Do you still believe in the basic goodness of man?

Answer 1

I believe that people deserve my respect and trust until they prove that they don't. I give people the benefit of the doubt. My family thinks I'm not harsh enough, but I just like to believe that not everything is black and white, and that certain things, no matter how bad they sound, really DO depend on the circumstances.

I also do not believe that there is such a thing as a truly evil person. What someone does, no matter how horrid, THEY can always justify at least to themselves.

But I believe that everything has a balance to it, because if ther was no bad, the good would not be good anymore. It would just be the way.

I believe in the basic goodness of man, just as I believe in the basic badness. In some ways I do, but in some ways, no. Good and bad is in the eye of the beholder.

Answer 2

I guess that depends on your interpretation of what 'good' is. To me, 'good' is determined by how it relates to God. And when I examine myself, the deeper I look the more sin I see. And by human standards of morality I'm pretty good, I guess; average anyway. So, no, as it relates to God I don't think man is even good more of the time than he's bad.

From a human standpoint, in other words a pretty broad, open-minded interpretation of morality, I think it varies from person to person. Some people are good to other people more than they're not, some are not. It would be ridiculous for me to pretend to know enough about the world to come up with any kind of average.

So, in conclusion... in actuality? No. From a 'moral' standpoint, (pretty worthless standpoint, as morality's definition is constantly being changed) sometimes.

Answer 3

I think the basic urge of all life is to survive. Once people feel safe they become generous. Poor folk who are getting by will share quicker then rich folk who think they need everything they surround themselves with to survive. Bill Gates, Warren Buffett etc. have come out the other end and have enough to meet their survival needs in their mind and can now be generous. Humans are basically good as long as they feel safe. Unfortunately politicians and religious leaders incline people to violence and blind submission to authority by making them feel unsafe.

Answer 4

You have got to believe in the "basic goodness of man", if not
it's certainly going to be a long,dreary,painful,uneventful life.
That certainly doesn't sound like much of a life to me! If you
can't find the good, what does that leave? Hateful,pessimistic
and forlorned life, now does that sound like an abundent,joyful
and caring life? I think not.............

Answer 5

Every one has a basic good. But not all live up to it.

Answer 6

Nope, I believe in the basic greed of man.

Answer 7

We are all sinners in need of a Savior! No I don't believe man is basically good, but if we put our faith in Jesus, He can redeem us!

Answer 8

No. Look around you, today everyone thinks only of themselves, most people seem to have no morals or values and think nothing has consequences. They lie cheat & steal every chance they get. We need to get back into the Church and start giving ourselves over to the Lord. Since Prayer was stopped in schools, our societies morals and values have almost disappeared.

Answer 9

I try to find the good in all people. I try not to hold grudges, and I try to always get along with everyone. Unfortunately not all people are good, and sometimes you find that out the hard way.

Answer 10

Their is no good in man, to be good is to be rightoues and kind always no matter how much your tested or pushed, people fall if they are pushed far enough