Evil

[Emperor_Mike]

What exactly constitutes "evil?" How do we know evil is not good and vice versa? Who gave evil its meaning? Does evil hide behind a mask of good? Does it walk the earth like a never ending plague of iniquity? Do each of us have within ourselves the capability to do great good or great evil?

So many questions...

[Fireblade]

I dunno what it means... but I know I have evil in me. :lol:

[Deadpool]

I went to a Catholic private school before.
The all said I was evil...........I'll show them..... *twitch*

[Faithless]

Using the m-w definition for the noun:

1 a : the fact of suffering, misfortune, and wrongdoing b : a cosmic evil force
2 : something that brings sorrow, distress, or calamity


I would add that it is something that we personify or define as we see it.

[Emperor_Mike]

With the number of calamities in this world of ours there's no doubt in my mind that Evil walks among us.

[Faithless]

To tie in the Ras thread, partially, on the subject of human nature, do you think it is in our human natures to be evil?

I'm still trying to get a definition of human nature. It is debatable on whether it is genetic or social in scientific circles. Assuming the genetic definition, do we have a predisposition toward it? I wonder.

[moJo]

<!--QuoteBegin-ChottoMatte+Aug 6 2003, 10:39 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (ChottoMatte @ Aug 6 2003, 10:39 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> To tie in the Ras thread, partially, on the subject of human nature, do you think it is in our human natures to be evil?

I'm still trying to get a definition of human nature. It is debatable on whether it is genetic or social in scientific circles. Assuming the genetic definition, do we have a predisposition toward it? I wonder. [/b][/quote]
I think we are born good and then nurture (environment) takes over. That "clean slate" theory by John Locke, I think. :unsure: Thats about the only memory that I retained from AP euro history.

[Faithless]

<!--QuoteBegin-Sportie+Aug 6 2003, 10:47 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Sportie @ Aug 6 2003, 10:47 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> <!--QuoteBegin-ChottoMatte+Aug 6 2003, 10:39 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (ChottoMatte @ Aug 6 2003, 10:39 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> To tie in the Ras thread, partially, on the subject of human nature, do you think it is in our human natures to be evil?

I'm still trying to get a definition of human nature.&nbsp; It is debatable on whether it is genetic or social in scientific circles.&nbsp; Assuming the genetic definition, do we have a predisposition toward it?&nbsp; I wonder. [/b][/quote]
I think we are born good and then nurture (environment) takes over. That "clean slate" theory by John Locke, I think. :unsure: Thats about the only memory that I retained from AP euro history. [/b][/quote]
I'll buy that. You have to work at both -- being good or evil.

If evilness were a natural part of the human condition, I'd say that some people are better at hiding that part than others. You take some Buddhist monks. I believe the devote their life to goodness, cleanliness. Are they working extra hard to not be evil or are they working extra hard to be good?

[Fireblade]

Personally I believe that both evil and good exist within ourselves. It's just that life experiences shape us into the beings we are now. It varies on what degree or level of "good" or "evil" was allowed to be seen in your own reality. There are some people (sorry, I'm going to have to say deeply religious) who believe they can do no evil. So when you tell them they are, they overtly deny that acknowledgement and continue on with their ways. Because they were in an enviornment that continues to brainwash them into doing the "right" thing, they don't believe some of their actions are evil. And then there are the weird instances in which a murderer or convict will commit a gesture of grace that makes us all go "what is wrong with this picture?". Besides, I don't think any of us were born with the concept of good or bad. It's just what was taught to us.

[teaz0r]

evil live !

[RasFarengi]

I do not believe in "Evil" in the biblical devil sense.


I think we all process the capacity to do good and bad things, but what we determine as good and bad is largely based on society. There are very few things that are universally accepted as bad or good. It is very subjective.

Murder is the only one I can think of, but murder is subjective too. IN some countries self defence is murder if the person dies, in America it could be man-slaughter, or nothing at all, just self defense, depending on the situation.

Rape? Well in America that is wrong, but last year in Pakistan a tribal counsul ordered the rape of a girl because someone from her tribe offended another. So to them rape is acceptable as punishment under certain circumstance, I don't agree with this, but that is their reality.

Mass murder might be wrong if one person does it for pleasure, or for whatever reason...because God told him too, etc.... but if the US government kills 2,000 civilians and says it's collateral damage that is okay...

[Emperor_Mike]

I believe that "evil" in its truest sense does exist and has reared its ugly head before. Take Hitler and the Endsolung, for example. Six million Jews died by way of the will of one man. Likewise, Stalin's purges and destructive policies led to twenty million Russian deaths. Perhaps what we equate evil with nowadays is a bit "toned down" with murders, rapes, and the like. Real evil is hard to come by in this day and age and for that we ought to be thankful.

[Eros]

I believe there is a concept of evil but it's a hard concept to argue because you can't really discuss it without bringing in spirituality. And even when you do, it's debatable if there is the duality of good and evil. Basically, as long as we perceive dualities evil has to exist next to good as a comparison. What evil truly is is pretty much dependant on societies and religions. And, as with many things, evil can be the soil that something good grows out of (and vice versa). Like with the example of what Hitler did, that lead to the formation of Israel. And the formation of Israel lead to much trouble in the middle east.

