Is evil an aspect of human nature, or is it the work of some malevolent force beyond our comprehension?

Question

What is evil? How do we know what evil is? Does it have "symptoms"?

Answer 1

Every human - no matter what "religion" - has the capacity to love, to act with compassion And forgiveness toward the "other". But we tend to reserve that capacity to those who agree with us.

We also have the capacity to judge and condemn others. That largely covers up our own unwillingness to admit our own failings, to not love (some of) the "others" who do not agree with us.

Evil is the failure to act WILLINGLY - not because we have been told - with compassion and forgiveness toward "others".

Most - if not all - religions teach the importance of compassion! But the "path" is narrow and few are those who follow it, according to Jesus.

That’s why we have Jihad and why we had “holy wars” and why we are still condemning and fighting “the others” (infidels or whatever!). That’s also why we have various fractions of Muslims or Christians or Jews or Buddhists etc., though they ALL teach the wisdom of compassion and forgiveness.

"If any show patience and forgive, that truly would be an exercise of courageous will and resolution in the conduct of affairs." Qur'an: Sura 42:43 (Counsel)

As someone put it: To love is the answer - whatever the question.

Evil is the failure to love.

Answer 2

Evil is what we define it to be by our own ethics. What might be evil to one culture might not be evil to another. Therefore evil is an aspect of humans. Saying that there is a malevolent force or entity somewhere causing bad things to happen is just looking for a scapegoat for a persons own indifference to helping someone else or themselves in a time of need.

Blessed Be )O(

Answer 3

Evil like death is a force we walk with daily never know when itll strike but we know it will it isnt beyond our comprehension coz its works are self explanatory so we know its the work of the devil which man readily obliges to it really is easier to do evil than good think about it. symptoms murder stealing dishonesty adultery or do these sound like normal humane acts or should someone murder ur friend or relative for u to know evil

Answer 4

Evil is an aspect of human behavior.

It comes from us, not from some external personification of malevolence.

Answer 5

Apperantly when you foam out the mouth it looks pretty evil, so i guess that could be symtom. Bats look pretty evil, but they are just creatures living their life. Spiders, damn those things are evil. I don't know. I think oppressing peoples freedom is evil.

Answer 6

it's the work of some malevolent forces such as demons and evil spirits

Answer 7

Evil is human nature. We need to stop blaming it on some boogieman and own up to it. Evil is simply hurting others.

Answer 8

Anything against the will of God is evil. satan is the father of rebellion, and was the persuasive being that caused us to first rebel. Now Since satan introduced us to evil through his deeds, I believe that he can be called the reason. Yet maybe we would have rebelled without the existance of satan.

It has one very noticeable symptom... short lifespan. All those who are against God will die, all those in Jesus will never die.

Answer 9

"evil" is sublimated animal instinct twisted by forced domestication and submission to elaborate social rules and conditioning. the human animal has not yet and perhaps never will be fully and happily domesticated.

example...
greed is the human animal's hoarding instinct gone awry.

Answer 10

Both answers are correct.

Evil can be that which is conjured up by Satan, or it can be what we conjure up through our sinful nature.

We know what evil is through the conscience that God supplied all mankind with (whether Christian or not you are born with it).

All which is not a product of God is evil. There are many symptoms--greed, selfishness, self-righteousness, etc.