Holy is a good thing, yes? Some fraction of one percent might say no, but they would be in the wingnut ultra-minority. This is especially true when contemplating the meaning of holy. Any thesaurus will offer related words such as: blessed, pure, righteous, ethical, upright, principled, honest, honorable. Since holiness is defined as “the state of being holy,” a life that strives to embody these descriptive words is, by my lights, one that makes the world a great place to call home.
Eminent author Annie Dillard wrote in a recent periodical that the opposite of holiness is
selfishness, egotism, pride. Merriam-Webster has this to say:
Selfishness: concerned excessively or exclusively with oneself: seeking or concentrating
on one's own advantage, pleasure, or well-being without regard for others.
Egotism: an exaggerated sense of self-importance.
Pride: inordinate self-esteem.
Think about people who personify selfishness, egotism, and pride. They contribute to a world notable as a mud-slinging, money-grabbing, misery-laden place to live. Think about people who live by the tenets of caring and compassion for all and peace with justice for all. They contribute to well-being, security, and enough characterizing life for all on planet Earth.
People content with an unholy world where millions struggle just to stay alive need attending to by a team of shrinks. Those who strive for holiness with all their might are what the world needs now. As it always has.
