to one wavelength and ignore the rest
Cause of Character Traits --- According to Aristotle
We are what we eat --- living under the discipline of a diet
Avoiding problems and trouble in life
Role of habit in formation of character
Personal attributes of the true Christian
What determines a person's character?
Love of God and love of virtue are closely united
Intellectual disparities among people and the power in good habits
Tools of Satan. Tactics and Tricks used by the Devil.
The Natural Way -- The Unnatural Way
Wisdom, Reason and Virtue are closely related
Knowledge is one thing, wisdom is another
My views on Christianity in America
The most important thing in life is understanding
We are all examples --- for good or for bad
Television --- spiritual poison
The Prime Mover that decides "What We Are"
Where do our outlooks, attitudes and values come from?
Sin is serious business. The punishment for it is real. Hell is real.
Self-imposed discipline and regimentation
Achieving happiness in life --- a matter of the right strategies
Self-control, self-restraint, self-discipline basic to so much in life