Always ask yourself, is this action harmful to myself or others? Is it helpful? Go further and define harm, define helpful. Question even those definitions. If it can be both, then does the ends justify the means? How do we reconcile that as we will have to take responsibility? No saying my commander told me to do it, or God told me to do it, or my parent told me to do it, or my friends told me to do it. Decide and take responsibility for that. Don't give away that power to others. So few people do though, in my observation.
This is a sign of being self aware and that you are present in the moment. CD, I have found the same as you...many people are not. It is part of "Do Unto Others" and "Love". If something does not stack up to a test of love, positiveness, creativity, growth and joy then it is suspect.
The Bible contains contradictions. Jesus taught love and the Golden Rule but his disciples turn around and want to subject women. This is completely contradictory. It is difficult to put any credence into a Holy Book and it's faith/belief system with these kinds issues. So many questions and suspicions arose within me as I became more and more educated on the contents of the Christian Holy Bible. And one of my biggest issues was/is that it held/holds no answers to my questions.
sometimes my personal convictions appear to push and prod people to my way of thinking
Caliber I think this is because you have been molded by the ideals of Christianity. This has been its agenda since day 1. They were definitely out to convert people. One more of its agenda items I saw as a teen that set off warning bells within me.
