Theory on the origin of evil

[The Righterzpen]

IMO, if what you are saying is correct, then God couldn't have said that all He did was good.

And why is that?

 

[Tone]

Possessed the tree or possessed the knowledge? God is omniscient; so by definition of course He possessed the knowledge of good and evil before he created anything.

Maybe that tree is/was lie...and why would the Creator have the knowledge of it?

 

[The Righterzpen]

satan is the hardest thing to believe out of all the elements in the christian faith. I just can't get any logical and scriptural reasoning for him. Everything is just so incoherent and makes less sense than anything. I admit on my ignorance but I have to say more than 50% thinks he doesn't exist.

You're probably correct here. A lot of people don't believe in hell either.

I believe Satan is a real "entity" - I'm just not sure how to define him.

 

[The Righterzpen]

Maybe that tree is/was lie...and why would the Creator have the knowledge of it?

If you're omniscient than you have knowledge of everything. It's inherent in the definition of "God".

 

[The Righterzpen]

I'm pretty sure it came from free will. We humans are created in the Image of God. That is widely, interpreted that we are a little microcosm that resembles God abstractly (rather than literally like Mormons and a few radical Protestants I've talked to take it). Anyway we humans would rather be in relationship with people and creatures that love us and associate with us voluntarily, and well I believe God is the same way. God allowed Lucifer and Adam and Eve a choice not to follow him. And today even with the us having the Holy Spirit we still sometimes have to deal with that sort of issue at times. (Which I'm sure will trigger some strong Calvinists and Augustinians!)

I think you have a good point here regarding Adam and Satan. "Free will" being defined in those cases as a will not impeded by sin or a fallen nature. Both Adam and Satan made a choice.

Not sure how that answers the OP though? Unless you have some other thoughts to elaborate on. I can say I've known you to have insightful ponderings! So, do share if you have any other ideas.

Actually, in thinking about what you said here. Satan's fall was fundamentally different than Adam's. Satan fell absolutely into complete evil. Adam and Eve still remained able to exercise the ability to act morally and ethically. Satan appears to not have the capacity, ability or desire to do any good.

Interesting dichotomy there.

 

[Tone]

That the situation is morally bankrupt.

*Maybe not...

Actually, I change it again-it is morally corrupt, because who put it there (the fish out of the water)?

Reminds me of C.S, Lewis' Perelandra - Wikipedia, when Professor Weston, possessed by the devil, catches fish and tears them apart with his hands, for no reason other than to destroy.

A fish out of water doesn't just happen in a perfect world, which is what was created...

 

[The Righterzpen]

Thanks, I pretty well got that from the first few sentences but didn't want to read the rest just to see if I missed something.

So much overthinking and not quite enough simple logic.

Evil originates in the mind of the individual evil doer.

I agree that the choice to transgress does; but this doesn't answer the beginning of Genesis though, that talks about "darkness upon the face of the deep".... etc. That seems to indicate that evil exists outside of the creatures' choice to partake in it.

 

[The Righterzpen]

Actually, I change it again-it is morally corrupt, because who put it there (the fish out of the water)?

Reminds me of C.S, Lewis' Perelandra - Wikipedia, when Professor Weston, possessed by the devil, catches fish and tears them apart with his hands, for no reason other than to destroy.

A fish out of water doesn't just happen in a perfect world, which is what was created...

Actually the Hebrew word "good" there means "pleasant". It means God was pleased with what He'd created. It doesn't mean "perfect" (as in unable to be corrupted).

 

[Tone]

If you're omniscient than you have knowledge of everything. It's inherent in the definition of "God".

1 John 1:5
"This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all."

Well, one thing I believe we can say for certain then, is that darkness, evil, or lie did not originate from Him and it will not be found in Him at the end.

Luke 13:27
“And he shall say to you, 'I do not know you and from where you are; depart from me, workers of lies.'“

 

[akaDaScribe]

God created good and evil because he defined what is good and what is evil.

 

[The Righterzpen]

God created good and evil because he defined what is good and what is evil.

Explain what you mean. If I declare murder is wrong, that does not make me a murderer.

 

[(° ͡ ͜ ͡ʖ ͡ °) (ᵔᴥᵔʋ)]

It's not talking about dualism. Did you read the entire post?

Yes, I did read the post. Call it what you want. But what you are suggesting is dualism. Very similar to the Eastern beliefs of Yin and Yang. That good is at odds with evil. That there cannot be one without the other. Therefore, because God created good, evil must exist too. Its dualism.

 

[The Righterzpen]

Yes, I did read the post. Call it what you want. But what you are suggesting is dualism. Very similar to the Eastern beliefs of Yin and Yang. That good is at odds with evil. That there cannot be one without the other. Therefore, because God created good, evil must exist too. Its dualism.

Are you denying evil exists?

 

[Tone]

Actually the Hebrew word "good" there means "pleasant". It means God was pleased with what He'd created. It doesn't mean "perfect" (as in unable to be corrupted).

"How can two little words mean so much? Enough to spark the endeavor of two girls who never dreamed they would have a blog – let alone a joint one. Tov Meod is a Hebrew phrase directly translated to very good. In the beginning of it all, Genesis chapter 1 tells us that God created the earth and called it tov, or good. When he added us into the mix, he called it tov meod, or very good. What is lacking from the direct translation is the massive weight of tov meod‘s connotation. If someone says a thing is tov meod, they really think it is the best of the best of the very best. When God called us tov meod, he was saying that we are better than the best of the absolute best."
What is Tov Meod

*What will make it even more perfect, in the end, is that we have been exposed to corruption, yet, it did not set in...and this He knew before He created.

 

[akaDaScribe]

Explain what you mean. If I declare murder is wrong, that does not make me a murderer.

God determined what He considers to be good and what He considers to be evil. If he did not define evil, it would not be evil.

 

[The Righterzpen]

"How can two little words mean so much? Enough to spark the endeavor of two girls who never dreamed they would have a blog – let alone a joint one. Tov Meod is a Hebrew phrase directly translated to very good. In the beginning of it all, Genesis chapter 1 tells us that God created the earth and called it tov, or good. When he added us into the mix, he called it tov meod, or very good. What is lacking from the direct translation is the massive weight of tov meod‘s connotation. If someone says a thing is tov meod, they really think it is the best of the best of the very best. When God called us tov meod, he was saying that we are better than the best of the absolute best."
What is Tov Meod

Yet obviously that did not mean incorruptible.

 

[The Righterzpen]

God determined what He considers to be good and what He considers to be evil. If he did not define evil, it would not be evil.

The end result of evil is destruction. So thus evil is not defined by what God considers. If God never gave a command not to murder, that would not negate that murder is still destructive. The concept of evil stands outside of the definition of moral.

 

[Tone]

Yet obviously that did not mean incorruptible.

*What will make it even more perfect, in the end, is that we have been exposed to corruption, yet, it did not set in...and this He knew before He created.

I added the above^.

His Holy One did not see corruption...He Who we are to be One with, therefore, what has seen corruption?

 

[childeye 2]

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?

Evil is the product of vanity in the created thing, and vanity begins with taking God's attributes for granted so as to become unthankful and subsequently vain.

 

[akaDaScribe]

God determined what He considers to be good and what He considers to be evil. If he did not define evil, it would not be evil.

For example, if God thought it would be good to have created beings who sought to be worshipped by others

The end result of evil is destruction. So thus evil is not defined by what God considers. If God never gave a command not to murder, that would not negate that murder is still destructive. The concept of evil stands outside of the definition of moral.

Untrue. Eating a plant could be viewed as destructive. Who considers eating plants to be evil?