- Joined
- Jul 3, 2008
- Messages
- 4,902
- Awards
- 1
Just as the title entails I want to have a civil discussion on the concept of evil and if it is something that is, just that, a concept or perhaps an actual working force in this universe or a product of human understanding towards those who act against the common notion of "good" or however way you want to define or give shape to it. I know that was a long winded sentence but I've tried to rephrase it in so many ways. I suppose I should be clear in saying that this is NOT a religious debate. However, it does go without saying believing in evil or not is an aspect of one's belief system, so we're not here to argue who's belief system is right or wrong but rather learn about each other's views on evil.
Evil can boil down to something very specific for certain people or something very broad and general. I honestly don't know if I'm setting up the discussion very well but I suppose I can start on how I view evil and to be honest it is never really concrete or takes the same shape.
To begin, yes I do believe evil is real. I believe evil to be an active force that this world can't get away from. There are different categories, levels, tiers you name it. Natural evil (hurricanes, cancer, tornadoes, tsunamis, etc. basically evil without an agent to put moral blame on), moral evil (making choices that go against one's moral parameters such as murders, thievery, rape, etc. where an agent, mostly human agent, can be put to moral blame), metaphysical/spiritual evil (forces beyond our physical or understanding pulling strings to cause such evils. many beliefs over thousands upon thousands of years have created agents of malevolence). This conversation may open pandora's box to the existence of free will and morality and everything but I just want to have a conversation on what people view about evil.
Are there evil people? Are there evil beings? Is anyone and everyone capable of evil? If everyone is capable of evil does that alone make us evil? I'm just in need of some meaningful conversation and having one that may possibly shake my own beliefs both frightens and excites me. Plus I haven't done anything on these forums in months so please discuss.
Evil can boil down to something very specific for certain people or something very broad and general. I honestly don't know if I'm setting up the discussion very well but I suppose I can start on how I view evil and to be honest it is never really concrete or takes the same shape.
To begin, yes I do believe evil is real. I believe evil to be an active force that this world can't get away from. There are different categories, levels, tiers you name it. Natural evil (hurricanes, cancer, tornadoes, tsunamis, etc. basically evil without an agent to put moral blame on), moral evil (making choices that go against one's moral parameters such as murders, thievery, rape, etc. where an agent, mostly human agent, can be put to moral blame), metaphysical/spiritual evil (forces beyond our physical or understanding pulling strings to cause such evils. many beliefs over thousands upon thousands of years have created agents of malevolence). This conversation may open pandora's box to the existence of free will and morality and everything but I just want to have a conversation on what people view about evil.
Are there evil people? Are there evil beings? Is anyone and everyone capable of evil? If everyone is capable of evil does that alone make us evil? I'm just in need of some meaningful conversation and having one that may possibly shake my own beliefs both frightens and excites me. Plus I haven't done anything on these forums in months so please discuss.