The drawback of believing in a just world
Here’s an interesting article on how belief in a ‘just world’, that is a world where a person receives the rewards they deserve for their actions, leads its believers to feel anger towards and hatred of other people.
Surprisingly enough, it’s not solely because a ‘just world’ belief makes those who are ‘being punished’ deserving of their fate, but it also shows that the believer is helpless! They believe that the world is just. They believe they can do positive things. But people in dire straits shows that the believer has less power than they thought.
Which makes them angry at the person or people showing the believer of their helplessness.
Interesting.
To clarify I will note that I believe we can do some work toward building a just world, but the world isn’t just and never will be. Actions do not guarantee either reward or punishment. We, as individuals and a society, can be just. The universe will never be just.