Virtue development, nonjudgmental attitude, part two - recognition of inherent worth and dignity

Part two - recognition of inherent worth and dignity.

Judgment is inherently dishonest because we are assuming to  know things which we could not possibly know. Truth requires that we recognize and acknowledge that not only are we ignorant of all that goes on with another, we don’t even know what goes on with ourselves. Our unconscious percolates beneath the level of our awareness and so we often are blind to our own motivations and intentions let alone another’s.

In judgment, we must admit when we are completely honest that we have deceived ourselves and lost our faith in God’s unconditional love for God’s creation. Our loss of faith leaves us in anguish, fear, despair, and guilt. We believe the old saying “Judge not that ye not be judged.” Our fear of our own judgment fuels the judgmental process where we unconsciously play the game of “one or the other.” One of us must be guilty and deserve punishment and it is them not me.

Judgment then leads to separation and divisiveness. We have given up our honesty and our faith and in this pit of despair, hopefully, it dawns on us, at some point, that there must be a better way. That better way is in adopting a nonjudgmental attitude and unconditional positive regard for all of our brothers and sisters because we recognize their inherent worth and dignity.

This recognition of every person’s inherent worth and dignity is the hallmark of the virtue of a nonjudgmental attitude.