What is "evil"?

[ananda]

Harming, hurting innocent people.

What is "harm" or "hurt"?

 

[ananda]

I would. Death always has an element of tragedy, though not as much if one is old and is at the natural end to one's lifespan.

Death (especially an untimely death or a murder) is an evil. It is something to be avoided if one can help it.

eudaimonia,

Mark

Is not death the foundation for the beginning of new life?

 

[Eudaimonist]

Is not death the foundation for the beginning of new life?

I'm not sure what you mean. Are you talking about rebirth? Or the next generation of human beings? Or what?


eudaimonia,

Mark

 

[ananda]

I'm not sure what you mean. Are you talking about rebirth? Or the next generation of human beings? Or what?


eudaimonia,

Mark

Either. Physical death provides the seed and raw materials for the formation of new physical life in the soil.

 

[Eudaimonist]

Either. Physical death provides the seed and raw materials for the formation of new physical life in the soil.

While that may be a good thing in some sense, it is no less tragic for the one dying. If someone dies (whether through murder or accident or old age) does one say: "Oh goodie! Now there is more compost for the soil of my garden!"

I should hope not. At least, I should hope that one's reaction would not be limited to this, and would be tempered by the sobering thought about the end of a sacred human life.

For practical reasons, it may be, with respect to physical immortality, that one could be concerned about some sort of physical limitations of the creation of more life, though I can't see this as any sort of issue today. I don't see how long natural lives would be a threat to the ecosystem, and I certainly wouldn't see murders or accidental deaths as a "good thing" because of some ecological considerations.


eudaimonia,

Mark

 

[quatona]

Do you have a definition for "good"?

Would "positive" do?

 

[ananda]

While that may be a good thing in some sense, it is no less tragic for the one dying. If someone dies (whether through murder or accident or old age) does one say: "Oh goodie! Now there is more compost for the soil of my garden!"

I should hope not. At least, I should hope that one's reaction would not be limited to this, and would be tempered by the sobering thought about the end of a sacred human life.

For practical reasons, it may be, with respect to physical immortality, that one could be concerned about some sort of physical limitations of the creation of more life, though I can't see this as any sort of issue today. I don't see how long natural lives would be a threat to the ecosystem, and I certainly wouldn't see murders or accidental deaths as a "good thing" because of some ecological considerations.

eudaimonia,

Mark

So, death (itself) may be a tragedy for one, but does that automatically make it an evil?

 

[ananda]

Would "positive" do?

What is "positive"? Good intentions?

 

[juvenissun]

I would never dream of hurting an animal. I wonder what made you look for the gap in my statement.

You can keep you eyes closed and be your perfect humanist.

 

[juvenissun]

What prevents you from going to the heavens?

For example, eat meat.

 

[juvenissun]

Buddha stated that things are either skillful or non-skillful; everything is subject to birth/creation, preservation, and death/destruction, but none of the three are inherently good or evil.

Of course. But if you DO a certain things, then you could be doomed. Those things are evil.

 

[ananda]

For example, eat meat.

So vegetarianism is a prerequisite in Christianity?

 

[ananda]

Of course. But if you DO a certain things, then you could be doomed. Those things are evil.

Like what things?

 

[juvenissun]

So vegetarianism is a prerequisite in Christianity?

In Christianity, God specifically tells us that we CAN eat meat. So, eating meat is no evil in Christianity.

If you like Buddhism, then you need to overcome one serious question: Is cabbage, or soy bean alive or a life? Why monks ate (killed) it without feeling guilty (evil)? [in fact, this is a quite simple question in Buddhism. But the answer is, in fact, very meaningful, even in Christianity.]

 

[ananda]

In Christianity, God specifically tells us that we CAN eat meat. So, eating meat is no evil in Christianity.

So why do you say eating meat prevents you from going to heaven?

 

[juvenissun]

Like what things?

This is your second one.
For example: adultery.
So, adultery IS evil.

 

[juvenissun]

So why do you say eating meat prevents you from going to heaven?

Buddhism said that. (I guess you know why. This is in Buddhism 101)

Note: when I talk to you, I treat you as a Buddhist. You can make me stop doing that.

 

[ananda]

Buddhism said that. (I guess you know why. This is in Buddhism 101)

Note: when I talk to you, I treat you as a Buddhist. You can make me stop doing that.

According to the earliest Buddhist texts, the Buddha did not prohibit meat-eating.

Eating of fish and certain types of meat are allowed, even to monastics (Vin II.197 & III.172), but we may not eat anything that was killed specifically for us (M I.369), nor are we allowed to kill an animal ourselves, directly (First Precept).

Mahayanists later on added to this with a ban on all meat eating.

 

[ananda]

This is your second one.
For example: adultery.
So, adultery IS evil.

Why is it "evil"? Note that I'm not looking for examples of "evil", but what "evil" is in and of itself.

 

[juvenissun]

According to the earliest Buddhist texts, the Buddha did not prohibit meat-eating.

Eating of fish and certain types of meat are allowed, even to monastics (Vin II.197 & III.172), but we may not eat anything that was killed specifically for us (M I.369), nor are we allowed to kill an animal ourselves, directly (First Precept).

Mahayanists later on added to this with a ban on all meat eating.

I killed a chicken for other purposes, you eat the chicken. Not evil.
I killed the chick for you (evil), you do not eat it. Evil.

I do not see the reason. The chicken was painful no matter it is killed for whatever purpose.