Posted on 09/03/2007 9:09:43 PM PDT by goldstategop
Decent people have sought to identify the roots of evil since the first indecent person inflicted cruelty on an innocent person. And people have come up with one or more of nine explanations, most of which are indeed valid.
1. The Devil (or whatever name the devil goes by in any given culture). I do not believe in a devil, but when one observes the seemingly inexplicable cruelty engaged in by some people, it is understandable that people have attributed it to some evil being that has taken over that person.
2. Genes. The contemporary term for devil is "genes." Just as with the devil, when we observe a person engaging in evil behavior for which we have no rational explanation, we speak of it as coming from the person's genes.
3. Parents. After genes, parents have become another popular explanation for much evil. "How was he raised?" we wonder when we read about evildoers, especially those who deliberately hurt children. There is no question that parental upbringing has both good and ill effects on children. But there are too many bad people raised in homes that did not abuse them, and too many good people who were raised in awful homes to allow us to make parents the primary explanation for evil.
4. Religion. Religion is a popular culprit these days. And it is undeniable that religion can be a source of evil -- it certainly is in the case of the true believing Islamic terrorist. And it was in the wars over theology that racked Europe for centuries. But two facts mitigate against regarding religion as the primary explanation for evil. One is that religion itself was often developed precisely in order to reduce human evil. Whatever evil individual Christians may have ever engaged in, it is hard to find advocacy of evil within Christian Scriptures. The other is that secular ideologies and regimes -- Nazism and Communism, for example -- have murdered and tortured far more people than any religion has.
5. Money. Money and greed are so widely regarded as causes of evil that the phrase "Money is the root of all evil" has become a cliche. And there is no doubt that people seeking what money can buy -- luxury, status, women and excitement, to name but a few things -- have engaged in much evil. But flawed human nature and a lack of self-control, not money per se, are the causes of evil in these instances.
6. Power. Like money, many who seek power will do anything, no matter how evil, to attain power. However, it is a relatively small number of people that seeks such power and commits evil in its pursuit.
7. Pursuit of the good. The road to hell is indeed paved with good intentions. One should never underestimate the amount of evil caused by people thinking they were doing good. Far more evil has been perpetrated by idealistic people than by cynical criminals.
8. Sadism. There are people who simply enjoy seeing others in pain and inflicting it on them. But sadism accounts for few, if any, large-scale evils. It accounts for many individual acts of cruelty.
9. Boredom. Boredom is widely underrated as a source of evil. Yet, it most certainly is. Lack of purpose, not a lack of things to do, is the source of nearly all boredom. People need meaning in their lives. And if they don't, they will pursue visceral excitement instead of meaning or seek meaning in evil causes.
I believe there is a tenth explanation that is greater than all the others and is particularly widespread today.
10. Victimhood. A lifelong study of good and evil has led to me conclude that the greatest single cause of evil is people perceiving of themselves or their group as victims. Nazism arose from Germans' sense of victimhood -- as a result of the Versailles Treaty, of the "stab in the back" that led to Germany's loss in World War I and of a world Jewish conspiracy. Communism was predicated on workers regarding themselves as victims of the bourgeoisie. Much of Islamic evil today emanates from a belief that the Muslim world has been victimized by Christians and Jews. Many prisoners, including those imprisoned for horrible crimes, regard themselves as victims of society or of their upbringing. The list of those attributing their evil acts to their being victims is as long as the list of evildoers.
This is also true in the micro realm. Family members whose primary identity is that of victim usually feel entirely free to hurt others in the family. That is why psychotherapists who regularly reinforce the victim status of their patients do the patient and society great harm.
If my belief is even partially correct, the preoccupation of much of America with telling whole groups that they are victims -- of racism, sexism, homophobia, xenophobia and classism, among other American sins -- can only increase cruelty and evil in America.
“Evil is that which diminishes or destroys life.”
Was America’s Role in WW2 evil because it diminshed life?
I think there is a deeper meaning to define evil.
I think Evil is that which is contrary to the laws of God - the Judaeo-Christian view of God. Someother religions define evil in those terms but others do not.
The ultimate contrariness to the laws and will of God is Satan.
Evil is the result of human beings believing that they are equal to God or their own God. Which brings us away from the original intent of creation which was to worship and live the will of God. Through Christ we are reconciled back to our original purpose which is to be humble and surrender to the will of God. This leads to a deeper life which brings total joy and contentment. The opposite of this is evil or sin which is doing anything outside the will of God.
Hell being the complete absence of God.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
True.. “Be Still and Know” comes to mind. ;)
Prager lists the results of evil, not the reason.
Yes. It was a necessary evil.
I think it is good to destroy evil.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
Ahhhhh. I see he's met my ex-wife.
I might be interested in hearing what his ex wives have to say about his ideas of moral restraints.
This is moral quicksand. Isn’t this exactly the logic of Al Qaida? I think it has to be admitted that it is.
In human society we see that good and evil tends to cluster in separate regions, some in places where life is cheap, governments are corrupt and crime is rampant. And we see other places that are much very serene. This is because good and evil both have positive feedback effects. In other words, evil begets evil and good inspires good.
In nature we often see the same thing. There are places where it is very dangerous to be. In these places the plants are toxic and the animals are either aggressive and vicious or suspicious and fearful. On the other hand you see places where animals are quite friendly. I don't believe this is coincidence. I thing the dynamics of good and evil apply to animals as well as humans. Animals in packs or herds have their instincts suppressed by the herd the same as humans have their own evil nature suppressed by religion and society. And these animal herds or human societies are subject to change and actually have a will seperate from that of their components.
I think we have become too civilized for our own good.
It IS good to destroy evil and wipe out those who wish to destroy you. I don’t think that is moral quicksand.
Yes, I agree, but you have to be careful because it can be habit-forming and it can affect the moral judgment.
You should read more.
Exellent posts Patrick, the link and your summary.
I read a lot. What am I missing?
No, he believes in Genesis, but as a Jew he does not interpret it with the help of-— perhaps he would say “through the lens of”-— the New Testament.
As I understand it, in Jewish belief, the idea of a rebellious angel is an impossibility-— the angels are all perfectly subservient to God; thus, in the Book of Job, when Satan tests Job, he does not do so out of any rebellious motive.
That is true.
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