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1. Every person, no matter how horrible,
is a child of God and is therefore loved.
2. The causes of evil are pain, lust, and
fear.
3. Since evil is both caused by pain and causes
pain, it is self-perpetuating.
4. Thus one way to diminish evil is to answer
pain with love and understanding.
5. Violence may be necessary in self-defense
or in pursuit of justice, but violence in pursuit of vengeance is
evil.
6. People have an innate sense of justice, just
as they have of symmetry or balance. Even infants know when a punishment
is just. Parents can tell from the sound of the cry.
7. Without justice there can be no rules. Without
just rules there is anarchy, in which everyone's survival is threatened.
Thus just rules and equitable enforcement are the primary responsibilities
of the State.
8. Without justice the weak are defenseless.
Without mercy justice is a robot that knows not what it
does.
9. Justice diminishes evil by diminishing fear.
Love diminishes evil by diminishing pain and lust.
10. Failure to discipline a child who does wrong
teaches weakness. Discipline in anger teaches evil. Discipline out of justice
teaches order. Discipline with love teaches goodness. |