Evil.....does it exist?, or have we killed it?

[InStillness]

So is there evil?, or is everything just some alphabet soup disorder?

 

[GrannieAnnie]

Oh yes, I definately believe evil exists and will till God destroys it. However I am doing my best to keep it out of my life.

 

[brightlights]

Yes evil is real.

 

[jayem]

So is there evil?, or is everything just some alphabet soup disorder?

If the brains of psychopaths would be shown to be wired differently from the rest of us, does it mean that their actions can't be called evil?

 

[Meshavrischika]

I really don't know how I feel about evil. I know it is dysfunctional. It doesn't work (for many reasons). I'm not sure it has the connotation we give it in 99% of cases though. Most people are not evil, but misled IMO.

The word tov would best be translated with the word "functional". When looked at his handiwork he did not see that it was "good", he saw that it was functional, kind of like a well oiled and tuned machine. In contrast to this word is the Hebrew word "ra". These two words, tov and ra are used for the tree of the knowledge of "good" and "evil". While "ra" is often translated as evil it is best translated as "dysfunctional".

 

[Washington]

I think evil, a construct of the devil, is a means to disavow personal responsibility. Flip Wilson's Geraldine used it to great effect when (s)he would remark, "The Devil Made Me Do It!"

 

[Meshavrischika]

I think evil, a construct of the devil, is a means to disavow personal responsibility. Flip Wilson's Geraldine used it to great effect when (s)he would remark, "The Devil Made Me Do It!"

in that vein it's a flat out lie. The devil has no power, so a Christian claiming the devil made me do it is basically denying the cross IMO.

 

[keith99]

Evil exists.

However we may have killed personal responability

 

[The Nihilist]

trick question, there's no such thing as absolute morality

 

[Meshavrischika]

trick question, there's no such thing as absolute morality

huh

 

[The Nihilist]

huh

Morality is relative, so there's no answer to the question that makes sense. thread over, go home.

 

[Meshavrischika]

Morality is relative, so there's no answer to the question that makes sense. thread over, go home.

ah. I've made that argument and people just blow me off. lol. (that society sets morality and varies from place to place without any strict boundary)

 

[Washington]

in that vein it's a flat out lie. The devil has no power, so a Christian claiming the devil made me do it is basically denying the cross IMO.

Seems your Bible disagrees with you.

John 13:2
The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus.
​

Acts 10:38
how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.
​

 

[Meshavrischika]

Seems your Bible disagrees with you.

John 13:2
The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus.
​

Acts 10:38
how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.
​

that's PRE CRUCIFIXION. sorry. no dice.

 

[Corey]

So is there evil?, or is everything just some alphabet soup disorder?

well...it's very hard to come up with an objective conceptualization, but here's my best shot.

Evil is that which consciously causes harm .

You'll note the lack of a object on which the harm is caused because that can change from society to society.

 

[The Nihilist]

Evil is that which consciously causes harm.

What about punishment?

 

[Beanieboy]

I don't think that evil exists devoid of man.
If there were no people, I don't think that evil would exist. Therefore, evil exists, or it's potential, internally, as does the potential to be good.

 

[Washington]

that's PRE CRUCIFIXION. sorry. no dice.

So after the crucifixion the Devil was rendered impotent? I'm sure you have scripture to this effect and are more than willing to share. In the mean time I'll simply point out that again *sigh* your Bible disagrees with you.

2 Timothy 2:26
and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.
​

Of course you're certainly entitled to fabricate another excuse. In fact, I look forward to it.

 

[Meshavrischika]

poneros pon-ay-ros' from a derivative of 4192; hurtful, i.e. evil, figuratively, calamitous; also (passively) ill, i.e. diseased; but especially (morally) culpable, i.e. derelict, vicious, facinorous; neuter (singular) mischief, malice, or (plural) guilt; masculine (singular) the devil, or (plural) sinners:--bad, evil, grievous, harm, lewd, malicious, wicked(-ness). See also 4191.

 

[Corey]

What about punishment?

The problem is you then have to get into what constitutes harm and appropriate reciprocal reactions.

And that will most definitely change society to society. Think about the Chinese for example. That government clearly sees anyone daring to defy it as causing harm to the social fabric--thus evil under my definition. However, the people defying the Chinese government see it as causing harm to the society---and thus evil.

Beyond the core definition I gave, evil becomes subjective.