If people believed that others are good, this world would become a better place (religion, life)

[LoveWisdom]

Someone taught me something and I liked it. And wanted to share.

Someone said that people mistreat each other BECAUSE they think that the others are not good.

Lots of people have a general idea about others, that we are not that good. Religions teach that we are bad and need redemption. And so, when people meet "not good" people, they don't trust them and they don't always treat them the best.

Imagine if you met a GOOD person (or someone you believed was good), you would show him warmth, politeness, respect and maybe even affection.
Imagine you met someone who you believe you should not trust, then you are very cautious, and sometimes even hostile (if you believe something bad about this person).

So the ironic thing is: people in this world think that they are not generally that good and it's like a self fulfilling prophesy: they start to treat each other as though the others are not good. And that behavior makes themselves not be good. And therefore this cycle of bad behavior keeps going on and on.

If people believed that people were generally good, everybody would treat each other better and people themselves would become better overall.

So, if we want this world to be a better place, we have to stay away from teachings that teach us that people are bad and embrace the teachings that help us see the good in others.

[Gudra]

.. even hostile (if you believe something bad about this person).

So the ironic thing is: people in this world think that they are not generally that good and it's like a self fulfilling prophesy: they start to treat each other as though the others are not good. And that behavior makes themselves not be good. And therefore this cycle of bad behavir keeps going on and



That I believe is rather true. The people in this country I live in and esp, the capital - are like that in general. But they mostly think they are good folks, just reserved. Ironically, it ranks very high on world rankings plus it has many apologists...
I treat people decently until they give me reasons not to. Of course, it doesn't work if people are discriminatory, arrogant and uncaring.

[Gudra]

Repeat post.

[Ovaninek]

Not necessarily. People can treat good people bad not because they think they are not good but for their own selfish reasons.

[Basiliximab]

Originally Posted by LoveWisdom

Someone taught me something and I liked it. And wanted to share.

Someone said that people mistreat each other BECAUSE they think that the others are not good.

Lots of people have a general idea about others, that we are not that good. when people meet "not good" people, they don't trust them and they don't always treat them the best.

Imagine if you met a GOOD person (or someone you believed was good), you would show him warmth, politeness, respect and maybe even affection.
Imagine you met someone who you believe you should not trust, then you are very cautious, and sometimes even hostile (if you believe something bad about this person).

So the ironic thing is: people in this world think that they are not generally that good and it's like a self fulfilling prophesy: they start to treat each other as though the others are not good. And that behavior makes themselves not be good. And therefore this cycle of bad behavior keeps going on and on.

If people believed that people were generally good, everybody would treat each other better and people themselves would become better overall.

So, if we want this world to be a better place, we have to stay away from teachings that teach us that people are bad and embrace the teachings that help us see the good in others.

I agree with the basic point of what you are saying. From my experience in life, I've received the impression that there are some people who are disposed to expect the worst of people, perhaps due to their own experiences in life. I try to steer away from expecting this of people, and though I've encountered my share of people who have done personal harm to me, I still attempt to see others as basically good people until they have done something to form a different opinion in my mind (even then, I try to give them the benefit of the doubt and of course realize that not everyone is perfect and that we all have our bad days). Actually, a large percentage of the people I've personally encountered have been good people, to me and to others. Perhaps I've just been fortunate, but I will try to continue to cultivate my estimation of the overall goodness of humanity which is what I've long believed.

[purehuman]

I personally don't believe people mistreat "others because they think that the others are not good"..I think people generally would treat people as they themselves would want to be treated..Only people who have passed judgement (usually based on what someone else has said) would treat someone (they don't know) with hostility. If I met two people (one good, one bad) I would make my own desicion on how to treat them based on my own interactions with them, not someone elses. I've known people who others have said were "no good", yet found that to not be true...I think most people give others the benefit of the doubt and assume they are kind people......The "teachings" that you speak of are not something I know of...we'd all be fools if we really believed that all people are good...in this day of corruption and greed, and lies and deceit, it's easy to understand (and see) that they're not.

[LoveWisdom]

It's better to believe that people are good though.... even if they are not. Because our beliefs create our actions.

And, many people who are considered "bad" by others are actually just misunderstood and misjudged.

[purehuman]

I wouldn't say it "was better to believe that people are good", maybe better to assume they are good. Their actions would show the truth, and then you'd know what to believe.

[flip33]

I deserve to think good thoughts about other people. Coincidentally, I am surrounded by good people.

[Royalite]

I feel that the world would also be a better place if not only did more people believe others were good, but that they also believed themselves to be good.

There's this saying that goes, "love your neighbor as yourself" but not many people love themselves and often they project that dislike of self onto others.