PASSION VS VIRTUE

Passion; George Bernard Shaw 'insists that there are passions far more exciting than the physical ones..."intellectual passion, mathematical passion, passion for discovery and exploration the mightiest of all passions!

It is a feeling of unusual excitement, enthusiasm or compelling emotion, a positive affinity or love, towards a subject, idea, person, or object.

The word “Passion,” comes from the Greek verb meaning to suffer, a driving of a person to near insanity for a period of time. It can be manifested in several areas of what we call life.

There are few young men or women that haven’t experienced this to one degree or another. It can lead one to do irrational things like stalking, or phoning and hanging up. Sometimes it is exposed or open and other times it is concealed, better known as secret sin.

It can be the force that helps us succeed in life - - that helps one to persevere in difficult times.

Without some measure of passion a person may have a safe life but it will be hum drum and tasteless like food without seasoning or life without love.

Without passion there would be no salvation for mankind.

Virtue; is an inward state without which no society can survive. In observing the world we live in. It is evident that this is a missing quality in our nation. Where do we look for help in this matter? Is there anyone who is naive enough to believe our school system is the answer?

All religions attempt to give guidelines for a virtuous life; many substitute this for the basic need of redemption from man’s fallen state.

One of which I find to have some merit as a practice is the Buddhist view point; right view, right intention, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, right concentration. These exercises when practiced will produce some control over ill behavior.

Reason; reasoning is something we put far more confidence in than it deserves the reason being; reasonableness is in the “Eye of the beholder.”

Proverbs 21:2 A person thinks everything he does is right, but the LORD weighs hearts.
 Judges 21:2 In those days Israel had no king; all the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes.

The world around us seeks to find virtue in the laws that govern us, thinking if I obey the law then I am virtuous.

For the Christian they must look within and out of their reborn spirit manifest not only righteousness but also rightness.

The product of virtue is Galatians 5:22-23 The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

When passion over rules virtue, reason will justify it (beware)
 Http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3J1mqpLXnCc&feature=related