Good vs Obedient

“Being a good person does not mean being obedient.”

Throughout familial, cultural, societal, and even religious teachings, morality and being a good person is commonly portrayed as focusing and doing things for others. Yet, if one is focused on first making one’s own life and circumstances better, one is often guilt-riddenly portrayed as being selfish, being self-centered, and even, as being bad.

Through guilt and, in case of family and religion, via the threats of real or imaginary punishment, people are taught and conditioned that focusing on others is righteous and good; however, focusing on the Self is selfish and bad. Via these traditional teachings, families and authoritarian societies gain control over people by portraying obedience as being synonymous with being good. As stated in Theory of Self-Relativity:

“Selflessness and self-sacrifice is not righteous; it’s self-abuse.”