Naturally good? Or naturally evil?

Question

My cousin and I were having a discussion the other day and we came up with this question: "Are we naturally good and tend to do evil things or are we naturally evil and strive to be good?"

I hope that made sense...

Answer 1

Evolution has graced every social mammalian species on the planet with two social instincts: altruism and empathy.

Altruism is the ability to give up from one's self for the good of other. A wolf may give its life to save a group of puppies or the rest of the pack. This is a genetic benefit because the survivors are closely related to the one who sacrificed, so despite not directly breeding, the genes are propagated more than if the sacrifice was not made and one survived while many died.

Empathy is the ability to recognize the mental state of other. In canines, this can be seen by quietly sitting down and very softly whining -- all but the most aloof of working dogs will come over as if to comfort you or be present with you even in non-understanding of why you are whining.

These two instincts, when processed by abstract logic, derive the fundamental rule of ethics embedded in every human culture known: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you (common), Do not do to others what would be unpleasant done to one's self (negative, classically Buddhist), or Do unto others as they do unto you (reactive, classically LeVayan Satanism).

Since the interest of the species is for the majority of the species to hold these instincts, the gene becomes common but very few variant genes (those that do not directly define a species or metabolic pathway) ever reach 100% penetration. Thus, some individuals will be born lacking one or the other, sometimes both.

In humans, this is the genetic foundation of sociopathy and psychopathy.

Thus, the majority of humans are born INCLINED towards goodness, though they are imperfect and other inclinations can tend them from time to time away from good, but there are also those who are born INCLINED towards badness, though with proper environment and education they can strive to tend towards good despite the inclination.

Answer 2

Knowing & Understanding: There's A Difference

Swami Sukhabodhananda
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A man with eight PhDs - he was proud of his achievement - met a monk. The monk asked him, "Why have you been so foolish in life?" The man said: "But I have eight PhDs!"

"I have understood you; it is foolish to spend the best part of life reading instead of enjoying the birds, stars and the moon", said the monk.

"You may have knowledge but not clarity; you may know a lot and yet understand nothing".

What does one have to understand about life?

You have many centres: Intellectual centre, an emotional centre and a body centre. In each centre, there is a mechanical and magnetic part. The mechanical part acts like a machine while the magnetic part acts with ore awareness.

You have to transform yourself. Your mechanical movements and thinking have to change. Your mechanical emotions like jea- lousy and hatred have to be overcome. You can do this by bringing in more awareness.

Then a complete being will emerge. When you increase awareness, even poison can turn into medicine; and with no awareness, medicine can become poison.

Why are we so mechanical?

A king dreamt that he was a beggar. His guru, in his dreams, told him the truth that he was a king and not a beggar. Now was he to argue with his guru or just wake up?

The question of "why" cannot be answered. When did time begin? You cannot answer such a question. Which came first, egg or hen? There is a logical fallacy in the very question. Realise that we are mechanical. Bring in more awareness and see the life-transformation.

Even inert objects have life. Treat any object with loving awareness and it will guide you mysteriously. Your intuition and purity have to increase to receive this message. When you bathe, lovingly talk to water.

In a relationship, is it not necessary to judge? >>

In a relationship, is it not necessary to judge?

Keep yourself relaxed. Increase your awareness and love. Not to judge should not be a conclusion. Don't make it a demand or compulsion. Let there be a choice. There is a difference between "should' and "choice'.

"Should' creates stress; it limits you to only one option. Choose not to judge. It is not a demand but a wise choice.

The danger of judgment is that you stop seeing the object of judgment and you are more in your judgment.

In life, you have to make judgments, but don't be a victim of your judgments. Suppose a thief enters your house, you have to judge him but then, be open to the possibility that he could change.

Suppose you meet him after 10 years, see if he has changed or not. Do you still judge from the memory that he has been a thief? If you do not have this awareness, you will not see the change in a person even if he has changed.

What should one be really aware of?

Negative emotions poison. Like avoiding poisonous food, avoid negative emotions. Don't identify with them. Don't participate in them. Choose to create a new will, not be driven by negative emotions.

They deplete your energy. They keep you asleep. They are harmful and heavy. They make your life complicated. For example somebody's success should not be your failure. We define our failure by somebody's success.

We feel jealous seeing someone successful. Jealousy is a great poison.

Compete with your potential. Even if you compete with others, enjoy it. See beauty all around. Do not define your success and failure by someone's success and failure.

Answer 3

Human beings are born without having evil in them, then when they mature they tend to take the path of evil and good, while God wants them to good deeds the Satan is there to fill up the hell with himself and his followers.

Answer 4

We are naturally sinful- evil- Romans 3:10 says "No one is good, not one, and no one seeks after God"

Romans 3:23 says that we have all sinned against God and fallen short of His glory.

--The only good in me, I know of is Jesus Christ living in me- as He says in John 15:5 "Apart From Me you can do nothing"

We were all born into sin- since the fall of Adam and Eve- that is our natural being- sinful. That is why we all need a Saviour! And that Saviour is Jesus Christ- Glory be to Him!

Answer 5

there is an old Cherokee Legend that says we each have two wolves living inside of us one represents good the other evil. the one that is winning is the one that one feeds the most.

Answer 6

You are naturally neutral and tend to get swayed with holy books and other gadgets one way or another; try and stay naturally neutral.