Potential

Yesterday my Political Science professor talked about different views pertaining to people's rights, and one really stuck out. Apparently, one theorist felt that each person should be viewed as having potential, and that rights should be created to allow people to fulfill their potential. This view is much different from the utilitarian view, which states that rights should prohibit things that are not useful. Let me give an example.

The utilitarian view states that murder is wrong because it is not useful, and that it is inefficient. The other view states that murder is wrong because it prevents the victim from fulfilling their potential. Also, it deals with issues like equality. If someone can not enter a university classroom because there are no wheelchair ramps, or because they are a woman, it could prevent them from doing something positive for society.

It makes a lot more sense to me.

Anyways, it made me think of potential, and got me all inspired. Everyone should be viewed as having potential, and I think this would completely shatter racism and prejudice. You can't tell what someone might do in the future just by looking at them, so why should you judge them and potentially limit them from doing something great and important?

This is also has a meaning for Christians. We should all be striving to fulfill our God-given potential. We also have a duty to spread the Word, and the potential to save many, many people from Hell.

We all have huge amounts of potential, but that can be limited so easily by the thought that one small person can't really do anything. I know I've thought that many times, but it really is stupid. A much better way to live is to believe that we can accomplish great things that change the world, and, as Christians, change it for God's glory.