Is it more terrifying to think that evil comes only from humans?
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DominicX (
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September 27th, 2010
While we’re on the subject of the Devil, I thought I’d ask this question. When something or someone really evil comes about, people often blame the Devil. The Devil worked through Hitler or bin Laden or those child molestors or those murderers. Only the Devil could do such evil. No human could do that; it had to be of supernatural influence.
But is it more frightening to think that this evil comes from nothing more than humans alone? I can see why Lord of the Flies was so controversial. It showed that all humans have the potential to become savage monsters.
It seems to me that the Devil is a personification of the evil within humankind.
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13 Answers
No, for I think if that is so, good only comes from humans as well.
I haven’t been around extremely religious people for awhile, but I tend to disregard anyone who still thinks this way: blaming things on characters that aren’t physical. I was very annoyed when people called the hudson crash a miracle, totally ignoring the pilot’s skill.
So yes, it is terrifying to know that people are capable of these things, but it has been going on for so long (and is still going on) that it seems expected. There are too many types of people and anything can happen during the brains development in the embryo and in life so it makes sense.
Evil only occurs when the Good does not act.
It’s comforting in a way to think that there is some malevolent force at work in the world. That’s why the devil is such an easy excuse for many people to believe in. It’s less comforting to believe that people are responsible for the bad things that go on in the world. That attitude makes us look too closely at ourselves and wonder about the bad things that we do.
Whether it comes from humans or the devil, people still do terrible things- the act remains the same. I think it would be scarier to believe in a devil that makes us do evil, because then we have no control or responsibility over our actions. If evil is purely human, then we can take responsibility for what we have done and learn from it. The fact that there are people who believe otherwise scares the crap out of me.
It’s apparently more terrifying to wonder why people create evil. Most seem content with simply writing it all off once there’s a head on the executioner’s block.
@josie
That’s not true at all. I could go stab my neighbour right now, and what could be done about it?
This world is governed by Universal Law and there is nothing that interfers with it. As was stated when something good happens it is called a miracle (and there are none) and if it is bad then it was not a miracle and nothing is mentioned about God. Some do say the Devil must have done it but very few do that.
@chocolatechip My statement is a philosophical one, not a law enforcement problem. The point is there is no presence that is evil. There is no Satan. Every time somebody chooses to act, their action is only going to be evil, or not evil, which in this case would be The Good. Evil only occurs when an act is not for The Good. By default, that would be evil (or vicious, or non virtuous or whatever you choose to call it).
Unfortunately we are human and we grow up in an environment of Good/Bad, True/False, Should/Shouldn’t and Right/Wrong. We judge everything by this view and it is not always so or may never be. These are words and really don’t mean anything as far at the Universe is concerned. Why can’t it be just what it is?
it’s more terrifying that people think evil is a thing.
@josie So evil only occurs when the good (not doing evil) does not act? In other words, evil only occurs when evil occurs? You don’t seem to be saying anything, really.
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