On the other thread Lightkeeper mentioned the concept of projecting onto others.

1) Do you believe in this concept?
2) How do we project ?
3) Why do we project?

__________________
May your awareness be perfection

The person whose thought processes are the most familiar is always oneself. It makes sense that when interpreting the motives of others, we may consciously or unconsciously model our interpretations on our own motives and thought processes and feel the other person must think in a similar way. It can be hard to get past the self and recognize that some people think in a way that may be entirely foreign to us. People usually use the term projection to describe instances in which it appears a person may be judging another person for having a character weakness or flaw that person appears to possess him/herself, often unconsciously. Of course, sometimes we may feel that someone is projecting, and that in itself may be a projection.

__________________
"For small creatures such as we the vastness is bearable only through love."
- Carl Sagan

Generally speaking, yes. Studies have found that thiefs are more preoccupied with protecting their own property from being stolen than law-abiding citizens are. People who cheat on their income taxes tend to believe everyone else is doing it as well. Even in arguments, how many times have we seen some blaming others while doing the same things themselves?

In psychology, "projection" is taught as one of the defense mechanisms most of us use at one time or another.

Shalom,
Vern

__________________
"The further the spiritual evolution of mankind advances, the more certain it seems to me that the path to genuine religiosity does not lie through the fear of life, and the fear of death, and blind faith, but through striving after rational knowledge."-- Einstein

The same process we call projection does have a positive side, though. It is part of empathy when not used negatively. Instinctively recognizing that others may be much like oneself is not always a bad thing.

__________________
"For small creatures such as we the vastness is bearable only through love."
- Carl Sagan

Good point.

Shalom,
Vern

__________________
"The further the spiritual evolution of mankind advances, the more certain it seems to me that the path to genuine religiosity does not lie through the fear of life, and the fear of death, and blind faith, but through striving after rational knowledge."-- Einstein