Do you believe that people are born basically good or basically bad?

Question

Just want some opinions on if you believe people are born good and then things happen that have them turn out "bad" or if you beleive that people are born just bad.

Answer 1

Well....

I have read all the other answers, so far...and decided to add my two cents worth. I am not sure what else you could buy for two cents, but nontheless:

The problem with this question is that everybody has a different idea of what would make someone "basically good" or "basically bad".

For instance, on one hand...I absolutely love kids...and ALL kids under the age of 5 are "basically good". I mean...sure they have their "moments"...and their "temper tantrums"...and the "terrible twos", as it is called, but on the whole, I find I love kids under 5...because they are "basically good". Perhaps, a better way to put this, though...is that they are "innocent." They haven't been tainted by this harsh world and all the hate, violence, prejudices, and mean people. Their "badness" is nothing when compared to all the horrific evil that goes on in this world. And they have very fresh views of things...that are often quite startling as to their depth and othertimes just hysterical!

Sure, genetically speaking...some kids tend to be more outgoing, aggressive, energetic...but this just makes their "badness" more apparently for others to see than the other "quiet" ones...who are often more scheming! HA!
;)

And absolutely, the environment that the child is in for those first 10 years is absolutely critical in defining their future behavior.

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But enough of this nonsense, above.

The TRUTH is that all people are born "basically bad". That is, they are born with a nature that is predisposed to do bad things. The entire young childhood "career" is one of "pushing boundaries" and purposefully doing what one is told not to do...just to see what happens. Only through consistent parental discipline does a child actually feel "safe" and "secure" and "loved" inside known boundaries. But the fact remains, that ALL children WILL do EXACTLY what they are told NOT to do...if ever given the chance...IF they believe they will not get caught and if there are no consequences. And as soon as a child is old enough to the mouth the words, "I didn't do it!", they will lie to hide that "bad" things they have done!

A "bad" thing is a thing that is disobedient. And lying is a "bad" thing. Children are professionals at both. So are adults, but adults are simply more sophisticated and believable in all their lies!

SO...given this "born nature"...if not put within a good environment with good, solid boundaries of discipline, then this "basically bad" nature will REALLY rear its face for all to see...(and prisons are overcrowded, as a testimony to this fact)

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Biblically speaking, a "sin" is to be disobedient. Biblically speaking, to be "disobedient" is to NOT be holy and perfect as God is holy and perfect.

God never lies. God never cheats. God never steals. God never covets things or people. Etc, etc, etc...

Therefore, by Biblical standards...which means by God's standards:

ALL people are sinful. And we are born sinful. This is VERY easy to see in ANY child. For just about as soon as a child can speak, out will come a lie! It is just "natural" for them. (In fact, some of their "goos" and "gaas" are probably lies, but we just don't understand them)

To love and obey is unnatural. It "goes against the grain". That is why parenting is difficult. Because as a loving parent, you LOVE your child. You don't want them to get hurt, you don't want them to get into trouble, you don't want them to be "bad"...yet, it is YOUR responsibility to take this child, who is born in such a way that sinning is very natural for them, and discipline them in a loving way so that they obey.

...and its the same way with God, who loves His children...and disciplines them out of love...so that we may obey.

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In the end though, a "new" nature is required. And a "new" nature is only obtained by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. And it is VERY natural for this "new" nature a Christian has to love and obey...for the Holy Spirit is inside of them! Yet, that "old nature" still lingers...even in Christians. And this is why Christians still yet sin...though they don't really want to...and regret it and repent of it!

And they do this as fast as they are mature in their walk with the Lord...as well as ceasing do repeat sinning in the future until that sinful desire is completely snuffed out!

Biblically speaking, this is called the "Mortification" and occurs via the ongoing process of "Sanctification" by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.

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Grace and peace in Christ!
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Answer 2

Humans are evil at heart. People can't see it because they have Gods influence in this world even if they don't recognize it. I think the best example there is of this is in the bible. Actually 2 come to mind. First the slaves that were freed from Egypt. They had numerous examples of God in Egypt and in the Desert and yet they still did not believe in what He promised and kept trying to go their own way, which ironically was to go back to Egypt and their lives as slaves. The second is from Revelation. When Christ returns there will be a 1000 yr reign at which time Satan will be chained in the ground and unable to influence the world. Christ will actually be present in the world. Yet at the end of that time when Satan is released for his ultimate fight and destruction there will be millions alive who will fight with Him. Doesn't that tell us that we are evil on our own? That evil is not so much what we do but that like Lucifer and Adam and Eve it is choosing to live apart from Gods will and doing things our own way. I bet there isn't one person out there that is not guilty of that.

Answer 3

I believe that people are born innocent, and as they grow up, they learn what it means to look after themselves; and since they start off in this life not aware of the needs of others, their own self-preservation becomes first and foremost in that little one's precious life.

However, they get to a certain age when their conscience is awakened, and then continue to look only after themselves. It is at THIS point that a person becomes "bad", when they fully understand that the universe does NOT revolve around them, but they continue acting like it does.

Additional note: A good book I once read that describes this process is called "The Kingdom of the Self", but I don't remember who wrote it.

Answer 4

We are all a product of our environment. Meaning, that we are not born good or bad, but become who we are by learning from those around us. Individuals who grow up in an environment where crime, drugs, etc, run rampant, then they may be apt to follow in those footsteps. The same for someone who grows up in a wholesome environment. In many cases, people naturally gravitate to what they feel good doing. For example, a person who has been "good" all their life, may find an instant thrill by say stealing something. This may lead them to a life of crime. At least that's the way I see it.

Answer 5

I believe people to be born a clean slate with the ~potential~ for both good and bad. How one becomes derives from a number of factors including personality, enviroment and social interaction.

Answer 6

If you don't believe that people are basically cruel and selfish, watch children interact with each other sometime (or just try to remember what high school was like).

If people are basically good, then what turns them bad? If society makes them bad, that begs the question who corrupted society? Society is just the collective will of all of the people, so if you say that society is corrupt, then you are essentially saying that people are corrupt.

People are born selfish, insensitive, and cruel. We have to be taught how to love. It is almost unnatural.

Answer 7

You are born, and i hate to tell some people this, but nothing besides your surroundings and the way YOUR PARENTS bring you up have to do with that. I got good morals and knowing right and wrong from my parents though they are republicans and i am a democrat, and the claim to be christian and i am not

Answer 8

I believe people go through rough patches in their lives. They have been hurt and in order to protect themselves from being hurt again, they put up a guard that hurts other people. I believe that they get over it eventually.

I was very mean in high school. I used guys, played with their hearts, threw them away, pulled them back in for round 2, 3 ,4... Because I was hurt by one boy I believed guys had no souls. I dont feel that way now and I go out of my way to be sure I dont play with a man's head/heart.

Answer 9

It's nature vs. nurture, right? And the answer is "yes". That is, both environment and genetics play roles. As for "good" and "bad", you'd be hard-pressed to define either of those in a way that everyone agrees on, plus it's a false dichotomy of reality, so it's better to stick with the "nature" and "nurture" question.

Answer 10

No. People are born innocent, not knowing good or bad. Their parents have to teach them right from wrong don't they?

Answer 11

Hmmmm....
Even though we are born into original sin, I still think we are born good. I've never met a baby I didn't like. People learn to be bad later.