[Ogumo]

America

[moschikat]

<!--QuoteBegin-Deadpool+Aug 6 2003, 01:24 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Deadpool @ Aug 6 2003, 01:24 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> I went to a Catholic private school before.
[/b][/quote]
And I'm a perfectly good girl. Innocent, pious and devout. Just like they told me I should be.

:D

I think one of my ex's moms said to him, "J-A-C-K-I-E spells trouble son, I don't want you dating her."

*sigh* :rolleyes:

[Deadpool]

<!--QuoteBegin-moschikat+Aug 7 2003, 01:06 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (moschikat @ Aug 7 2003, 01:06 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> <!--QuoteBegin-Deadpool+Aug 6 2003, 01:24 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Deadpool @ Aug 6 2003, 01:24 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> I went to a Catholic private school before.
[/b][/quote]
And I'm a perfectly good girl. Innocent, pious and devout. Just like they told me I should be.

:D

I think one of my ex's moms said to him, "J-A-C-K-I-E spells trouble son, I don't want you dating her."

*sigh* :rolleyes: [/b][/quote]
Haha...Damn Jezebel.
One of my friends was kinda of in the same boat as me. The School she went to was fanatical. a lot of mental abuse. They told her she was going to hell and one day one of her schoolmates commited suicide they told all the kids not to cry for him because suicide is a sin and that hes going to hell. i also have some other fantastically sick stories but I'll save them for later.

[Eros]

<!--QuoteBegin-Deadpool+Aug 7 2003, 04:19 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Deadpool @ Aug 7 2003, 04:19 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Haha...Damn Jezebel.
One of my friends was kinda of in the same boat as me. The School she went to was fanatical. a lot of mental abuse. They told her she was going to hell and one day one of her schoolmates commited suicide they told all the kids not to cry for him because suicide is a sin and that hes going to hell. i also have some other fantastically sick stories but I'll save them for later. [/b][/quote]
That could really screw up some people, especially those who have the odd "visions" because of some mental disorder. I remember watching a show were they talked about a guy who was an athiest yet, because of some weird mental thing, would occasionally slip into visions of hell and stuff.

[moschikat]

<!--QuoteBegin-Deadpool+Aug 7 2003, 01:19 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Deadpool @ Aug 7 2003, 01:19 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->
Haha...Damn Jezebel.
One of my friends was kinda of in the same boat as me. The School she went to was fanatical. a lot of mental abuse. They told her she was going to hell and one day one of her schoolmates commited suicide they told all the kids not to cry for him because suicide is a sin and that hes going to hell. i also have some other fantastically sick stories but I'll save them for later. [/b][/quote]
:o

i was only kidding!!

the "evil" that I recently found out about my privy catholic school was that the priests would "touch" a few young boys . . .

now *that's* evil!!! :pissed:

[Emperor_Mike]

<!--QuoteBegin-moschikat+Aug 7 2003, 07:14 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (moschikat @ Aug 7 2003, 07:14 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> <!--QuoteBegin-Deadpool+Aug 7 2003, 01:19 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Deadpool @ Aug 7 2003, 01:19 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->
Haha...Damn Jezebel.
One of my friends was kinda of in the same boat as me. The School she went to was fanatical. a lot of mental abuse. They told her she was going to hell and one day one of her schoolmates commited suicide they told all the kids not to cry for him because suicide is a sin and that hes going to hell. i also have some other fantastically sick stories but I'll save them for later. [/b][/quote]
:o

i was only kidding!!

the "evil" that I recently found out about my privy catholic school was that the priests would "touch" a few young boys . . .

now *that's* evil!!! :pissed: [/b][/quote]
Quite a few Priests and Brothers have engaged in the "touching" of young boys and girls. It's all very, very disturbing, though hardly "evil." Still...it's pretty appalling. <_<

[Deadpool]

<!--QuoteBegin-moschikat+Aug 7 2003, 07:14 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (moschikat @ Aug 7 2003, 07:14 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> <!--QuoteBegin-Deadpool+Aug 7 2003, 01:19 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Deadpool @ Aug 7 2003, 01:19 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->
Haha...Damn Jezebel.
One of my friends was kinda of in the same boat as me. The School she went to was fanatical. a lot of mental abuse. They told her she was going to hell and one day one of her schoolmates commited suicide they told all the kids not to cry for him because suicide is a sin and that hes going to hell. i also have some other fantastically sick stories but I'll save them for later. [/b][/quote]
:o

i was only kidding!!

the "evil" that I recently found out about my privy catholic school was that the priests would "touch" a few young boys . . .

now *that's* evil!!! :pissed: [/b][/quote]
If touching young boys is evil you must be Satan. :dance:

[Tao]

that whole priest sex abuse thing IS evil in my opinion. nothing is worse than to have people beleive in you and trust your judgement and guidance, only to later find out that he's been molesting your kid. That my friends, is evil.

[Eros]

Plus the fact that they are suppose to be a community icon of how one should act and of purity.