What does 'evil' mean?

Question

I think it is verbal condemnation of unnacceptable behaviour, promising/threatening punishment.

Answer 1

Evil is NOT what religion does (just saw a recent response) - it is what MAN does.

If we accept (let's not get 'bogged down') we are the only 'sentient' creatures on this planet - therefore operate on a level not simply driven by nature (survival of the fittest - the way that animals operate) - then evil may be said to be anything/any action that man chooses to do, in all conscience and of his free-will, that directly results in a negative influence on the Earth, or any one or more persons, living creatures or things (or indeed arguably has a negative influence on themselves).

A 'negative influence' in this (admittedly hastily composed answer) would be anything that causes harm, or damage, or dis-advantage, or deterioration to the world or any living thing in it.

Man created the concept of 'evil' prersonified by some 'antithesis' to God (let us say 'the tempter', Satan, or the Devil - or any of the other various names that may have been used for the idea that there is an entity that represents the 'dark' aspect of the spiritual self).

In fact, this 'tempter' exists ONLY within man - and throughout life man is faced with choice upon choice - each of which may provide direct selfish benefit to himself - or indeed may actually cause direct harm to another person or thing. There is ALWAYS the opportunity to choose NOT to do the thing that causes harm, causes an 'negative impact'.

As we develop from an infant and learn about moral values, about good and bad, right and wrong - we eventually learn (in most cases) what we SHOULD do in any situation that would be the right, the best, the most honest, the most beneficial thing. Every time we choose NOT TO DO the right thing - we are enacting 'evil'.

The word has been imbued with a power that is blown up by its abuse in the media ('axis of evil' ...and such crap) ...the reality is that if we all lived lives that were blameless, that involved making choices that were good for all and not just for 'one'; lives in which we truly looked out for (should we say demonstrated 'love' for) our 'neighbour' - and 'treated others the way we would like to be treated' - then evil would cease to exist...not only as a mis-used word, and a concept, but in actuality. There would no longer be any 'evil'.

Man - having 'invented' the word, and concept of evil - is the only creature who can 'perpetrate' it. Man is also the only creature who cause 'evil' to 'cease to exist' - or cease to 'be done'.

Man OFTEN uses religion, and/or politics, and or many other 'excuses' to justify actions that are blatantly 'evil'. BUT these 'things' are merely the way that Man has time and again tried to mitigate the blame they should shoulder for the actions 'he' alone (or, indeed collectively) chose to take.

PS:...Well I had to edit anyway....
(Evil is NOT 'per se' going against the 'Will of God' - because God has given us our own free will, our own 'minds', our own consciences, our own understanding...our JOB, in the short time we have on this mortal plane, is to learn to use these powerful tools effectively - Therefore 'evil' is chosing to use our 'free will' to selfish, thoughtless, destructive and/or negative ends.

Some of man's greater stupidities - like vanity, arrogance, selfishness, desire for revenge, hate, bllody-mindedness, lust for power, lust for personal material gain...are very frequently core to much of the 'evil' that is daily demonstrated, especially just at this moment, on the media news reports.

We all KNOW that if everyone involved in the current 'evil' could address the range of issues just listed - almost all this emanation of 'evil' would immediately cease. And yet - we still all sit around and watch the daily perpetration of murder, mayhem, torture and hatred - all forms of evil 'justified' in the names of politics, religion, culture, material gain...etc...yet TRULY caused by one or more of this list of human failings. )

Answer 2

Im just wondering if truth4u has a real brain or just a reliance on being holier than thou.
Hey fckwt, god may be your answer, but it really isn't everyone elses. Expand your mind, broaden your outlook and answer the damned question rather than just passing everything off to some deity that already has enough to do.

Damn good job they didnt give you the wrong book eh...

