Charity is based upon a strong commitment born of
generosity of spirit to maintain goodwill even with those with whom one
strongly disagrees. It is the virtue
most in conflict with the innate drive to get even with and even to escalate
ill feelings. It stops bitter
incrimination and retaliation at its source arising from one’s own instinct for
retributive justice. Charity in this
sense requires an operative forgiving spirit.
Charity never presupposes that the opposition was or is right or that
one must hide one’s true beliefs and feelings that happen to be in conflict. Charity cannot be a product of deceit or hypocrisy. Charity proceeds on the assumption that the opposition
was (is) guided by their best lights, and that they must be so respected for their
innate integrity. Ending wars of tit for
tat start with a deep approval of the person while maintaining disapproval of their
positions. This is not a subtle or overly
fine point. It is readily possible to
love the person while disputing their positions. A trivial example comes to mind. Anytime one brings a puppy home for a pet,
one is in for great aggravation and unpleasantness—but this does not stop one
from loving the pet. When one has a
generous spirit, it is possible to love the opposition in the midst of heated
disputes. A dispute in which goodwill is
present sticks to the issues and does not sling personal attacks. Mutual respect and cordiality are maintained
by assiduous commitment to the charity principle. Conflict so defined will always contrast
greatly from the demonic dramatics of professional wrestling.
