Is it possible that a sociopath is just stuck in the first sphere?
On the other hand, horrible acts have been done in the name of religion, are these people sociopaths?
It's likely a sociopath would be stuck in the first sphere, but not necessarily. Regardless of their impulsivity they can make decisions and are able to recognize the benefits to being of service to others for the sake of stability.
The horrible acts done by Christianity for example, are in fact contradictory to what that religion is suppose to stand for. To know this is true, all one has to do is look into what the Lord has been saying, and one would see how religion is governed by man.
There was a time where Cat's were assumed to be affiliated with witchcraft, so they were regarded as Satanic by Christianity. Cats were slaughtered in large numbers, in turn there was a rat infestation, so it was learned the hard way that cat's are good.
This is man's error. The thing about religion is it never suggests to it's followers to be on the lookout for when the religious leaders themselves go against their own teachings. I'll share my views on the rest of these spheres, as this Kierkegaard calls them.
by iammask
These are from a Philosopher named Kierkegaard.
1. The Aesthetic Level of Existence. This phase can be summarized as living for oneself.
Living for oneself is how we all start off until some eventually grow out of that idea. It's always others who empower us regardless of what position we have during the exchange, we've never truly been alone up to this point. A society based on the mindset to carry on serving only the self, is no match for a mindset of a community that looks after one another. Those who are looked after and also look after others, have it a lot easier, and there is so much more gain. Usually the soloist is miserable, even if they are psychopathic. The thing about that, they don't feel certain things, so when they are feeling empty, they just suffer, while to them, the solution must be a gain in status and materials. Maybe this is why for a sociopath, fantasies of power and wealth are unlimited. 10 Trillion wouldn't be enough. That said, I'd assume this level of existence to be of lower consciousness compared to the next one.
2. The Ethical Sphere of Existence. At this level a person thinks and acts towards the benefit of others not oneself.
There will come a time when we are useful to others, as they are useful to us. Without one another, things wouldn't go as smoothly.
Removing the self from the equation, and looking at a society where everyone is about the self, then looking at another society where everyone is out to benefit all. It would be easy to see which society would out due the other. Two heads will always be better than one, as would 3,4,5 and so on. And yes, the first sphere is elemental in this observation, cause we must also include, maintain and manage ourselves.
3. The Religious Sphere of Existence. Instead of living for yourself or others, you are living for your God(religious beliefs)
The way to bare fruit for God, can be found in the second sphere.
Luke 6:31: Do onto others, as you would have others do unto you. - Jesus Christ
Of course there is also the Satanic religion, Satanism, which seems to me has more in common with the first sphere of existence. But whatever God or religion one means to serve, there is no escaping the first or second sphere. Regardless of what anyone believes, they can still read between the lines and see what they don't believe in has to say, and in that. Everything we do, whether it's secular or not, is spiritual.
