Why do so many people say there is no evil?

Question

http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/evil definition of evil.
I can think of so many things that have happened that I would call evil. So many things not just done by individual, but whole groups. I'm not getting into that part of it though. But as for individual evil- jeffrey dahmer, the btk killer, all the people that do horrible things to children. There are stories daily in the news about evil things happening to children. That guy that kidnapped Jessica Lunde out of her house a couple years ago? he raped her, put her body in a garbage bag and buried her alive. Buried her alive for crying out loud- a little girl. There are stories like this all the time. How could most of these things be construed as not evil? I understand some people are just messed up, but some people are evil.

Answer 1

If you use such a broad definition than no one can argue that evil does not exist. I think what the question is, is what causes evil? Does man himself create evil? Is there an external force that causes evil, like demons or Satan? Or do bad things just happen in a natural world? I think that is where the controversy lies.

Answer 2

The answer is far simpler than the biblical answers given. You must understand a few things though.
1. What is percieved as evil by some is considered good by others. Just cause one side doesn't fit your view doesn't make it "Evil"
2. Some things are not seen as evil (even though they are) because people believe that by denying it exists, it does not exist. This is, of course, foolish. However, people I have spoken to think that when corruption is happening, it can't be true, because there is a system. This is, more or less, wishful thinking, which people think that "people could not do such a thing", or "it is not possible because there is a system, so they will be caught."
Sadly, denial is a powerful thing these days.

Answer 3

Many people who don't believe in a God or an afterlife live by the philosophy, "If it feels good, do it--you only go around once". So if there is no reward or punishment, how can there be good or evil?

Myself, I believe that the order that is apparent in the universe presumes eventual punishment and reward for the things we do in this life. But only burning in Hell for eternity would be enough punishment for what that man did to that little girl. His heinous crime justifies not only capital punishment but cruel and unusual punishment as well. He should be buried alive. And someone needs to really whip up on that guy who attacked the little 101 y/o lady. All you have to do is watch the daily news to know that evil exists. And I don't believe that evil exists so that we will know what is good--I know that candy is good even though I've never had any bad candy. Duh!

Answer 4

Evil exists, and it is in the nature of human beings to be evil. Even the good people of the world have evil tendencies. With the first lie that comes out of our mouths as children there is evil. But without evil, how would we know what good is? How could we appreciate goodness, kindness, love, caring and compassion? All the goodness in the world would not have such a great meaning to us, if the evil didn't exist.

Answer 5

Yeah, I have to agree that those things you mentioned are evil actions. But I don't think there exists a completely evil human being. Yes, those people you mentioned might have more evil than good in their lives - but I still believe that they have at least the potential for good. So in that sense, I would not say anyone is "pure evil." They all have a mother that loves them, and yearns for them to make the right choices and mourns when they choose wrong. We should also try to have this kind of love for them - not approving of their actions - but strongly wishing that they would turn their lives around.

I think when some people say there is no evil, they might mean that when something happens to you, you have the choice whether to describe it as good or bad. One of my favorite sayings is a Jewish saying, which says "Gam zu letovah" which means "this too is for good." In other words, everything that happens to us, happens for some good reason - even if we don't understand it yet. So, if someone robs me, they are doing evil, not good. However, I can say that "this event happened to me for a good reason." Perhaps it alerted me to more important things in my life, or strengthened me, or something like that.

Answer 6

I have to argue with Creation person's answer. Our sentient nature allows us to discern right from wrong. Those who harm others have committed acts of evil. Natural instinct is something that, as sentients, we should strive to rise above and control. I honestly couldn't blame natural instinct for mass murderers. That's not the nature of our beings in the wilds. That's intentionally abstract, sentient, and aware. People who commit those acts are, in my mind, commiting acts of evil. Those evolutionists who believe such a man is just 'following his nature' doesn't really understand primate nature, behavior, or social patterns. Sadistic torture and murder is very rare among our cousins in the wild and never appears in the same kind of patterns that we see in mass murderers and psychos in our own sentient society. Those kind of evolutionists are probably stuck in the 1800's, think Freud still has something to offer in explaining human thought, and probably view emotions as a negative thing. I remember an experiment years back that I read about. A baby monkey was brought into a cage with two fake monkey 'mommies'. One 'mommy' was made out of wire and had a bottle built into her. She was uncomfortable to cling to because of the wires. The other 'mommy' had no bottle, but was made out of a soft comfortable fur covering. The scientists were theorizing that the baby monkey would only spend time with the 'mommy' that provided food. (Obviously, in their thinking, comforting was not important when compared to having more basic biological needs met). They were suprised when the baby monkey spent all of his time with the soft mother and only visited the other one to feed. I think the researchers were kinda clueless about human nature considering the theory they went into the study with.

Answer 7

Are you a good person? What a question, most of us believe that we are good people because we can look around and find someone that is far worse than we are. We can always point to the things that we think make us a good person.

But how good are we really? Dare we take this test and look at ourselves and see if we really are good? Hmmm.

If you are willing try this and see just how good a person you are.

The Good Person Test.

How will you do? Pass or fail?


Have you ever told a lie?
Doesn't matter how big or small, just a lie.
What does that make you? Before answering think about this, if I told you a lie what would you call me? A liar?

Have you ever stolen anything? Cost doesn't matter, a piece of gum, failed to give back an ink pen that you borrowed, anything.
What does that make you?

Jesus said, "You know the saying of old, you shall not commit adultery but I say that if look at someone to lust after them you have committed adultery in your heart.
Have you ever lusted?

Jesus said that hate is equal to murder.
Have you ever hated anyone?

See one day we all are going to stand before a Holy God on Judgment Day and he is going to judge us based on His Holy Law, the Ten Commandments. These are just 4 of them and how did you do? Guilty? I have broken all of these and more, what about you? How well will you do on Judgment Day?

If we break just one point of God's Law we are guilty of breaking all the law and Gods Wrath abides upon us all. Based on God's Law we are all guilty and all are deserving of punishment. But there is an out for us.

Jesus paid the price for each one of us, took on himself God's Wrath so we wouldn't have to face it on our own. Jesus was beaten, battered, bleed and died so we wouldn't have to face God's Wrath. He rose again so that we would life in his presence. Our crimes, His payment.

The real question is where will you stand on Judgment Day. Pay yourself or have it paid for you. Think about it.

Answer 8

'Evil' is one of the forces at work in the universe but the universe's reality is a construction of the mind. Reality is not objective.

Answer 9

There is no such thing as evil because evil is a persepctive. If you don't understand this, I hope you will in the future.

Answer 10

According to evolution there should be no evil, everything that happens should be natural instinct and no one is blameful,