I understand that differences in faith give people different values. I adhere absolutely to one religion, and I understand that if someone else adheres absolutely to a different one then we will disagree absolutely on some points. But I have to believe that pure honesty and earnest intent, if exercised by both parties, would keep us to a large degree on the same ground.
For my part, while I take no credit for any active virtue, I will humbly credit myself with motives that are entirely honest and pure. Even when I'm feeling rude or stinky, I inwardly recognize this - I know at those times that I am not being good, and my soul aches to repent. I recognize the honest intent for good in myself, and I feel I can sense it in other people. I think most people can. It's painfully easy to spot pride. It's painfully easy to sense confusion, unhappiness, indirectness, or underhandedness. But I think it's also beautifully easy and soothing to sense directness, altruism, and honesty. People like that, I can see eye to eye with. And between us, I feel that we will never disagree on inherent good and evil.
Some things are inherently good. Like integrity. Kindness. Compassion. Giving. Even being morally untrained, they give us a happy feeling. We feel their goodness.
Some things are inherently evil. Like dishonesty. Meanness. Cruelty. Selfishness. Even being morally untrained, they give us a yucky, uncomfortable feeling. We feel their evil.
So when I hear people calling derivatives or associates of the above-mentioned values conversely good or evil - when parties press and argue these points - I have to believe they are not being fully honest. Because I sense it, and it gives me a yucky feeling.
I just have a hard time dealing with dishonestly. And yucky feelings.
