Tuesday 3 July 2012

Can people high in Psychoticism be good Christians?

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Trick question - the answer is yes, obviously.

But too often the concept of Christianity is one in which Christians are supposed to be kind, concerned with helping others, sensitive, conscientious, dependable, logical, hard-working despite lack of reward (i.e. low in Psychoticism)... such that people who are none of these are sometimes thought to be un-Christian.

http://charltonteaching.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/creativity-and-eysencks-psychoticism.html

However, low-Psychoticism people are conformist and when society is evil, then they conform to evil  and work hard in the propagation of evil for the reason/ with the excuse that to do Good would cause suffering to other people.

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In anti-Christian societies the Christian exemplars may be high-Psychoticism types.

In anti-Christian societies the Christian exemplars (Saints) may be known for their repentance of bad behaviour (which they cannot stop themselves doing) rather than their good behaviour.

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In anti-Christian societies there will be few conscientious and empathic 'ethical Saints' of steadfast altruism; but sanctity may be confined to martyrs (who refuse to go conform, who are indifferent to worldly consequences) and to 'fools for Christ' whose chaotic lives, reckless actions and waspish comments are a satirical commentary on worldly pseudo-Goodness.

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2 comments:

Bruce Charlton said...

COMMENT FROM GYAN:

"Have charity and do what you will.

"You do not mention either charity or love but make do with 'Altruism' almost as if engaging in Randian caricature of Christian position.

"A saint can be anything, rude, holy fool, a scholar, even an altruist or even a submissive person but he can not lack in charity. That would be a contradiction."

[NOTE - I think this comment was intended for this thread, although submitted to the Rowan Williams thread.]

Gyan said...

"when society is evil, then they conform to evil"

Is society an independent agent in its own right or is it the people themselves who by their behavior make their society evil?

The World, along with the Flesh and the Devil is always one of the great source of temptation.