The dark journey downward into evil
The passage from truth to the hideous delusion that evil is admirable--and even good--is a journey through shadowy corridors and through several levels of descent into darkness. This journey into darkness typically has at least seven stages. They are like seven levels of dark basements that one descends in series.1) The first floor down into the darkness involves denial that one is a sinner. One remains there until he erects defenses against the idea that he is a sinner. Then he can resume his downward descent. The place is dark because the defenses of denial will not allow light to intrude.
2) From the stage-one denials, the journey into darkness proceeds downwards to a second denial--the denial that evil exists. This is followed by the erection of defenses against the idea of evil.
3) Then comes the descent into the delusion that those who fight evil are themselves evil: (a) "You must be evil because you say those nice freedom fighters are evil," and (b) "You must be evil for breaking our 'speak no evil' rule. You shock our sensibilities by telling us about the disturbing things that those nice gays are doing."
4) Next comes the hatred of those who fight evil. Hatred is a crucial stage in the developmental process of evil and leads to many delusions. Without hatred, paranoid conspiracy theories and poisoned ideologies cannot come into existence.
5) The fifth floor down into darkness is to believe--or to be willing to tell the lie--that evil things are good, and good things are evil. "Woe unto them who call evil, good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter." (Isaiah 5:20)
6) The sixth stage is to hate the victims of evil or to hate those whom the good guys are protecting. When professor Ward Churchill called the victims of the 9/11 terror bombings "little Eichmanns"--i.e., like Adolf Eichmann, the Nazi mass murderer--he was functioning at the sixth level of evil and hatred.
7) The seventh stage of evil is serial killing, terrorism, and genocide.
Those who trust in the power of truth feel no need to shout....our battle is not one of good versus evil, but of truth versus evil.
When a society denies the existence of evil, the forces of evil are given cover.
The descent from truth to the darkened level where one calls evil good, and good evil, requires intense hatred.
Good article, liked the C.S.Lewis quotes.
"We make men without chests and expect of them virtue and enterprise. We laugh at honor and are shocked to find traitors in our midst."
bump for later
I was trolling the DU threads this morning and I couldn't help but notice that the most vitriolic seething hatred was reserved for various well-known Christian pastors. I mean, hatred is common over there but the depth of spitting, cursing vehemence hurled at Christians is overwhelming. Indeed, they have reached the point where good is evil. Not so ironically, many of the worst posters' screen names begin with "Dark". I have to take a shower now.
BTTT
Looks like an excellent read.
using an excuse for denying God.
This article reminds me of a recent discussion...
In the heat of an argument, I've certainly been guilty of that. I must keep this little nugget in the back of my thoughts.
bump for later read
bump and bookmark
"...It is astonishingly naive to suppose that the anti-American hate-machine will close down if we are nicer to jihadists. This would be like telling Jews in Nazi Germany that it was their own fault they were on their way to the gas chambers because they were not nice enough to the Nazis. The Nazis took the Jews who were nice to them and put them in charge of torturing the other Jews--so that pure German hands were not soiled with the filth of Jewish untouchables.
Evil exists, boys and girls, and it is not reasonable. It cannot be bargained away, placated, appeased, or persuaded. It will keep on coming until someone has the moral courage to stand against it."
Good article.
Thanks for posting.
Excellent. Thank you.
a keeper - thank you!
I am grateful to my parents and teachers for educating me about "evil" long before I ever got on this forum. They gave me the courage and knowledge with which to oppose it. I have encountered it and stood up to it many times since.
Those of you associated with this forum who thought you were teaching me about evil (did so needlessly) and instead were propagating evil upon me. You caused me great harm and will answer for it to almighty God.
ping