(no subject)

[rivka]

In all persons there is the possibility of decency, however it may have been warped and deadened. The greatest adventure is to seek it out and establish it.
-George O'Dell

This is one of my articles of faith as a therapist. I heard this quote yesterday, at church, and seized upon it as an expression of something I have long believed. I used to say that my therapeutic skill rested on my ability to find a grain of likeability in just about anyone, and my belief in the possibility of change. But I like this way of expressing it better, because I can believe in the possibility of decency (however deadened) even in people for whom I can't find a single present thing to like.

I'm not sure that this is a particularly common article of faith. In some circles I move in, I get the feeling that the reverse is true - that there's a usually-unvoiced belief that real people, decent people who matter (because they're highly intelligent, and read for pleasure, and weren't popular in high school, and don't believe in silly things like Christianity or mainstream culture) are a small minority, while the majority of people are pretty much wastes of space. Deadwood. Sheeple.

How to explain the eagerness to believe that "most people" are everything you despise?

Comments

[wcg.livejournal.com]

Interestingly, I just read a review of that book in the Baltimore Sun book reviews not very long ago. The behavior certainly fits Epstein's definition, though I think it's a hair-splitting definition that differs from common usage. Elitism, in general, is a view which excludes all but a select few. That covers the sort of conduct Rivka was refering to above.

Also, since we're looking at Epstein's ideas, I'll allow as while many religions preach a doctrine based on some combination of hope and fear, my experience of religion has been that religion works on faith and belief.

[hal-obrien.livejournal.com]

"The behavior certainly fits Epstein's definition, though I think it's a hair-splitting definition that differs from common usage."

Hm. So, it fits, which is presumably good, but it's "hair-splitting", which is presumably bad. Heavens. An essayist and magazine editor using words with specific meanings that add precision and nuance to the language, rather than clumping disparate words together in ways that don't add any meaning. Who'd've thought?

It's hard for me to say whether Epstein's use matches "common usage" or not. I just haven't read enough to have what I would regard as a sufficiently large sample size to make or refute such an assertion. And I would hate to clothe my own personal judgements in such an authoritative garment as "common usage". I hope you feel the same way.

"I'll allow as while many religions preach a doctrine based on some combination of hope and fear, my experience of religion has been that religion works on faith and belief."

So, um... For you neither faith nor belief are a sub-set of hope?

[wcg.livejournal.com]

See, I don't think he's adding precision and nuance to the language. It looks to me more like he's attempting to force a distinction that is, in itself, a sort of snobbery. But I imagine reasonable people can disagree on these things.

And no, I see neither faith nor belief as a subset of hope. Hope overlaps strongly with both, but I think it is possible to hold a belief and have faith in something while feeling utterly hopeless.

[hal-obrien.livejournal.com]

"It looks to me more like he's attempting to force a distinction that is, in itself, a sort of snobbery. But I imagine reasonable people can disagree on these things."

And it looks to me that you're resolute in thinking that "elitism" must always be used pejoratively. Not unlike the way some people thought about "patriotism", not long ago.

"And no, I see neither faith nor belief as a subset of hope. Hope overlaps strongly with both, but I think it is possible to hold a belief and have faith in something while feeling utterly hopeless."

What's interesting is this is the precise scenario I was thinking of to show that faith is a subset of hope. Just what kind of "faith" can one have without hope, that is not profoundly laced with insincerity, self-deception, or both? The only way I can see out of that is either masochism or nihilism... Neither of which, I'll readily admit, I've ever understood well.

[wcg.livejournal.com]

And it looks to me that you're resolute in thinking that "elitism" must always be used pejoratively.

Perhaps I am, but I see no point in continuing this discourse.