Theory on the origin of evil

[The Righterzpen]

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.

Interesting response. Yet you need a moral dilemma defined by a law to transgress in the first place - agreed?

 

[trophy33]

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?

Try to read my post again. Concentrate on "born of God vs made out of nothing" part.

 

[friend of]

Did you read the entire thing?

No. Can you summarize in bullet point?

 

[trophy33]

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?

No, sorry, its too long. I just skimmed through it. It would be probably useful if you can make some short main points in summary and leave the "long version" for a more detail description.

 

[Tone]

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

Evil is non-being if anything (if that makes sense)...you speak as if it were a creature...

 

[GodsGrace101]

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.

Agreed on transgression...you've given the perfect explanation for it. No law...no transgression.

But how does the moral dilemma exist?
If there's a dilemma it means there's a choice.
What are the choices?
Good action
Bad action
The bad action is evil by its very description.

How is prevation a cause of evil?
I don't understand.

 

[Sanoy]

Interesting response. Yet you need a moral dilemma defined by a law to transgress in the first place - agreed?

The law is separate from the logical horns of a dilemma. A dilemma is the logical exhaustion of possibilities into two, that is irrespective of any law.

 

[GodsGrace101]

Evil is non-being if anything (if that makes sense)...you speak as if it were a creature...

I believe satan is real.
However, you could also believe it's a force....
but somehow this evil (whatever it is) did get into man and nature.

The question is HOW did it get there?

 

[Tone]

Wickedness, as an Hebraic concept, is understood as when something is not doing what it was designed to do. For example, a chair may be considered wicked if it is wobbly and will not hold the weight of a person wishing to recline upon it...burn that chair...or repair it...

 

[trophy33]

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

I would generally define "evil" as "a necessary property of a created thing that has some limitations compared to God".

 

[The Righterzpen]

No. Can you summarize in bullet point?

Using the law that "to every action is an equal and opposite reaction". Evil, being the opposite of God, came about as the result of God's creative action. Yet evil remains a created "thing" because it is a reaction to God's action, not the opposite of the totality of God as an entity. (I.E. Evil is not omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent, eternal or immortal.) We know this because evil does not exist in the recreated heavens and earth.

 

[The Righterzpen]

I would generally define "evil" as "a necessary property of a created thing that has some limitations compared to God".

Fair definition. Doesn't explain the origin of evil; unless you are simply defining it as creation being corruptible.

 

[trophy33]

Wickedness, as an Hebraic concept is understood as when something is not doing what it was designed to do.

So, the concept of evil would be limited only to some kind of a "damage".

But its too limited, for the general theological purpose, I think.

 

[trophy33]

Fair definition. Doesn't explain the origin of evil; unless you are simply defining it as creation being corruptible.

The origin is the fact that no creation can be perfect. Fish cannot breath outside of water, therefore it will die. It is limited.

Only God is good in the absolute meaning. Like only the primary source of light is the real light, the other lights are limited, therefore less light, more dark.

 

[Tone]

Using the law that "to every action is an equal and opposite reaction". Evil, being the opposite of God, came about as the result of God's creative action. Yet evil remains a created "thing" because it is a reaction to God's action, not the opposite of the totality of God as an entity. (I.E. Evil is not omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent, eternal or immortal.) We know this because evil does not exist in the recreated heavens and earth.

Why would the Creator be subject to physics?

 

[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.

When you say created out of nothing...
what do you mean?

Only God can create out of nothing...

 

[The Righterzpen]

The origin is the fact that no creation can be perfect. Fish cannot breath outside of water, therefore it will die. It is limited.

Only God is good in the absolute meaning. Like only the primary source of light is the real light, the other lights are limited, therefore less light, more dark.

My theory fits into your definitions.

Have you considered the question of what was the knowledge of good and evil that God possessed before He created anything?

 

[Tone]

the general theological purpose

What might that be? Greek thinking will only get us to more and more abstraction. I pointed out the Hebrew concept ("You know, the people that wrote the Bible?") to make it more concrete.

 

[GodsGrace101]

Using the law that "to every action is an equal and opposite reaction". Evil, being the opposite of God, came about as the result of God's creative action. Yet evil remains a created "thing" because it is a reaction to God's action, not the opposite of the totality of God as an entity. (I.E. Evil is not omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent, eternal or immortal.) We know this because evil does not exist in the recreated heavens and earth.

Evil does not exist on earth?
Or in the heavens?

 

[Tone]

Fish cannot breath outside of water, therefore it will die. It is limited.

A good example of evil.