Wow. I can hardly believe that it's been nearly a month since my last post. Time is passing quickly. But it is all in perfect timing anyway. I felt a pictorial aid may be of use, and therefore I used a stack of US dollar bills.
Money:
Unfortunately, many perceive money as a negative thing. Obviously, this understanding stems from an early association of money with negative things. For instance, many people grow up with the belief that rich people are selfish, evil, and countless other negative traits. It isn't difficult to understand why they would see money in a negative light -- they've made conscious and unconscious associations with it to negative traits.
In another example, a child who grows up in a religious family might, unfortunately -- I might add, foster similar beliefs, as it's common for religious people to feel a certain sense of "guilt" or "shame" in regards to money. It could appear in the form of disdain towards material possessions. After all, doesn't the bible teach that money is the 'root of all evil', and I will paraphrase here, "it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God". However, some form of asceticism - denial of one's natural self, and a suppression of one's natural instincts, desires, and sensuality can be found in most religions.
But how can this be so? For money, like all else, is simply a form of energy. Inherently, it is neutral. It is a tool; a form of exchange. It has no preconceived meaning. None.
For the same money that corrupts people and can be used for evil, to fund wars, and other barbaric endeavors is identical to the one used to build schools, community centres, churches, and a tool for the good, overall.
Objectively speaking, money cannot be evil, for it is a neutral tool. It can be both used constructively and destructively; with good in mind, or with evil.
Meh. Discuss.
