Do you believe "evil" really exists?

Question

I dont think it does. I think that ignorance exists, and that the human mind has the same potential for good as it does for evil.

Ultimately it is our sorroundings and environment that molds our minds and shapes our characters. But the man you may think of as evil has the same potential for goodness as you do.

So "evil" is more so a misguided mind than an inherent force that ulitmately determines the fate of people, in terms of heaven or hell.

In other words, how can a man be judged if we all come from different places, raised by different circumstances, and undergone different levels of traumas.


What do you think?

Katie,

thats not what I mean at all. It has nothing to do with different cultures, but everything to do with all people as individuals.

The guy who murders has lost respect for life due to his circumstances. But if you place that man in a loving environment when he was growing up, would he still turn out to be a murderer?

Answer 1

Yes it does, you should meet my sister in-law.
Without evil, there would be no good.

Answer 2

Evil exists. Both as a separate force and in people. You cant take to people raise under the same circumstances and one will live a full meaningful life and the other will turn out to be a serial killer. Yes, it can be a choice, but i believe that someone can be born with the evil "gene" so to speak. Have you never met someone and immediately known that there was something dark or different about that person and you just new that you wanted nothing to do with that person? That is evil that you are feeling.

Answer 3

One word answer: No

Longer, more detailed answer.....




THE NONEXISTENCE OF EVIL

The true explanation of this subject is very difficult. Know that beings are of two kinds: material and spiritual, those perceptible to the senses and those intellectual.

Things which are sensible are those which are perceived by the five exterior senses; thus those outward existences which the eyes see are called sensible. Intellectual things are those which have no outward existence but are conceptions of the mind. For example, mind itself is an intellectual thing which has no outward existence. All man's characteristics and qualities form an intellectual existence and are not sensible.

Briefly, the intellectual realities, such as all the qualities and admirable perfections of man, are purely good, and exist. Evil is simply their nonexistence. So ignorance is the want of knowledge; error is the want of guidance; forgetfulness is the want of memory; stupidity is the want of good sense. All these things have no real existence.

In the same way, the sensible realities are absolutely good, and evil is due to their nonexistence -- that is to say, blindness is the want of sight, deafness is the want of hearing, poverty is the want of wealth, illness is the want of health, death is the want of life, and weakness is the want of strength.

Nevertheless a doubt occurs to the mind -- that is, scorpions and serpents are poisonous. Are they good or evil, for they are existing beings? Yes, a scorpion is evil in relation to man; a serpent is evil in relation to man; but in relation to themselves they are not evil, for their poison is their weapon, and by their sting they defend themselves. But as the elements of their poison do not agree with our elements -- that is to say, as there is antagonism between these different elements, therefore, this antagonism is evil; but in reality as regards themselves they are good.

The epitome of this discourse is that it is possible that one thing in relation to another may be evil, and at the same time within the limits of its proper being it may not be evil. Then it is proved that there is no evil in existence; all that God created He created good. This evil is nothingness; so death is the absence of life. When man no longer receives life, he dies. Darkness is the absence of light: when there is no light, there is darkness. Light is an existing thing, but darkness is nonexistent. Wealth is an existing thing, but poverty is nonexisting.

Then it is evident that all evils return to nonexistence. Good exists; evil is nonexistent.

(Ábdu'l-Bahá, Some Answered Questions, p. 259)

Answer 4

Evil exists but not as an entity. Evil exist in the things people do. There is no denying the atrocities people do is pure evil. If it is only our surroundings why would one person in the same surroundings choose good while another in the same circumstances chooses evil.

Answer 5

Of course the human mind has the potential for good but when one does the opposite of that intentionally it is considered evil. I would not say ignorance...ignorance is not knowing or wanting to know. Our surroundings may be a basis for why people do "bad" things but should not be an excuse as to why we do it..because we know what is right and wrong...unless you plead insanity in a court of law. "Evil" is a manifestation of satan and "evil" is always associated to him. If you do not believe in "evil" then you do not believe in satan, therefore you don't believe in God and that He is the basis and foundation of everything that is good.

Answer 6

yes there is Evil

and its all around you

even intellegent very cunning people can be evil

and not a misguided mind or ingnorence
equates to evil

and even a very normal person in every aspect
can be evil persuaded.........

EVIL does exist
and simply looking around
one can see its results
on every street corner and city
and behind many closed doors
among many wise and upstanding people
in your own community !!!

And those you would never know...
and are perfectly sane in the mind
not misguided nor ignorent

Ignorence is when someone isnt willing to accept
TRUTH and Facts

Answer 7

i know evil exists because i see Evil things done by people all the time.
dont you know there was a war in heaven?
when did it end?
the fallen angels and satan were cast down to the earth, and the other angel says woe woe woe unto the inhabitants of the earth.
the war that is going on in heaven also goes on in mortality and these fallen angels are part of that conspiracy of evil.
anything that defies good is evil, and anything that fights against the true God of heaven and creations is an enemy of righteousness, Evil therefore is an enemy of righteousness

Answer 8

You are clueless... sorry.

We are all capable of good or evil - therein lies the problem.
Evil is present in this world, it's there, we start with it - otherwise it would be avoidable and not a temptation. Your thesis stops about two points short. Evil is a presence, it isn't just each man.

Answer 9

OK you're one of those people that wants no one to be judged because of their culture. Well lets look at it this way. If some one came into your house and murdered your family and stole everything in your house you would want justice. However, he was raised under different circumstances so under your argument he can't be punished. hmmm...

Answer 10

I agree completely that everyone has been raised with different experiences, knowledge, backrounds and Its my personal belief that Jesus Christ will be the perfect judge of all mankind. And all those will be taken into consideration. But I also believe that all of us have the light of Christ. Which light teaches us which things are of god and which are of Satan. If a kid was taught that killing somebody wasn't wrong and his parents did it and everyone else did it, perhaps he would kill someone through their example but I guarantee he could feel it was wrong by that light which is born in all of us.

Answer 11

Do you live on planet Earth? Just watch the news people are so evil. Ignorance doesn't cause a man to rape or sexually abuse a small child, evil and the lack of God in that persons life does. It's a sick world thanks to sin and evil.