Are we human beings basicly "good" or "evil" or some where in between.?

Answer 1

It must be that we are good, I think. because it is human beings themselves who have come up with the terms. Normally when we talk about good in the broadest possible sense, we mean actions which uphold values that are in accordance with the moral sense that human beings typically have... it seems we owe that "sense" to our evolutionary history.

However, It's rare for a group of humans (or an individual) to come up with a definition of "good" that excludes that same group of humans... even Christians, who go on and on about what a poor state humanity is in, claim "salvation" for themselves and that they are freed from evil by the blood of Christ.

One way human beings could be evil is retrospectively, if in an attempt to further their own local interest or notions of good, a larger group of humans view those same acts as evil... Hitler is an example of this...

evil is normally commited in defense of the local group, which goes back to our tribial societies -- however, when excesses are made, human beings will always side with the opressed if they have no reason not to... and that's the virtue that's going to save us.

cooperation was imperative in the tribal societies of our past, and now that the world becomes even more globally linked, I think that cooperation will continue to expand... "Do unto others" seems to be a fairly universal moral standard among we humans, and I think it will serve us well over the long run.

We have made so much progress, and have mastered at least some of the secrets of the universe.
I'm optimistic.

Answer 2

When you say "basicly" I take that to mean you are asking about the fundamental nature of humans.

My feeling is that humans have not one, but two fundamental natures: the carnal (or natural) and the spiritual (or God/self-disciplined). The spiritual is fundamentally GOOD, and the carnal is fundamentally in opposition to that, so that we can exercise our own wills.

Our spiritual nature is our true nature... we feel more and more real as we get in tune with that. Something within us NEEDS to be good, otherwise we are never satisfied.

So, really, the truest, deepest, part of every human is pure, holy, shining, and full of light....

We only feel that we are "somewhere in between" because we are all at different stages on the path to embrace the Light within ourselves.

Temporarily, humans remain somewhere in between good and evil. But God's plan is marvelous... We will eventually overcome everything, so that only the pure light within remains.

The eternal spirit of human beings is fundamentally (and undeniably) GOOD.

Answer 3

Your question has no basis in reality.

Most people seem to regard evil is a 'thing'... something that has some corporeal form of existence in the physical universe. Or, perhaps, a 'force', or an innate 'quality' of the universe or of existence. What a load of nonsense. Evil does NOT 'exist' as a 'thing', or a 'force'... it exists only as an abstract 'concept'... one that is 'dualistic' in nature. 'Evil' cannot 'exist' without 'good'. They are the two sides of the same coin, in the Yin/Yang sense. One cannot 'exist' without the other; neither can be defined or described, except in terms of the other.

Good/evil is further abstracted in the sense that it represents a 'judgement'... and as a judgement, good/evil is wholly subjective, since it relies entirely upon the 'criteria' that is employed in making the judgement.

So, the real issue is not good/evil per se... rather, it relies upon the CRITERIA that people use in making their judgements of good/evil, it relies on the misconceptions, prejudices and beliefs of the person who is making the judgement, and it relies on the agenda of the person who is making the judgement.

Nothing in the universe is inherently 'good' or 'evil'... it just IS.

Since we all pretty much share the same hardware, and are all wired pretty much the same, and share pretty much the same cultural values in a larger sense, we usually find ourselves on common ground when we judge questions such as "Was Hitler evil?", since we can agree on the criteria. (Murdering 6 million innocents can hardly be regarded as 'good' by a sane person.) However, we should realize that if Hitler had been asked the question "Are you evil?", he most certainly would have been thoroughly offended by the very idea. According to HIS criteria, he would have seen his actions as 'good'... for his people and for 'The Fatherland'. He is known to have said something to the effect that he saw himself as doing the work that Christianity had started, but never finished... i.e., he was doing "God's work". (He was nuts, of course... as are ALL people who see themselves as doing "God's work".)

When we get down to subtler questions, where someone's 'criteria' might depend upon interpretation of a particular verse in the Wholly Babble, or the Koran, for example, these kinds of judgements can get a little stickier.

It's not really about good/evil, it's really about criteria.

"Religion is an insult to human dignity. With or without it you would have good people doing good things and evil people doing evil things. But for good people to do evil things, that takes religion." ~ Steven Weinberg, Freethought Today, April, 2000
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Answer 4

A lot has to do with the upbringing. If you had an older sister who always tried to kick your tail and you retaliated, you'll normally be mean. If you're passive, you're normally good. The rest is in between as both good and evil try to dominate each other.

