The Lawless - What Is He Like?Most of the theorists either do not mention the Lawless stage - or else treat it as a part of childhood. Therefore my characterization of it is largely based on the writings of M. Scott Peck* who characterized it as a stage of arrested development in an adult. Peck called it the chaotic/antisocial stage. I choose not to use the word antisocial because it implies this person is a loner or awkward somehow socially, which is not necessarily the case. In very general terms I am trying to explain what this stage is about. Of course there are no clear-cut distinctions between the stages so nothing you find here can be engraved in stone. I have to admit I really do not have much experience with this type of person, to my knowledge. Interestingly Peck said that as many as one adult in five falls into this category. I guess lots of these people have had me fooled! View of God, Scripture and the Church of the Lawless groupIn general, the Lawless individual is not going to concern himself very much with considerations about God, scripture or the church. That is, unless he can benefit from it in some way. For example, he may join a church because he thinks he can make good business contacts there but may have no interest whatsoever in the real meaning of the religion.There is no particular data on how or if this person even bothers with any type of consideration of scripture, the existence of God or any church. Locus of Authority of the Lawless GroupIn a person at this stage, there is no locus of authority. This person is totally under the control of his or her own ego or his or her own will with very little consideration of general principle or of other people. S/he has never submitted to any type of authority so his or her existence tends to be unprincipled and chaotic. If his will changes from moment to moment,so goes his life.For this reason this person most often finds himself in trouble, addicted to drugs or in trouble with the law. But not always. There reportedly are some externally very successful people who are in this category. They may be able to hide their lack of authenticity because they are good actors but everything they do is based on pretense. And everything they do has the intention of manipulating the situation or other people to their own advantage. Because this person knows no other way, they most likely have no idea that their behavior is so self-serving relative to that of other people. Needs of the Lawless GroupThis person mainly acts so as to seek their own pleasure and to serve their own ends. Their behavior is selfish and manipulative.Worldview of the Lawless = EgocentricThis group holds the most narrow worldview of all the stages. A person in this group sees the world in an egocentric way. The world exists only to serve him or her. Others really do not count for much.EXAMPLES -I have just learned about a TV show called American Greed. Each show features the actions and details about a certain instance of monetary greed. I have only watched a few of these shows but I am pretty sure most of the people featured are examples of Lawless individuals. This one about the founder of the company called is Cybernet a definite example of a Lawless individual. Don't worry - your email will NOT be used for any other purpose or shared with others.
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