For me dissed was not only a new word but a shocking one when a friend who has worked with young people in the heart of the large metropolitan city where we live explained its larger implications to me. She said that sometimes people shoot and kill those who they think have dissed, or not respected, them. Even the slightest show of disrespect—a gesture with the eyes or a mere tilt of the head—may be enough to provoke a deadly reaction.

As I prayed to understand how to face up to and help heal this tragic situation, it became clear that a lack of respect isn't unique to young people growing up in a tough area. Haven't we all dished out and experienced disrespect? Being put down is a debilitating experience; it brings suffering and takes away confidence and joy.

Two of the Ten Commandments are useful starting points in praying to eliminate disrespect and its effects. The first of these—"Thou shalt have no other gods before me" (Ex. 20:3)—puts down the belief in more than one power. God, Spirit, omnipotent good, creates all like Himself. Therefore, each of us is, in reality, spiritual and good. To accept that we could be otherwise would necessitate believing in another power.

I was interested to learn that Dis is also the name for the mythical Roman god of the underworld. Disrespect, dishonesty, disorder—any such notion of evil or dis-ease—assumes that God, good, is no longer in control of His creation. To believe in such an impossibility is, in a way, the same as believing in the mythical Dis. On the other hand, having no other gods than our one Father-Mother God reveals each of us as actually made in His likeness. With this spiritual understanding, we can look upon our fellowman with respect and feel at ease with others.

If someone isn't acting very Godlike, we can learn a lesson from the master Christian, Christ Jesus. Science and Health explains, "When speaking of God's children, not the children of men, Jesus said, 'The kingdom of God is within you;' that is, Truth and Love reign in the real man, showing that man in God's image is unfallen and eternal" (p. 476). Gospel accounts indicate that no matter how someone was acting, Jesus upheld the man of God's creating, thereby healing the person of whatever dis-ease he or she appeared to have. In the same way, we can maintain as true only that which is Godlike about ourselves and others. In this way, we affirm our faith in one, all-powerful God and His creation.

Another antidote to dissed is following the commandment "Thou shalt not kill" (Ex. 20:13). I understand this to include the more subtle meaning of killing peace, enthusiasm, innovation, or whatever might seem different. Paul is a good example of someone who was convinced that his way of thinking was the only right way. An avid persecutor of Christians, he even witnessed the stoning of Stephen, the first Christian martyr, and did nothing to intercede (see Acts 7:57—8:1). But reformation came to him in a sudden light when Christ, Truth, spoke to him on the road to Damascus (see Acts 9:3–6). Paul's disrespect for the truth was replaced with spiritual understanding, and he became a dedicated Christian apostle, spreading the gospel to many parts of the world. We could say that dissing was erased from Paul's actions, and this transformation blessed multitudes.

Paul must have come to understand that the heart of true Christianity is love, for he writes in Romans "Love is the fulfilling of the law" (13:10). How can we have another god if we are loving God supremely? How can we disrespect our fellowman if we are following divine Love's commands? We can't!

As we become living examples of respect, appreciation, and love, we begin to eliminate dissed and its consequences from our own lives, and, in this way, we take a stand with others for mutual respect and peace throughout the world.