What is good and evil exactly?

Question

What exactly is good and evil? How do we know that good isn't really evil and evil isn't really good. Lol! I mean it could happen.

Answer 1

Well see, here's the thing. Good and Evil is one and the same. It's EXACTLY the same thing. Is it not good for you to kill a murderer? but it's evil for him and his family... What you percieve as good can be thought as bad by another. So technically, there's no such thing as good and evil. It's all just actions, and what others think about what you've done. hope i helped...

Answer 2

Well, Newbie (What does bd stand for, in your case?) think of it as Positive versus Negative.
for example- in a dire situation, such as more people than food,
what do you do? On one hand the negative is the situation.
On the other hand the negative or evil or good/positive is determined by solution. Still confused? Ok, let's say that situation is real.What do you do? Kill off some of the people? Where that might be an obvious choice, it's neither a good one, nor often an acceptable one. Although it would beat poverty, on the mortal reaality level. But that's an evil act. What's the good then? Almost any alternative solution, if one can be found. I'm sorry, but that's the best I can do, with out using science fiction as a basis.

Answer 3

Ask Friedrich Nietzsche, or rather read his book "Beyond Good and Evil", but get familiar with his works first, its a text he wrote for the already initiated to his ideas. Personally, I believe it to be almost completely a matter of perspective. (what is good for one will be bad for another) So in a way I agree with you, there is also the matter of "knee jerk" social guilt, best example: sex. There are many social imperatives that make no sense and so we don't follow them, but we feel "bad". Everyone does some of these, and wants to, but don't get caught, or you will be judged harshly by your piers who are doing these things too. I think most guilt is sin because feeling it gives one an excuse "if I feel guilty, I must not be so bad after all!" an excuse not to do anything about it. Guilt is only functional if it is used to be a pointer to where you need to work and nothing more. Another thing I see as a "sin" is manipulation, in the finest sense, life is manipulation for how can one live without taking SOME choice away from others. One minimizes one's impact however by making sure you realize, and those involved realize the possible impact of your actions, and doing as little as possible that removes choice from others. Does this make any sense? Karma (Spirituality) says we must make a rational considered choice every time. Dogma (Religion) says that one kind of action is always wrong or right reguardless of the circumstances. I believe in Karma (some would say Darma is a better word). Society believes in dogma, often, I believe, in antiquated and disfunctional ways that we learned in the cradle and never really think about.

Answer 4

good helps to create, evil destroys- But often, good involves sacrificing what you want for what is best for the whole. You could even go so far as to say that it has to do with motive more than actual action. Is the act done for selfless or selfish reasons? a more precise answer would depend on the particular details of the exact situation. The particular action might depend on circumstance, but not the motive behind it.

Answer 5

My new wife put in an application with a Dr Ferguson, in Greenville S.C.21 years ago as being his vet tech, My mother answered the phone, he said. may I speak to Dawn, Mother immediately held the phone away from her and said loudly .Don't Have Anything To Do With This Man.He Is Evil,two months later that Dr Ferguson killed his adoptive parents.This was the first time I had ever seen her say something like this about a phone call.
My mother was a wonderful Christian.she could tell evil when she saw it.she simply told me to stay away from evil people,which I do.I to can usually tell evil when I see it.evil will express itself thru people sometimes.You see it all around in society.One thing my mother told me was to praise God for everything,all things come to good that love the Lord.May the Spirit of God bless you .and keep you. and guide you.
and I have thought the very same thought you express in your question,how do we really know if even a miracle is Gods power or the devils.

Answer 6

It matters what you think. Just like if you see someone dress in black with some piercings you would think there bad or evil. Not me because my friend is one of those people. You can't never tell. Good or evil like people say heaven is good but what if that is our own Hell.

Answer 7

Short answer: Good is what pleases God and evil is what displeases God. The way to tell the difference is to ask God. God has answered this question in His Word, and commands that we learn it, know it, and God waits for us to accept it out of true love for Him, which He hopes we will do out of our own free will once we learn about how much He loves us (which is the reason for His commandments -- to protect us). There is no other way to know really, until you learn the difference from the ultimate authority on the matter. God Himself guarantees that if you really want to know the truth on this, that He will see to it that you will get the truth.

Answer 8

you are right it could happen people who think they are good could be evil and vice-versa.Good is something you are willing to do not because someone told you to do it .Evil is the Darkess that clounds the minds of people from the true path.

Answer 9

em, that's quite a difficult q to answer but i say good and evil is what YOU and SOCIETY THINK deem to be good and bad. hurting people, stealing, murdering are examples of evil and being kind, generous and honest are some of the good but, that's my opinion

Answer 10

Good and Evil are not "things" only concepts of one or more person's perception of a choice.