“27 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,
when it is in your power to do it.
28 Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come again,
tomorrow I will give it”—when you have it with you.
29 Do not plan harm against your neighbor
who lives trustingly beside you.
30 Do not quarrel with anyone without cause,
when no harm has been done to you.”
–Proverbs 3
It is said, “Nice guys finish last.”
I know people who call themselves Christian who are Darwinists. Oh, no, not the evolutionary scientist ones. The ones who subscribe to a late 19th Century philosophy derived from Darwin’s theory of survival of the fittest–Social Darwinists.
There was one of those who worked with me for years. At least, he was the most blatant of the philosophy. These are people for whom life is a “zero-sum game.” There are winners and there are losers. And you know the winners by how much wealth they’ve accumulated, the size and location of their house(s), the size of their salary. Losers? Well, they should just get lost. Who cares about them?
Like narcissists (are they cousins?), many can be charming at times. But the in-your-face attitude often comes out.
Scientific evidence
Scientists have discovered ways to simulate all manner of situations on powerful computers. This article in Lifehacker reports on a computer simulation of a game called Prisoner’s Dilemma.
Researchers set up a “game” where the players get two cards (options) which are basically to cooperate or compete to win the game. Humans playing the game typically choose to compete.
This latest research set up a computer simulation of the game that could be iterated many times. The results–it is better for both players to cooperate rather than compete.
Biblical wisdom
I guess Biblical wisdom is really, er, wise.
While maintaining your core strength gained from God, treat your fellow humans nicely, with dignity and respect. In the end, you’ll win.
Gary Mintchell
Faith Venture 