Are We Naturally Aggressive People?

Americans have the good fortune to live in a free country that encourages good relations among its citizens and has a role in the world to stop tyranny where possible. In some sense our Founding Fathers set the clock in motion for our nation to resist the negative and aggressive behaviors that surround us in this world and test us from within.

Man’s innate ability to be aggressive and warring  has been the thinking of world psychoanalysts, humanists and philosophers over the years, but more recently, others have found that we humans are more aggravated from without than from within. 

Alfie Kohn, author & lecturer, once wrote, “Biology does not condemn humanity to war, and humanity can be freed from the bondage of biological pessimism. Violence is neither in our evolutionary legacy nor in our genes. The same species [that] invented war is capable of inventing peace.” From: Are Humans Innately Aggressive?  By Alfie Kohn.

As we view the world in our time, it is hard for us to understand why so much of humanity is trying to destroy its neighbors and others. Whether it be for political, cultural or religious reasons for hurting others, it is hard to accept that we are biologically doomed to it.  We Americans are not completely off the hook, however, for we see some among us trying to hurt fellow citizens. Again though, is it just a biological matter?

In Matthew 26:52 we see, “Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword.”

The recent events of the murdering of innocent children in our nation are hard to understand.  Surely this has been done as a result of a mental illness and not something that God intentionally created in any of us.  We are still children of a Creator God that allows us to make choices in life.  If we are not in touch with Him in our lives, we can make some bad choices.

In Matthew 5: 38-39 Jesus says, “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.”  These are tough orders for us.

By seeking the Lord our God to be in all that we do, we make it easier for better choices in life.  Non-forgiveness is our greatest enemy. In Hebrews 10:30, St. Paul reminds us, “For we know him who said, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge his people.”

It appears in Holy Scripture time and time again, that we must forgive others, so the Lord may forgive us.  Seeking violence in the world is not our nature as humans.  Instead it is the straying from our Creator God’s will, that we should love and forgive one another.  By making this choice in life we can change the world.  What a beautiful thought that our Godly nature is capable of making a real difference. We children of God are called to make this our purpose in life.