An Open Mind, 056

Ego
Ego, the tendency for each and every one of us to act as if the entire world revolves around us, is another important framework consideration. Men, women, and children must believe in themselves in order to not be overwhelmed with the challenges of living. Like a strong sex drive, our ego, or self-importance, helps insure continuation of the species.

However, this cross-cultural characteristic of feeling we are the center of our universe has proven to lead to inter-personal and inter-societal conflicts. It seems a paradox that when a scientific or religious system senses self important components, there is a natural tendency to dismiss all other points of view. These conflicts range from philosophical differences, like the role of science and the role of religion, to social differences, each of which, when taken to the limits, ultimately culminates with war.

Certainly this tendency is highlighted by scientists competing for their particular concept to be accepted. This competition especially becomes an issue when scientists put their beliefs ahead of their data. A classic example was Dr. Stanley Pons and Dr. Martin Fleischman at my alma mater, The University of Utah, and their falsified “development” of cold fusion.”

Scientists might say the tendency for ego driven conflict is even more prevalent among the various religions of the world, each of which is attempting to prove their particular world view. Catholics have built their history on direct authority from Peter, the rock. Lutherans broke away and formally started the Protestant reformation because they had a “better” interpretation of The Holy Bible. Baptists understand how to baptize “correctly.” The Salvation Army knows better the value of service. Seventh-Day Adventists worship on the Sabbath the Lord used. Jehovah Witnesses take the gospel to everyone. Christian religious denominations certainly demonstrate this characteristic of ego driven differentiation.

Moving outside the Christian denominations, consider the conflicts driven by differences between Moslems and Jews in the Middle East, between Hindus and Buddhists in the Indian Subcontinenant, between Shinto and Confucius teachings, between Hopi and Navajo and Comanche, between Mayan and Aztec, between ancient Norsk and Roman and Greek, and between hundreds of other world views.

There is more driving these world views than just ego. However, tradition is often ego driven, in addition to being derived by a culture having learned what has worked in the past. Culture is often ego driven, in addition to all of the customs and styles and ways of doing things which have been handed down from ancestors. Nationalism is also often ego driven, in addition to providing a mechanism for self and for tradition and for cultural preservation.

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