Читать книгу The Doctrine of Presence - Benjamin Vance - Страница 3

Do you know what evil is or what its signs are? Have you beheld its face? Do you believe all humans have an equal chance from birth to be good or bad and are basically the same; sinless or evil? If you do, sooner or later you’re in for a rude awakening.

Yeah, that classic phrase, “People are basically alike the world over”, is pure bosh. I assume myself as an example, because born and raised in the Southwest, I cannot bear to see a tree die needlessly or an animal suffer from thirst, heat or hunger; even temporarily. I know the reality; I know the pain!

These sentiments don’t seem to be on the scope of those people who live in verdant areas and have an arrogant condescension for the earth and its priceless life. I suppose that’s one reason why so many novices get stranded in our deserts and simply die there every year. They die in places that I don’t even classify as desert. As for my preference, you can have the cold places. Cold hurts my old wounds.

It could be that I over embellish. Some people say I simply can’t stand the psychological prison of incessantly pressing forests. I say given all worldly options, I would rather be able to see fifty miles in every direction, have my mornings cool, dry, filled with bird songs; my days warm and nights lit by moon and Milky Way. Some people actually enjoy New York … see what I mean?

Still … during quiet moments of faith and reflection, I wonder when, how or if … we can be redeemed for our commissions, omissions or misdirected deeds. Perhaps for some, their answer exists in the way they transition from young bloodlust to a more mature … life-respecting pathway. Perhaps … but then how does one account for the resolute lack of conscience when one puts a bullet in a poacher?

Have you ever seen evil simply collapse into a gangly pile of useless flesh when a bullet goes through its body exceeding the speed of sound, and have you gazed coldly upon its profane face? In certain instances and in the long term, it can be mentally and spiritually fulfilling. At least that’s the consensus among a number of surviving associates of mine; redeemed or not!