Theory on the origin of evil

[The Righterzpen]

You mean prior to the creation of man? genesis 1?
Sure. Evil had to exist already...the tree was the tree of the Knowledge of Good and EVIL.

The problem is where did this evil originate?
This is always an interesting topic with varied beliefs.
I follow it with interest, but it's always the same ideas.
We don't know how evil got here or why it got here.

But if you say evil existed before God created anything - than by default you say evil is a result of God; seeing how God is the only entity that existed before there was a creation.

 

[lambofgod43985889]

But how could satan turn bad if evil didn't exist?
For satan to turn BAD,,,evil has to be an option.

just he was born watching the other side of the coin, it's simple! isn't it?

 

[GodsGrace101]

The origin of evil is in imperfection of any creature.

Only God is perfect and what is born of Him, having the same nature as He has.

On the other hand, what is created out of nothing, contains evil, because its not God (i.e. fully perfect). Its only a created thing, separated from the nature of God, therefore it contains source for evil/mistakes/sins/wrong desires etc.

Man is born of God.
Is man perfect?

 

[The Righterzpen]

The origin of evil is in imperfection of any creature.

Only God is perfect and what is born of Him, having the same nature as He has.

On the other hand, what is created out of nothing, contains evil, because its not God (i.e. fully perfect). Its only a created thing, separated from the nature of God, therefore it contains source for evil/mistakes/sins/wrong desires etc.

Best response so far. Still does't answer where evil came from - but it's the best response so far! And fundamentally speaking - I would agree with you. Why do created things contain evil?

 

[GodsGrace101]

just he was born watching the other side of the coin, it's simple! isn't it?

NO!
LOL
I said earlier that very intelligent religious persons have not been able to get the answer.
We sure won't!

Who made the coin?
Was it God?
See, it always goes back to God creating evil...but we know He couldn't have.

 

[GodsGrace101]

Best response so far. Still does't answer where evil came from - but it's the best response so far! And fundamentally speaking - I would agree with you. Why do created things contain evil?

First of all,
only God CREATES.
We use this term for when we create things, but it's really not right.
Create means to make from nothing...man doesn't create anything - not even babies because all the necessary stuff is already there.

So if we MAKE something, it will have imperfections because WE are imperfect.

But God is not imperfect, is He?

 

[friend of]

I've often wondered about the origins of evil? Many church fathers and people in Christian circles believe that evil began with Satan. This may be true, depending on your definition of "Satan"; but if we look closely at the first few verses of Genesis, we'll see that this can not be. If we believe Satan is a fallen angel; (as much of church history has taught) than we know for a fact that evil did not begin with him, since it was present before angels were ever created. Darkness (destruction) was "upon the face of the deep" from the first time God had uttered "Let there be light."

I'm already skeptical of this argument...

 

[trophy33]

Man is born of God.
Is man perfect?

Man is not born of God. Only (true) Christians are.

 

[trophy33]

Best response so far. Still does't answer where evil came from - but it's the best response so far! And fundamentally speaking - I would agree with you. Why do created things contain evil?

Because God is good. What is not God, is, in some measure, evil, naturally.

 

[GodsGrace101]

But if you say evil existed before God created anything - than by default you say evil is a result of God; seeing how God is the only entity that existed before there was a creation.

And herein you've hit on the big problem.
If God is all good and is love itself....
how did evil come about.

I'm going to leave here because this won't get you anywhere with me around.

 

[Tone]

Mark 7:20-23
"And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man."

John 8:44
" He was a murderer from the beginning, refusing to uphold the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, because he is a liar and the father of lies."

I think those verses are pretty clear...

 

[GodsGrace101]

Man is not born of God. Only Christians.

Huh?
God made the first man.
He was perfect.
Then that man became imperfect.
That is what this thread is about.
How did the man God made become imperfect?

 

[GodsGrace101]

Mark 7:20-23
"And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man."

John 8:44
" He was a murderer from the beginning, refusing to uphold the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, because he is a liar and the father of lies."

I think those verses are pretty clear...

Did you say clear?

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[lambofgod43985889]

NO!
LOL
I said earlier that very intelligent religious persons have not been able to get the answer.
We sure won't!

Who made the coin?
Was it God?
See, it always goes back to God creating evil...but we know He couldn't have.

you'll have no peace swirling like this

 

[The Righterzpen]

Because God is good. What is not God, is, in some measure, evil, naturally.

I suppose that would depend on your definition of "evil".

I would agree that any created thing is inherently corruptible because it's not omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent, eternal or immortal.

Did you read the theory presented?

 

[GodsGrace101]

you'll have no peace swirling like this

I've got plenty of peace.
I no longer search for the answer...

 

[Tone]

Did you say clear?

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Yeah, as in, the origin of evil is the hearts of creatures.

*But yeah, who can know it...it is pretty unclear (the heart)...

 

[Sanoy]

Even though sin lies dead...
it is still present.

You're theory doesn't work.
Something still had to create evil.

Yes, the transgression is still there but there is no legal ramifications. You can still do something wrong today, but if there is no law code against it there are no legal consequences.

I don't think something had to create evil. I think the ability to choose one side of a moral dilemma is sufficient to be the first instance of an evil action. Evil being a description of privation, rather than a non personified force.

 

[The Righterzpen]

I'm already skeptical of this argument...

Did you read the entire thing?

 

[GodsGrace101]

Yeah, as in, the origin of evil is the hearts of creatures.

*But yeah, who can know it...it is pretty unclear (the heart)...

For evil to get into our heart, it already has to exist.
Our heart does not MAKE evil...it is already made.