Many believe they live fallen lives in a fallen world. Some believe they are sinners in a sinful world. Others believe they chose to descend from a "spiritual" realm into this world in order to live as a human and learn an important lesson. Still others believe this world is an illusion of suffering and they continue to reincarnate in this world until they are enlightened and liberated from it.
These different views share much in common. They share in common a low view of both this world and human beings. They express a belief that this world and all human beings are flawed or somehow less in comparison to something higher and beyond. Some go so far as to say that we humans are to blame. They believe that we ruined ourselves and the world by our own free will.
Those who believe such things devalue both this world and being human. They deny rather than affirm them. At heart they are anti-world, anti-human, anti-life, anti-spirit.
Why would anyone believe that this world and all human beings are somehow flawed or less than something beyond? Why would they believe in an imagined better place and way of being?
From whom would such belief spring? Would such beliefs spring from the hearts and minds of the strong spirited among us?
Might such beliefs come from the poor in spirit who lack the strength to live well in this world? Are they not the ones unable to enjoy the beauty of the world and the pleasures of life. Are they not too weak to live noble human lives in the world as it is?
Do they not cope with their poverty of spirit by fantasizing about a better place to go after they die? Is it not they who want prophets and teachers to show them a way to escape this life? Is it not they who long to be rescued by a savior?
Perhaps the problem is neither the world or us humans. Perhaps everything is just as it is. Perhaps the problem is the belief of the poor in spirit. Perhaps what they believe is wrong.
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