Fundamentalism And Greed Assault Humanity And The Biosphere

摘要

Greed can be defined as the desire to acquire and possess more than what one needs or deserves. Greed for money and possessions combined with the forces of fundamentalism are responsible for an immense assault on humanity. But they are also forces that compromise our common biosphere. Greed for wealth that exceeds the needs of an individual seems to have displaced reason and desire for the common good, at least in many individuals. Moreover, the greed of individuals, families, corporations, governmental officials and nations has become so pervasive that it has become THE DOMINANT FORCE in many developed and aspiring countries. Many people want to experience a lifestyle they cannot afford. As a result, they often accrue excessive debts, paying high interest rates that paralyze future attempts at advancement. They may be trying to present the illusion of affluence, keeping up with or surpassing the Joneses! However, for honest people, such pursuits usually end in financial ruin. Only by maintaining an immoral lifestyle involving cheating other fellow humans, is such excessive behavior supported, and this occurs at the expense of all, particularly the cheater himself.