Hypocrisy

Hypocrisy…. I think it stems from two very basic things:

1. We have an easy time ordering others to do things or to behave in certain ways but not such an easy time doing those same things ourselves which then results in visible hypocrisy.

2. Our own greed for material things and for laxness in behavior gets in the way of our own professed morality and ethics… and that creates inner hypocrisy.

It is an easy thing to say one thing and do another because so often justifying hypocritical behavior is easy since we explain it away by saying we “need” this or that.

And many people I think have no idea that hypocrisy exists within themselves. And this is a very complex issue.

So, what do you think?

Hypocrisy - Flickr LeftInAlabama

"The books that the world calls immoral are books that show the world its own shame." - Oscar Wilde

What do you think about religion and political hypocrisy?

Another thought of wondering if religion is natural or man-made to manipulate masses?

Does it bring positive influence and results?

Are people more confident and happier due to it?

I would not consider religion natural but no doubt that it is imposed. It’s not a sequence from our genetic chain and we’re not born with it (as an instinct, for example, or something else deeply rooted into our system).

Religion is something sort of nature as long as humans want to believe that something is above them or when fear is inoculated to them from the first second of their birth.

Animals plants, rivers, mountains, etc do not need a religion, they are genuine and follow their own sequence of life with a basic fear of predators or unleashed nature but without fear of religion.

The primitive man, for sure, had no idea about religion – he might be frightened by his own shadow occasionally but no the other thing

Religion initiated and put labels on people categorized them and gave distinctive “penalties” to each social class; set rules for how and who people should love or be with, made people hate and fight against each other, set selfish rules and principles for others to obey and be afraid of, kept knowledge first for themselves and spread to people only what they did not consider jeopardizing their position.

Religion along politics generated wars sending innocent youth on the battlefield for some strange believes and let them die while they were praying behind in safe and secluded places.

Churches and priests are imposing rules not respected by themselves first of all – initiated terror, torture (which was applied with such an odd “devotion”), sacrifices, punishment (to the death), exile, etc.

I do believe in a mysterious force above us and I’m not against religion or people’ believes but, personally, I perceive religion and churches being always after very well determined things: power, wealth, and mass manipulation to serve their own interests… caring less about people or carrying in exchange of a price…

What makes me wonder about religion is that seems too many of its servants take advantage with no shame or regret of human weaknesses, making use of them, taking control over and manipulating innocent or naive souls, minds, actions. Also, always promises things to happen into another life/ world, one that nobody yet was able to confirm that does exist… So, why not promise things to happen in our real world, now?

On the other hand, the positive thing about religion/ church – it may represent the basic “book” for ethics and morals, and sometimes, brings people together for a good reason; occasionally thru monks/ nuns offered some health care during the wars and few natural catastrophes; a bit of charity; organized school/ education and guided people minds, initiated first steps in music, painting, science and probably put a barrier to eventual humongous chaos on Earth.

Also, for many persons, religion is giving real drive and strength wherever their power of understanding and endurance is ending – especially for sick people or desperate situations when one ultimate action or thought is to hope and hang on that belief above them.

"Hypocrites kick with their hind feet while licking with their tongues." - Russian Proverb

Where is no hypocrisy at all:

- in the simplicity and beauty of nature – water, sky, natural resources;

- in fauna and flora;

- in a newborn baby’s smile;

- in the wise words and advice shared by an old person well experienced by life, that has nothing to lose or gain, perfectly aware of her/ his successes and failures;

- in mathematics, as Stendhal said: “Mathematics allows for no hypocrisy and no vagueness.“

Quotes about hypocrisy:

"There are two sorts of hypocrites: one that is deceived with their outward morality and external religion; many of whom are professed Armenians, in the doctrine of justification: and the other, are those that are deceived with false discoveries and elevations; who often cry down works, and men's own righteousness, and talk much of free grace; but at the same time make a righteousness of their discoveries and of their humiliation, and exalt themselves to heaven with them." - Jonathan Edwards

"Hypocrisy can afford to be magnificent in its promises, for never intending to go beyond promise, it costs nothing." - Edmund Burke

"Hypocrisy in anything whatever may deceive the cleverest and most penetrating man, but the least wide-awake of children recognizes it and is revolted by it, however ingeniously it may be disguised." - Leo Nikolaevich Tolstoy

"Asleep, nobody is a hypocrite." - William Hazlitt