Editorial February 5, 1944 Issue

Only Spirit Classifies

Paul Stark Seeley

The inclination of the human mind to classify mortals of all ages into groups and divisions has noticeably increased in recent years. Physicians, employers, educators, psychiatrists, and others lay down rules and standards, and put classification tags on those with whom they deal. In the armed forces and civilian branches of government, elaborate systems are used to classify those thus engaged.

The child soon discovers he is in a world in which a vast amount of classifying has been done by his predecessors. He is presumed to concur in this, although some of it he may find, as his judgment matures, is justified and some is not. He finds his elders thinking in terms of social, racial, religious, and political classifications, of groups, or classes, schooled and unschooled, desirable and undesirable, successes and failures.

Unjust classification of mortals by mortals results in much unhappiness and often raises difficult barriers to individual and collective progress. One instance is that group of forty million people in India classified as untouchables. The child in this group finds himself so condemned that even his shadow is presumed to pollute those of "high caste" on whom it may fall. Beggars and brigands may use the King's Highway, but not the untouchables.

Enjoy 1 free Sentinel article or audio program each month, including content from 1898 to today.

Send a comment to the editors
NEXT IN THIS ISSUE
Editorial
Receptivity
February 5, 1944
Contents

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit