Do you beleave in evil?

**persianfan247** · June 30, 2008, 03:27 AM

I don't.
There is obviously different perceptions on what exactly evil is, but the way I see things, is that there is only events/actions which might result in something that someone might not like, e.g. your death, but there is no such thing as evil people or actions. There are actions that people might call evil like rape or murder, but that is because no one wants to be forced to do anything and hardly anyone wants to die, so mostly every agrees that I wont do it if you wont do it. There is only events/actions with negative consequences for some people, but that makes nothing evil, there is no evil people or actions..

But I'm amazed that some people actualy believe in this concept.

So if you do believe in "Evil" state the reason why and if you dont also state the reason why or agree with me. Also state what your concept of evil is.
oops spelt believed wrong

**Kiljan Arslan** · June 30, 2008, 03:33 AM

Of course, is it not evil to rape someone, is it not evil to fail to protect ones underpaid workers from toxic gases just to make an extra million even when one already has 100 million? Is it not evil to sentence one you know is innocent to prison?

**Last Roman** · July 01, 2008, 01:09 AM

Originally Posted by Kiljan Arslan

Of course, is it not evil to rape someone, is it not evil to fail to protect ones underpaid workers from toxic gases just to make an extra million even when one already has 100 million? Is it not evil to sentence one you know is innocent to prison?

it may be considered wrong, but that is not evil, the idea that there is some absolute corrupting force.

so in short, I dont think that there is such thing as "evil"

**whhyy** · June 30, 2008, 03:40 AM

I try not to make generalisations in regards to people.

People are crazy, paranoid, deluded and sometimes forced to do things they don't want to. I do not believe people are imbued with a force that drives them to do pure evil.

Certain actions can be coined as selfish, or rather evil. If the situation permits it to be so.

**Kiljaden** · June 30, 2008, 03:41 AM

http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=174741

To me, that is Evil, through and through, without a doubt. Raping a child (let's say, pre-12 years old to solidify beyond any doubt their innocence in the matter) is utter Evil. Both of these offenses should be punishable by death - murdering (or murder through neglect) and\or raping of a child that is.

That said, evil is nothing but a perspective. There is no universal physical law that states something is evil or not. The only thing we have to gauge what is good and what is bad, is its overall benefit to society. A society that allows its children to be raped with no consequence is obviously not going to be a functional society. Even if it was a socially acceptable thing to do for some reason (and fathers didn't go on murder sprees when their 8 year old gets raped), eventually the damage caused to the children would harm the society in the long run.

Things like embryonic stem cell research and abortions (early term to be sure) don't damage society on any scale, and so I believe they are morally neutral, and\or at times good (though women should be educated on the health risks of frequent or any abortions)

Benefit or harm to society, both in monetary and psychological ways, is my gauge of morality. The idea of evil for me stems from those things that are so deplorable as to damage the life of an innocent child. Even if you are a corporation and, through your direct action, cause the starvation of a village with children - that to me is evil. Also, inaction of the adults of the village to migrate or forage (if possible) and by thereby also cause the starvation of the children - that is evil. If a person murders the primary caregiver (parent\guardian) of a child, that too is evil to me. But if you kill a dude with no children to take care of, honestly that's just murder, hop in prison you lowlife.

Guess I'm just the kind of guy that has no respect for those that bring harm to children.

Though I suppose rape of an adult would be evil too... perhaps not meriting the death penalty though - on first offenses.

Perhaps more true to your question: No I do not believe that there is a force of evil in the universe that wants to further its means, though I do believe in a balance in the world. This does not necessarily mean that because good things happen, people need to get raped too.

[satire]Also, Evil states are just those that don't like us (or have different amounts of melanin in their skin), they are heathens that deserve to be cleansed from the world. [/satire]

**Chaigidel** · June 30, 2008, 07:50 AM

selfish at the expense of others = evil

**Ahlerich** · June 30, 2008, 08:09 AM

i done believe in evil because it is relative to the eye of the observer. i believe in spelling though

**conon394** · June 30, 2008, 10:31 AM

i done believe in evil because it is relative to the eye of the observer. i believe in spelling though

Relativity has its limits… sacking a city might involve a lot of bloodshed, death of innocents and bystanders (or the functional equivalent say mass fire bombing in the modern era during a contested war) but something like the Assyrian SOP crosses the line. Coldly and calculatingly torturing a captive population to death – after the heat of the moment – is evil no matter what the perspective.

