If goodness cannot exist without evil, what is religion for?

Question

If you think goodness can exist without evil, then why the long history, both in the bible and in this world, of never ending battles among each other? Which, I may add, is still in process.

Answer 1

All that is nonsense.

Answer 2

We live in a world of contrast, such as day and night, rich and poor, winter and summer, even life and death. This world is ever changing, nothing is static. On this computer screen, there is black type on a white background. That is how we determine the meaning of the words. If it were all white what would it say?. If there were no opposites or contrasts, we would never be able to understand or appreciate anything. But, in heaven, everything is good. That is why we choose to come to this earth and live as humans. We come here for only a short time in order to experience the struggle of living as limited human beings. Although it appears difficult, traumatic, and frightening at times, it is really just a grand illusion. Before we came here, we all swore an oath to pretend that time and space exist. (Einstein proved they do not exist as we perceive them). We consciously decided to forget our divine knowledge and origins, in order to play the game. When it is over, we will return to our permanent home in heaven. Heaven is our source. I love the Buddhist saying, "Praise and blame, gain and loss, joy and sorrow, all come and go like the wind. To be happy, rest like a great tree in the midst of them." It is so true. Good and evil are only opposites of the same coin. Enjoy the game. http://taobarbie.com

Answer 3

The "goodness" and "evil" are really actions and thoughts deemed to either be deviant or acceptable by a given society. For example: the Bible says that polygamy is a sin and is wrong, Yet in some christian and non-christian societies polygamy is accepted. So here we have a lifestyle "polygamy" that is only considered wrong based upon the standards set forth by a given social group. So when you have two different social groups inhabiting the same area, or competing for an area, and they both have differing religious ideals, confilict arises. War tends to arise when the two groups use thier religion to identify themselves as "good" and the other group as "evil". This is what happened to the assimilation and massacre of millions of American Indians by Spanish Conqustadors under the endorsment of the Catholic Church. The Indians were savages who needed to be saved, whether it meant repentance or extermination.
Many advocates of religion hate to admit it, but religions have caused more death and repression in this world than salvation and unity.

Answer 4

Well do you know where are when the first battle that occured took place and why? (A) When Lucifer, now Satan rebeled against God and was cast down. thus caused man to fall through temptation. After that war broke out on earth. But the Lord sent a savior and a promise that this season will end.

But before Satans thoughtless move there never existed war. Nevertheless since everlasting past before Satans foolishness and everlasting future after his dome along with those his followers. THERE WAS, AND WILL NEVER AGAIN BE WAR.

Yes! those who are called anti christ. Evil against good. The spirit that decieved men to fight against each other for land riches and skin color etc. shall be cast into the lake of fire. And HE Jesus shall reign forever and ever. He that is called the "Prince of peace".

Goodness cannot indeed exist with evil.But note goodness is giving those who are tainted by evil a period of time to repent. Lest they perish along with the evil (Satan and his Demons).

Goodness is not struggling with evil. But is patient, not willing for any (souls created in the likeness of God) to perish.

And speaking of "his story" God is in control and it is history to write. HE IS GOD!

Answer 5

At one level, "religion" is the learning and artistic venue for our personal and collective "struggle" to find and do the right things in life. . .to choose good over evil. . .as it is frequently not so black or white.

Btw, dualism is a clever way to depict "why" we should choose good. . .out of fear of what evil can become unchecked. . .or the ludicrous notion that goodness is stale or powerless without it's opposite. Instead, the opposite of good needs to be understood as a "suppositional" concept. . .light versus the absence of light.

(Put another way, think of the classic Star Trek episode where two different versions of Captain Kirk beam up from an away expedition after a transporter malfunction. . .one that is indecisive and too trusting. . .and another that is cruel, ruthless, and full of lust. And that somehow we end up with a "better" Captain Kirk by combining the two! When, in fact, the so-called "good" Captain Kirk was NOT the peaceful, indecisive one.)

Answer 6

SaMhaiN,
"If goodness cannot exist without evil, what is religion for?"
I don't know where the idea tht good can't exist without evil came from. I don't agree with that. I wonder if anyone traced the history of that idea.

The battles you speak of had a start, and have an end. Humans don't have the history to unravel, so I guess that we will have to wait to see it end. I'm pretty sure that there wont be wars in heaven after this is all over, but I think that Hell might be full of them.

Answer 7

That is the whole problem with dichotomy. Opposite things are the same thing because they define each other. How do you define good, how do you define evil. they can not exist each without the other. There is another way but it means you need to view the whole world differently. not good and not evil but just what it is.

Answer 8

Why can't goodness exist without evil? Biblically, it did, before the fall of man, and does, in Heaven. The existence of goodness does not depend on the existence of evil. In this world, it's actually quite the opposite. Without free will, mercy, redemption, forgiveness, and countless second chances (all good things) evil wouldn't exist at all.

Answer 9

What is good without evil? Evil exists to uplift and highlight that which is good, whether in heaven or on earth. In the midst of evil... the best ( and worst ) qualities in Humanity can be seen. Religion just gives us the user's guide to True Goodness with a great after sales service customer support, the Divine.

Answer 10

Evil is in this world only because we allowed it to be. because of the evil, man turns upon one another and does evil to eachother. the battles will never stop as long as evil is in the world.

Answer 11

Goodness can exist without evil.

However the presence of evil (whether past or present) can help us to appreciate Goodness.

Also, struggle between good and evil (and us having the choice to choose one or the other) is necessary for the development of character and integrity.

Cordially,
John