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| Book eight in the series. where the following excerpts are from. |
I still haven't finished the series and when we unpacked the books after moving last month I decided to pick up where I had left off. I came to a few different passages that really resonated with me as I read them. It was like the author was able to put in to words some of my feelings about what I believe and how I will act on those beliefs. So I decided to share them here.
If you want to have a full grasp of the story I suggest you read the books, but here is a summarization of what's going on in this part: There is an evil army (the Order) taking over the land, raping, ruining, and destroying everything in their path. One village of people feel that fighting back will make them evil and that everyone has some good in them and should have a second (or third) chance to do the right thing. The main character of the books is trying to teach them otherwise.
"If, hoping to appease it, you willingly compromise with unrepentant evil, you only allow such evil to sink its fangs into you; from that day on its venom will course through your veins until it finally kills you."
"But that's too harsh a sentiment," the man said, "it's just being stubborn and obstructing a constructive path. There is always room for compromise." ...
..."In trade between willing parties who share moral values and who deal fairly and honestly with one another, compromise over something like price is legitimate. In matters of morality or truth, there can be no compromise.
"Compromising with murderers, which is precisely what you are suggesting, grants them moral equivalence where none can rightly exist. Moral equivalence says that you are no better than they; therefore, their beliefs -that they should be able to torture, rape, or murder you- is just as morally valid as your view - that you have the right to live free of their violence. Moral compromise rejects the concept of right and wrong. It says that everyone is equal, all desires are equally valid, all action is equally valid, so everyone should compromise to get along.
"Where would you compromise with those who torture, rape, and murder people? In the number of days a week you will be tortured? In the number of men to be allowed to rape your loved ones? In how many of your family are to be murdered?
"No moral equivalence exists in that situation, nor can it exist, so there can be no compromise, only suicide.
"To even suggest compromise can exist with such men is to sanction murder."
And later, when the same group of people are saying that the popular decision of the people is the right one:
"But we must reach a consensus," one man said.
"For what purpose?" Richard asked.
"In order for our decision to be correct," he explained.
"No proper decision about the right course of action in any important situation can be made without consensus."
"You are attempting to give moral authority to mob rule," Richard said.
"But a consensus points to the proper moral judgment," another man insisted, "because it is the will of the people."
"I see," Richard said. "So what you're saying is that if all of you men decide to rape my sister, here, then it's a moral act because you have consensus to rape her, and if I oppose you, I'm immoral for standing alone and failing to have a consensus behind me. That about the way you men see it?"
The men shrank back in confused revulsion. One spoke up.
"Well...no, not exactly-"
"Right and wrong are not the product of consensus," Richard said, cutting him off."You are trying to make a virtue of mob rule. Rational moral choices are based on the value of life, not a consensus. A consensus can't make the sun rise at midnight, nor can it change a wrong into a right, or the other way around. If something is wrong, it matters not if a thousand other men are for it; you must still oppose it. If something is just, no amount of popular outcry should stay you from your course."
And, the last section I am going to share, the people are again arguing that there is no such thing as evil.
"Kaja-Rang banished your people not only because they couldn't see magic, but, more importantly, because they couldn't see evil."
In restless disquiet the men glanced about at their companions. "But what you call evil is just a way of expressing inner pain," one of them said, more as a plea than an argument.
"That's right," another told Richard. "Saying someone is evil is prejudiced thinking. It's a way of belittling someone already in pain for some reason. Such people must be embraced and taught to shed their fears of their fellowman and then they will not strike out in violent ways."
Richard swept his glare across all the watching faces. He pointed up at the statue.
"Kaja-Rang feared you because you are dangerous to everyone - not because you are ungifted, but because you embrace evil with your teachings. In so doing, in trying to be kind, to be unselfish, in trying to be nonjudgmental, you allow evil to become far more powerful than it otherwise would. You refuse to see evil, and so you welcome it among you. You allow it to exist. You give it power over you. You are a people who have welcomed death and refuse to denounce it.
"You are an empire naked to the shadow of evil."
If I wanted to make it fit my thoughts as I read it some of the phrases would be just a bit different.
Such as: "Rational moral choices are based on the value of life, not a consensus" would say "Rational moral choices are based on the truth of God's Word, not a consensus."
As I read this book I just kept thinking how very fitting it was for society today. A society where you are considered prejudiced and mean if you say anyone is wrong. A society that calls wrongdoing a medical condition and gives it scientific names and prescribes drugs to "fix it". A society that thinks we should embrace everyone no matter what, and that "if you don't like something, don't do it"..need I go on?
It bothers me, and it irritates me, sometimes it angers me, and when it comes down to it, even if I am alone against a thousand other people I want to stand for the truth of what's right and point out evil for what it really is.
Where would you stand? Take a moment. Think about it
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