Answer 5

All people are born sinless. We are creations of choice, unlike angels who just follow god's order. We all sin and hopefully also do good deeds and it is a question of which is more?
God is merciful, for when we sin, he writes it as a single bad deed, whereas if we simply think of doing something good, we get a good deed. Carrying through the good deed will multiply your good deeds.
In this lifetime, we should strive to do good deeds, while believing in God.
On the day of judgement, those who will recieve their books in their right hand (good deeds outweigh the bad), will dwell in paradise by god's will. Those whose books will be given to them in the left hand (bad deeds outweigh the good) will dwell in the hell fire, may god protect us from such a destiny.

Answer 6

To some of us, kindness comes more easily ... to others, being mean is natural.
But the average person stands somewhere in between of dark and light. Which makes it the more interesting experience - that's where the free will comes in.
What do you choose? To be kind or to be mean?

Answer 7

The worst atrocities and the noblest ideals reside within each man's heart.Most are somewhere in between

Answer 8

Innocent.

Answer 9

Almight God created man basically with both the qualities simultaneously good and evil and then he gave us the free will to test as to who misuses his free will and who submits his will to God i.e. Allah.

Answer 10

Very good question, my spiritual Brother, and all here, in Truth !

We need to carefully look at the Origin, the Nature, and the Destiny of Human Persons ... (and not write a book here ...hmm ...reflecting in Spirit and in Truth ...)

The Father God and the Creator Son of God Jesus Christ as One have declared, in all "past and now" Eternity on Paradise: "Let US make Human Mankind in OUR One Father-Son Image projected into space time universes. (see Gen 1:26-27 and in the ,Spirit of Truth here upon us) This is our Father-Son Spirit Origin --all infinitely pure and good !

Mankind's Nature now. God has told us this Great Loving Invitation-Command: "I AM the Almighty God; walk before Me, and Be you perfect, even as I AM perfect." Amen !

This much implies to reflective Humans that we all start out very much LESS than ALL-Perfect ! A cute little baby, without good fatherly AND motherly training-nurture-love would remain a selfish animal and even tearing the eyes out of other children. Sorry to be shocking, but that is our present (and necessary ! God's will ! No "Fall of Man" error) starting out condition -- with initially Zero moral and Zero spiritual nature. God sees us in Jesus here as all perfect in POTENTIAL here and ACTUAL in Eternity Destiny ..to be Revealed personally later when one Human is Spirit Born in God-consciousness and given same --a profound "peek" in eternal Paradise Destiny ...

OK, I may be getting too complex -- simply put; we are all PERFECTING in soul and mind, and as we are each personally willingly Spirit of God-led. We divinely beloved Humans are NOT all sinful and NOT yet now all Pure as Jesus Christ our One Perfect God-Man here IS ! Maybe on a good day, we display to others 0.0000000000000001 % of Jesus' infinite love, mercy, true Spirit Ministry to all without favor. Mankind is not as bad as the hyped-up and spinned-down-to-garbage BAD NEWS media would have you believe. Ahh ! Yes ! Today I will post a new Question here on the great truth story of the "Nasty, Snarling, Filthy Caveman"
That is very soul and mind opening to higher reality --God's viewpoint more clearly perceived.

The more you really understand your Brothers and Sisters here as perfecting sons of God, the more you will love them --if you know and love God our loving Father.

Human Destiny: Here in Jesus Christ, -- our loving, merciful, rehabilitating Savior -- we will, each and all who are sincere in seeking God and in doing ever better his perfect will, personally Realize the unending, Glorious Adventure of being a True, ever-Ascending, Son of God up through many ever higher Heavens into God the Father-Infinite I AM on Paradise-Eternity ! We each will ever Be Father God-Knowing and Father-Son-Spirit God-Revealing to more in our, assigned by God, domain of service in the infinite Family of the Father-Infinite !

The above is a very small glimpse which needs 5000 or more pages to better explain a little better in our first lifetime here on earth. Or you can pray and fully sincerely ask Jesus for ALL TRUTH OF GOD here and now ! See and believe John 16:7-16, John chapter 17, especially the last 1/3 or so.
Sacred and Transforming to us is Jesus Christ here now with us ...

Peace and progress,
Brother Dave, a Jesusonian Christian Truthist
http://www.PureChristians.org/ Gospel enlarging website,
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