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I wonder about where that came from all the time, especially when I think about people. You know, things like telling lies, cheating, stealing, and being mean to someone.
I really don't think these things are always "learned traits" although I'm sure some are. I remember asking my first born, when she was barely old enough to speak, whether she had pooped in her diaper, and she lied to me. So, where did that come from? There was no one around that could have taught her to lie.
During most of my childhood, I was the eldest sibling. I remember a few times sitting on the chests of my brothers and sisters while holding their arms to the floor with my knees. Then, in order to get back something they had stolen from me, I'd tickle them, or threaten to let a drop of saliva fall from my mouth and into their face. Now, who taught them to steal my stuff, or who taught me how to torture them? I'm not sure about the stealing part, but no one taught me to torture. I think it was just something I figured would work, and it did! So where did that come from?
And the time I placed a gift-wrapped, dead clam into the desk of my 4th grade classmate on a Friday knowing that it would be very stinky when he returned to his desk on Monday. And the time I threw dirt clods at a girl that came to play with my sisters. To this day, I don't even know why I did these things. So where did that come from?
I think we call all attest to incidents such as these at one time or another, especially during our childhood. So then, why did we do it?
I've always been taught that unlike animals, humans don't have instincts. I think that is hogwash. We have many natural reactions to sudden instances, which for the most part, can not be controlled effectively. And that is an instinct. In other words, our instinct would make us duck at the sound of a gunshot.
I also think that we are born with the ability to lie, cheat, and be mean. That's not to say that some of those traits are also learned or are improved with experience. But, I think we are inherently born with these things and must be taught to overcome them. Your thoughts?
By the way, relaxing by Sittin' on the Dock of the Lake is a learned trait. And I learn fast.
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I know the answer.
ReplyDeleteAnd you're right, in your penultimate paragraph, although I don't know that I'd use the word "ability" so much as the word "propensity."
All of those things you described are examples of pride, of setting oneself higher than others, whether it be to protect oneself (avoiding a spanking, getting your things back), to get what one wants (taking brother's things), to make others look or feel bad (the clam), etc. It all goes back to setting oneself higher than others.
That focus on self above others is pride, and the root of all sin, for what is sin but setting your own desires and wishes above God's? It's pride, not in the sense of being arrogant or conceited, but pride in the sense that we still value self above others, and often above God.
So where did it come from? You are right: we are born with it.
Romans 5:12, Psalm 51:5