**gambit** · June 30, 2008, 11:40 AM

e·vil (vl)
adj. e·vil·er, e·vil·est
1. Morally bad or wrong; wicked: an evil tyrant.
2. Causing ruin, injury, or pain; harmful: the evil effects of a poor diet.
3. Characterized by or indicating future misfortune; ominous: evil omens.
4. Bad or blameworthy by report; infamous: an evil reputation.
5. Characterized by anger or spite; malicious: an evil temper.

Yes there is evil. I believe there are certain actions/events no one can truly forsee. i.e. a good action with an evil consequence but that doesn't excuse the fact there is evil. Rape is indeed evil. Hitler was evil.

because no one wants to be forced to do anything and hardly anyone wants to die, so mostly every agrees that I wont do it if you wont do it.

Yes, it can be characterized by a sort of fear of the unknown but that hardly calls off the fact that it IS evil. By all the profound knowledge of the human race, as a whole, death is the final end. There can be no greater punishment as the fragile miracle called life blinks out of existence forever. Is there an afterlife? Who knows. All science and reason points to no, so we have more than good reason to assume so.

Even if some events could be dismissed as fear rather than true evil, how do you explain genocide? torture? Are those just things we fear and those who instill them aren't evil?

**Cúchulainn** · June 30, 2008, 12:06 PM

No.

"Evil" is a generalisation, used by people because of it's connotations so they can differentiate themselves and their actions from others.

An example would be killing a murder.

You condemn murder, but will commit it yourselves. Let you are not Evil

So there is no "Evil only Moral and Immoral

**Theseus1234** · July 01, 2008, 12:33 AM

there is no evil, only good and bad. one cannot exist without the opposite (or so says the tao)
what would be the opposite of evil if good is already the opposite of bad?

**Hounf of Culan** · July 01, 2008, 01:53 AM

I hope you never get to make any important decisions if you don't believe that there are evil actions or people.

**Last Roman** · July 01, 2008, 11:54 AM

Originally Posted by Hounf of Culan

I hope you never get to make any important decisions if you don't believe that there are evil actions or people.

there are good and bad actions, or rather negative and beneficial actions, which many coincide with the idea of good vs evil, but that doesn't mean that there is evil.

VOTE LR FOR PRESIDENT IN 2022!

**kev-o** · July 01, 2008, 02:00 AM

If evil doesn't exist, then good doesn't either.

**Theseus1234** · July 03, 2008, 12:39 AM

Originally Posted by kev-o

If evil doesn't exist, then good doesn't either.

well evil is like a corrupted force that purposely does bad. good is not the opposite of that, good is just...good. the opposite of good i bad. i dont think theres any opposite of evil therefore, somewhat like you said, evil doesnt exist

**Captain Arrrgh!** · July 01, 2008, 02:04 AM

Aren't our modderators accolytes of evil?

**~~Miraj~~** · July 01, 2008, 02:18 AM

I believe in sort of 'conventional' morality as far as good and evil is concerned. I don't think they are universal or absolute though.

Just read a page of history and you'll know that what humans consider 'good' and 'evil' change as drastically as our dress styles. Heck humans have rarely agreed on what is good and evil during any given time, let alone different eras.

**Ummagumma** · July 01, 2008, 05:38 AM

There is 'evil'. There is 'honour', 'duty', 'freedom' and many other labels for many other quite abstract concepts. Of course, the definition of each of these is what is open to debate..

**Shi Huangdi** · July 02, 2008, 10:34 PM

Yes, I do believe in evil. Evil is anything that violates God's moral standard.

If there is no God, there is no evil--because there is no moral standard to violate.

**Chaigidel** · July 02, 2008, 10:39 PM

wrong god is a poor moral standard it being everything has no concept of temporal human morality

our moral standard is whats most beneficial to the community-- rape murder and worker abuse are not beneficial to the community therefore evil

selfish= evil