Oh, sorry, after that I better have a go...er, evil is not to do something that is wrong, it is to do or cause to happen something that hurts beyond an acceptable limit

Answer 3

Deangleo-Angel Javan-Angel Malachai-Angel Melek-Angel Alexander-Defender, protector Aaron-mountain of power Christopher-bearer of Christ Declan-Saint Dominic-of the Lord Gabriel-guy of God Lewis-favourite Warrior Mason-Stone worker Theo-God's modern William-resolute protecor

Answer 4

Actually, "evil" does not exist. In order to measure something it must be, in the first place, measurable. Evil is in fact the lack of righteousness. To say a person is evil really means to say that they are lacking righteousness. This is the same as saying that cold does not exist. In order for cold to exist you would be required to be able to measure the amount of "cold" that was being released. However, the only way to measure cold is by measuring the amount of "heat" that is lost.
Therefore, man has come up with the term "cold" to communicate the loss of heat.
Evil is the same way. When a person does something "evil" he is not doing something evil he is doing something that is NOT righteous or good. So, to sum up, evil does not exist but man has come up with the word evil to communicate the absence of good.

Answer 5

Evil in its most simple term is pre-meditated wrong which will harm another being, usually in an unforgivable way.
We all do wrong, sometimes it's just thoughtlessness or stupidity or simply a mistake. Evil is terrorism - when innocent people die in the name of greed. Evil is sexual abuse. Evil is premeditated murder. Evil is love of self to the detriment of others. Get the idea? Evil is where God isn't.

Answer 6

According to the Dictionary of Word Origins by John Ayto, the original meaning of the English word "evil" has changed considerably over the last few hundred years. Not surprising. It seems theologians have had considerable influence upon shaping words to cause us to see according to their doctrines rather than what is plainly written. Mr. Ayto writes:

"Evil" has gotten distinctly worse over the millenia. Originally it seems to have signified nothing more sinister than "uppity," and in the Old and Middle English period it meant simply "bad"; it is only in modern English that its connotations of "extreme moral wickedness" came to the fore. It probably comes ultimately from "upelo-", a derivative of the Indo-European base "upo-, under (source of Greek hupo, under, Sanskrit "upa", at, to, and English "up" and "over"), and so its underlying connotation is of "exceeding due limits, extremism. Its Germanic descendant was "ubilaz", source of German übel, evil as well as English evil."

Answer 7

I tend to agree with definitions #2 and #5 from Dictionary.com:

2. Causing ruin, injury, or pain; harmful
5. Characterized by anger or spite; malicious

I think intentionally causing harm to others is evil.

Answer 8

morally bad or wrong; "evil purposes"; "an evil influence"; "evil deeds"
morally objectionable behavior
having the nature of vice
that which causes harm or destruction or misfortune; "the evil that men do lives after them; the good is oft interred with their bones"- Shakespeare
tending to cause great harm
the quality of being morally wrong in principle or practice; "attempts to explain the origin of evil in the world"
malefic: having or exerting a malignant influence; "malevolent stars"; "a malefic force"

Answer 9

me too i think......i dont know but if u really want to know go to dictionary.com or webbsters.com






Morally bad or wrong; wicked: an evil tyrant.
Causing ruin, injury, or pain; harmful: the evil effects of a poor diet.
Characterized by or indicating future misfortune; ominous: evil omens.
Bad or blameworthy by report; infamous: an evil reputation.
Characterized by anger or spite; malicious: an evil temper.

n.
The quality of being morally bad or wrong; wickedness.
That which causes harm, misfortune, or destruction: a leader's power to do both good and evil.
An evil force, power, or personification.
Something that is a cause or source of suffering, injury, or destruction: the social evils of poverty and injustice.

adv. Archaic
In an evil manner.


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[Middle English, from Old English yfel. See wap- in Indo-European Roots.]
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evil·ly adv.
evil·ness n.

Answer 10

Evil is mostly a point of view.

What one person dose that to them might seem right and even virtuous to another may seem to be evil.

From my viewpoint I would say being evil is to do bad things to other people for any reason.

Answer 11

What is evil? Is there any such thing? Or is there only selfishness, pettiness, sloth, etc? At what point can we say that someone is evil, instead of saying that they have made some bad/negative/unloving/whatever choices?