tim@cmu-cs-k.ARPA (Tim Maroney) (02/18/85)
I have been rather puzzled lately by the messages concerning destructiveness and constructiveness and suggesting that the former is evil while the latter is good. That seems completely at variance with reality, and not in line with the Bible either, which frequently features destruction that is held to be virtuous. Virtually all constructive activity requires a previous destructive act to clear the way. Take conversion to Christianity, a constructive act (building a new belief system). Is it not first necessary to destroy the previous belief system? Take slum renovation, another constructive act. First the old slum buildings have to be knocked down, destruction. I could go on practically forever in this vein: for example, physical death of animals and plants is a vital component of the ecosystem that allows new animals and plants to grow. The universe is a continual dance of construction and destruction, and it was made thus by the Lord. Destruction is no less good than creation, and neither could exist without the other. -=- Tim Maroney, Carnegie-Mellon University Computation Center ARPA: Tim.Maroney@CMU-CS-K uucp: seismo!cmu-cs-k!tim CompuServe: 74176,1360 audio: shout "Hey, Tim!" "Remember all ye that existence is pure joy; that all the sorrows are but as shadows; they pass & are done; but there is that which remains." Liber AL, II:9.