Resentment And The Enemy

Resentment is the enemy. It is borne of anger. The anger may be justified or unjustified. It does not matter. Because resentment is real even when the cause is an illusion. Resentment is deadly, destructive, and the opposite of love. And it is self-destructive. Let’s expose the Devil for what it is.

The Devil’s Resentment

Satan, according to Milton’s Paradise Lost, is full of resentment. “Better to reign in Hell than serve in heav’n,” is mistaken to be a statement of defiance. It is more like children claiming they prefer to be alone after being rejected by other children. The claim only sounds brave. It is resentment expressed.

Milton told the story of Lucifer, the light bearer, becoming Satan, the adversary. At first the chief of fallen angels is a sympathetic character. He is the underdog. He is punished. Why? Was the punishment justified? In the end, the reader sees Satan for the evil he is.

Nurturing Resentment

A problem emerges when people stoke or nurture resentments. Lives are destroyed by resentments. One man said, “I hate how these guys get away with stuff,” right before he killed a total stranger. Where did he get such an idea? He didn’t. His resentment allowed him to believe it was true. Most of the time, resentments are self-destructive.

There are many ways people nurture resentments. They may consume media that constantly exploits it. People may join religions or congregations within religions that play on their resentments. Human beings believe those who play on their resentments are telling them the truth. Why?

The Tragic Hero

Americans worship heroes. And, for that reason alone, they desire to be heroes. A person who believes conspiracy theories talks about “fighting” the conspiracy. Being a “warrior for God” involves this fight.

The tragic hero is a greater identity for some people. Heroic victimhood is emotionally rewarding for some people. It is resentment based. “They” have victimized “us.” But “we” will show “them.” Pastors or politicians who exploit resentments in others use this image to allow the listeners to justify themselves. “We know the truth.”

The terrorist is the tragic hero. Such people believe they are being hunted for standing up to the power. What they actually do is murder people. But humans want to believe they are the good guys. The serpent in the garden tricks us by claiming we are victimized. “For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened…” In other words, right now you don’t fully understand things because you are deliberately being kept from it.

Resentment And Reality

Resentments are the result of anger. And anger is the response to unfulfilled expectations. Too many people have expectations based in illusions. The rioters on January 6th were full of resentment because their expectations were based in delusion. The question, “what did you expect,” is important because the answer indicates how the resentment developed.

Anger is sometimes justified. Real evil happens to real people. Resentment that grows out of that is based in justice either delayed or denied. This is why we often mistaken our delusion for reality. We are required to analyze the resentment along with the causes. And then we should ask, “why do I resent it?”

Legacy Resentments

Resentments from anger based on historic injustices are the most difficult to overcome. The only question to ask is, “what are the lasting effects?” Such effects are continuing injustices. It is difficult for people to defeat their own resentments when the injustice persists.

Legacy resentments are not based on real injustices. They are based on excuses for past bad behaviors. Donald Trump and other politicians exploit these legacy resentments. Because the excuse eventually fails, fear of reprisal the takes the place once held by the excuse to commit further evils. The religious leader or politician who exploits legacy resentments provides the excuse to perpetuate evil.

Overcoming

Letting go of resentments requires two actions. The first action is to find out what is being done to hold onto the resentment. Am I nurturing it? Am I rearranging reality to excuse it? The second is to provide reconciliation. What can be done to repair the damage? How am I avoiding repairing the damage? The second solution may require the act of another person. It may be an action that is never taken. The only accountability then is to avoid the other person.