Do you believe that people are inherently good? or that we are inherently evil?

Answer 1

Did you ever have to teach any of your children how to be selfish?
I suppose not - since this comes naturally.

Answer 2

I'm gonna go with the obvious answer that it depends on your definitions of good and evil, and what human qualities are revered by your religion.

I WILL say that human beings are inherently animals. Animals have instincts, humans included. Those instincts are widely regarded as sins by the major religions of the world.

So, people will most likely be considered inherently evil by most Christians, Muslims and Jews.

People will most likely be considered inherently good by Satanists and Pagans.

Answer 3

I believe we are inherently neutral.

We are like a piece of white cloth and the environment is a dye factory. How we turn out to be depend largely on which dye container you went into. Basically, we all have the good and evil inside us. It's how much we allow it to show.

Answer 4

The soul is the source of all things good while the human side is attracted to this earth. Humans without a Divine Educator will devolve - but by following the precepts of the Messengers, can become an angel.

I hope you check out Ocean, which has writings from many religious faiths, and some Baha'i sites which contain the Writings that I believe we should follow for this period of time.

Answer 5

there is not any concept that's basic to all atheists. individually, i don't think that guy is inherently evil. i don't even have faith that evil exists actually like it does in language, as an autonomous noun. I purely use the be conscious as an adjective to qualify descriptions of the two planned acts or organic activities.

Answer 6

Evil

Answer 7

Humans are inherently whatever makes us survive the best. Cooperation and community can help us survive by having other help protect us, thus we would be 'good'. But threats to our community or us wanting something that someone else has can result in us killing others to get what we want, which makes us 'bad'. We're neither. We can be educated and conditioned however to act in a more positive manner. It is merely aspects of evolution (survival of the fittest) and sociology that makes us who we are.

Answer 8

Definitely inherently good. I say this because we ALL come from a Divine, pure Source so that makes us good, regardless of the mistakes we make along the journey, I still believe at our core, we are good. People just make some "bad" decisions from time to time. But that is what makes us imperfect and human, the way the Creator made us in the first place:)

Answer 9

Interesting question. Due to the fall of mankind, when we are born we are evil. Now because God is good. This is a profound statement because when we say that God is good there is no evil nor darkness in Him. His nature is good and never evil nor can He exist with evil. God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. Now because we are intrinsically evil when born into this world we need our spirits to be regenerated by the Holy Spirit who brings the holy nature of God into our spirits. Our regenerated spirit then in turn effects our soul (mind, emotions and will) and our souls effects our bodies or the works we do. I hope this encourages all.

Answer 10

We're inherently both. Or more accurately, we have drives that lead us to be helpful, have integrity, and seek virtue as well as drives that lead to hate, unscrupulousness and aggression. We tend to think of the former as good and the latter as bad... usually, anyway. Satanists might disagree about the aggression.

Answer 11

It's difficult to respond without defining your terms. Happily, people do know the difference, even from a very young age.

Ideally we are 100% good, but long ago, humans got nasty and built up societies in that image.

To answer, these days we're a mix of good and evil. The whole point of religion (plus of learning and civilization) is for the good to triumph, and in every way. In our inner nature and through our lifelong behavior.