Joy of Arrogance By Vas Paris, the artist

This weekend I bumped into a Christian TV channel. While my mind was occupied with two thought that I read a while ago I started reflecting.

Zen thought:
“When you feel hatred, arrogance, jealously or envy you embody a Devil.”

Another thought that I picked up in the movie “Red”:
“Judgment comes from arrogance.”

Christian preaching is extremely judgmental. Hype and fear are used to force subjects (believers and prospective believers) into a submission. Judgment is used to control organization and keep donations coming and create a “joy of the community”. Judgment divides the world on them and us. Is that kind of preaching and organizational management come from Devil? In fact where does zealous desire to convert everyone come from? Does it come from arrogant believe that you are the only right one?

Devil does not make you doubt and think but Devil gives joy of arrogance. You embody Devil when feel that you are better than others because you believe in a special way, you eat or do not eat something, because you drink or not drink something, because you choose to do or not to do certain things. There is nothing wrong with making a choice and following it. But it is arrogant to force you choice on someone else. It may be good for someone; it may be a right thing to do. But what if it is not? Even the fact that it works for many people or that many people believe in it does not make it less arrogant.

How does that relate to art? After one dogma lived off the other one is born. And it is born of arrogance and orthodoxy.