I mankind inherently good or evil?

Question

Why or why not?

Sorry for the typo - should say
"is"

Answer 1

Inherently ballanced.

We are a product of our pedecessors. Those before us strived for more from each successive generation, thus we try harder and harder to advance ourselves.

Humans are capable of empathy which gives us the ability to think beyond our own devices.

Answer 2

Mankind is neither. Mankind is basically lazy. For example, the Christmas season brings out the "good" in people. This is when volunteer groups receive the most donations. Knowing this, advertisement hits the public hard with sad stories to encourage the public to give. Why do the same people not give during the year? I believe people are lazy and procrastinate doing good. They know the Food Bank requires donations all year long. Yet, they do not make the effort to donate. Does this make them a bad person? People are passive. This is why Jesus refers to "keeping my commandments." Love is not a passive word, but an active word. There are people who believe, but take no action. Are they bad people? No, they are lazy. Don't misunderstand me. Lazy is not a good thing, but it does not translate to a person being evil. Evil is also an active word. We can sin by being lazy. But, sinning does not make a person an evil person. An evil person is a sinner who does not repent and desires to continue to sin and encourage others to sin. Definition of repentance: First, a person must realize his mistakes. Second, he/she must make restitution to the person(s) they have sinned against. Third, they must seek forgiveness. And, forth, and this is very important, he/she must turn away from that sin. A person can not fully repent if they continue in that sin.

Answer 3

Evil.. but not in the way that most people define "evil." People are not evil like they are a bunch of Hitlers going around murdering people. That is not what is meant by "evil."

God created mankind with "Free Will." When Adam sinned, all of his "seed" would then have the propensity for making the wrong choice rather than the right one. When someone is "saved," or "born again," that inner nature of the soul is transformed, and therefore the person is more apt to make a "correct" choice rather than the incorrect one.

Throughout our lives, we are faced with making choices. Everyone has the chance to make the right choice, or the wrong choice. When we are born, our inner nature (spirit/soul) leans more away from doing God's will (the "right" choice)... so if we face a choice, chances are we will make the "wrong" choice. Yes, sometimes we DO make the right choice, even without God's grace. But when we are "born again," when our inner natures are transformed by God's Holy Spirit, then, when faced with choices, we "lean" more towards making the "right" (God-pleasing) choice. Yes, we DO STILL make the wrong choices, too... but that will end when "Judgement Day" arrives.


Have a blessed day.

Answer 4

I'd lean towards neither though we're probably closer to being inherently good than inherently evil.

Besides, most of the evil that gets committed is done by people with good intentions who were simply misinformed with very little evil actually done by people who thought they were doing evil acts (which is why religion is such a big problem, it causes good people to abandon morality for obedience of a fictional character).

Even when people know they are doing something wrong but do it anyway due to pressure they usually feel uneasy about it.

Answer 5

Yes, originally, mankind was created to be inherently good.

Out of love, God gave us freedom, and we were curious about evil, so we tried it.

Free to choose evil, a child wil lie without being taught.

With chocolate all over his face, a boy will declair "I never touched the chocolate mommy!"

If you ask, are children under 7 "accountable", then "no"...they have not yet reached to age of accountability.

WE BELIEVE, though originally good, Man Willingly Fell to Sin ushering evil and death, both physical and spiritual, into the world.

Every Person Can Have Restored Fellowship with God Through 'Salvation'

Answer 6

Neither. Good and evil can only come from free will. Thus we are not inherently either. Also, if we wre inherently one or the other, it would be impossible for us to achieve the opposite. For example, water is inherently liquid. Water can't be solid. If it is, it's no longer water. (it's ice)

Answer 7

The nature of the spirit is naturally good because we are the literal offspring of our heavenly father.
The nature of the physical body is inherently evil because it desires to go against the will of God, but it is thru many physical experiences we grow and learn and progress, which is good.

Answer 8

Mankind is inherently self-interested. Good and evil are relative. My self-interest is good when I steal from you to keep from going hungry, however if it is your only food, to you it would be evil.

Answer 9

Every human is born as a wild animal just as any other wild animal God created on this Earth. It is God's teachings that change some of us into compassionate loving human beings as we grow older. So if you want to compare being born wild as being inherently evil, Yes we are.

Answer 10

Neither. We are a learning animal more than an instinctal one. Therefore our upbringing is the most influencial factor of our being "good" or "evil".