“Does ‘massed forces of destructive purpose’ imply some combination, or co-operation, or co-ordination, among disintegrating forces?” Mary K. was asked, at another time. “Yes, they combine every appealing force, as we do. One man may answer to doubt, fear, cupidity, and envy. Another to malice, doubt, and lust. Any forces that can reach him mass themselves in attack and call on their purposes in him to respond.” “Then there must be a considerable degree of intelligence among them. You said they would become constructive when intelligent.” “When intelligent enough. I never meant to imply that the purposes and forces of destruction are unintelligent. They are not fully intelligent. They are not balanced, not fully animated. All forces of construction comprehend destruction. No forces of destruction comprehend construction. They are intelligent and wily in destruction, but fail to apprehend its futility.” “Are they what we on this plane call uneducated, unlearned, ignorant in that sense?” “They are sometimes found on your plane among the highly educated, learned, and powerful. Here we regard them as undeveloped forces, to be fought unceasingly until they consent to become constructive.” “You don’t call that coercing your brother, do you?” I asked. “No, we do not compel them to construct, if they would destroy by preference. We oppose them until they perceive that they must fail, and seek light. Then we accept them, instruct them, and are stronger.... The forces opposing us have no faith, hence no knowledge of a future. They dread destruction, fear the end of existence, deny a future, and constantly seek to destroy the inevitable.” In this connection, Mr. Kendal once asked Mary: “What do the evil forces think they’re trying to do? Have they lost the great primary idea? Was there a great primary idea? Or are they just bandar-logging it around in a chaotic forest of spiritual upas-trees, screaming at anything they happen to see?” “There was no great primary idea of destruction,” she returned. “A lot of idle force gathered together, and finding itself behind the procession in strength, radiance, and beauty, began envying and coveting and backbiting, and from that to destruction is a logical and inevitable progression. Why is anybody among you envious, or malicious, or cowardly, or destructive? There is no great idea behind it. They see they are behind somebody else in something, and instead of developing what constructive power they have of their own, they, hate the person who has more and try to destroy him, or his reputation, or his property. There you have concrete examples of all the idea there is in destructive purpose. It’s spiritual unintelligence.” “Why did they quit Germany?” he asked, then. “Isn’t the apotheosis of such personal and deterrent and soul-driving and dominating purposes just their caliber?”