Posted on 10/21/2006 8:07:20 AM PDT by tcostell
In the west we've built a society that is largely optimized to have as many people be winners as possible, but the Muslim world has not. That's how I meant the comparison. And I think it's curious that the people who have characteristics which leave them frequently on the losing side of conflict resolution in the west are drawn to Islam in such large numbers.
bttt
OK, but why are some people seemingly incapable of taking responsibility for their actions? Why can't they control themselves. Call it a lack of character, or a lack of willpower, whatever you want. You could even say that they deliberately choose to stay in their addiction. But why? Why do some people go down that road? If a person is of poor character or weak willpower, is that their "fault?"
I don't know, but it's always been an interesting question to me. Why are some people prone to addiction to one substance or another, and others not? I believe in personal responsibility, but I'm not sure if addiction is just a behaviour, or if possibly people that suffer from it really do have an inherent problem, or lack of something, that most of us don't, and if so, is it their fault? I suspect this discussion starts to veer into philosophy and questions of free will and such like.
In any case, while I might be able to excuse an addict's addiction, that can never be an excuse for otherwise unacceptable actions, such as theft, sexual abuse, DUI, etc.
"And you DO agree that virtue and wealth are not mutually exclusive."
They're not mutually exclusive, but looking around I can't help but think they're not often well-acquainted, either.
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