I have shared the idea that the proverbial tree of the knowledge of good and evil would better be called the tree of the perception of the knowledge of good and evil. That perception springs naturally from what appears to be an innate human drive to be right, including defending our views and actions as not just right for us, but right in general. Often it seems not enough to acknowledge others' prerogative to disagree with, even to disapprove of, what we think and do. Then it seems weak and inadequate just to say that we are thinking and doing what seems right to us. It often seems irresistible to believe, and to assert, that we are right.
If we believe self-righteousness produces and intensifies conflict in relationships of all kinds, between friends, family members, colleagues, communities and nations; if we believe disarmament in self-righteousness would reduce the number and intensity of such conflicts; on what basis, other than continued self-righteousness, do we think such disarmament should and will start with others?
Disarmament in self-righteousness begins at home. It begins with each of us.
