Has the word "evil" lost all meaning from over-use?

Question

This is how Webster's defines evil:

Evil


Definition: Evil
Evil
Adjective
1. Morally bad or wrong; "evil purposes"; "an evil influence"; "evil deeds".

2. Having the nature of vice.

3. Tending to cause great harm.

4. Having or exerting a malignant influence; "malevolent stars"; "a malefic force".

Noun
1. Morally objectionable behavior.

2. 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.

3. The quality of being morally wrong in principle or practice: "attempts to explain the origin of evil in the world".

Source: WordNet 1.7.1 Copyright © 2001 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.



Date "evil" was first used in popular English literature: sometime before 1010.

Answer 1

Good and evil don't exist in reality, at least not outside of the mind that believes in them. They are only judgments passed by the individual from their own unique perspective. What one person sees as bad or evil may seem to be the only logical thing to do from some other perspective. The ideas of both good and evil are point of view specific. This is why people like bush and bin laden are either loved or hated. Bush is seen as good by people who share his fear based thought system. Those who have a compassionate concern for all of mankind often see him as evil.

Bin laden is much the same. He is a villain in much of the western world, but he is somewhat of a celebrated pop star on the Middle East. There are T-shirt shops that sell items with his picture as though he was Jesus. It all depends on your point of view or perspective.

To sum it all up good is the name we give to people who do things that we think we like.

Evil is the name we give to people who do the things that we don’t like.

This is of course based solely on our particular point of view.

Love and blessings

Don

Answer 2

I think we are just now recognizing "evil." For the past 50 years we have been in the butterfly world of all is fine and wonderful and loving and great and tolerant. We have been permiting a lot of bad things to increase. TV started out decent and TV has become pornography. Fifty years ago it was unheard of and looked down upon to call God's name in vain. Today, that is all you hear in the bad movies of today. Violence is all the news wants to show us even if they have to fabricate some of it. Circuses and bread is all America wants. A nation of pleasure seekers and great indulgences. We are now becoming fat and greedy and proclaiming our shame. Open your eyes and ears America and look around you.

Answer 3

Atheists who don't worship Thor are all lost and evil. They do the evil ones bidding. They are pawns of Loki.

Answer 4

Nothing in your question states to me that "evil" has lost its meaning. I still think "evil" means the wickedness that I see. Evil is the opposite of good. And (though it is conincidence), I find it comforting that "evil" is part of "devil" and "God" is part of "good."

Answer 5

No and its evil of you to imply it has.

To the answer below me - why not? Loki is cool. You'll be sorry when his child the fenris wolf devours the sun...

Answer 6

Did you realize that you cannot have "good" without having "evil"? So the people who are jesus-freaks should thank their lucky stars for the satan-worshippers.