Is evil real?

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tonyrey

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How would you demonstrate that evil is a fact to be reckoned with?
 
Trust me Evil is so real. I have been tormented for past 2 days with sexual thoughts and i have had little sleep during that time.
 
There has to be evil in the world. If not then raping a child would be just as ok as baking a cake for the kid. Unless, you wish to support child rape and every other illegal and mean act, you have to say that there is evil. Same with murder or theft. You can’t say that donating money to a church is good and then say the opposite (stealing from a church) is not evil meaning it is also good.
 
Evil is an event such as an earthquake that kills thousand,
or an action, such as raping a child, which is also an event.

Evil has no substantial existence but is the negation of good.

( That’s how to talk about evil, danserr. 😃 )
 
tonyrey said:
How would you demonstrate that evil is a fact to be reckoned with?
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This is both a simple and complex question, depending on your perspective. The simple answer is yes, evil is real, if one can judge by the behaviors (as well as their consequences) of people toward other people and animals, which appear harmful and cruel physically and psychologically. The complex answer is based on related questions. One is, if evil is real, does it have and does it need an external source, such as Satan or the influence of the world, or an internal source, such as the fallen nature of Man or the nature of his personality, or multiple sources? Another question involves whether there are different kinds of evil, some more intrinsic than others, or different degrees of evil, some more intense than others, or is evil all of one piece?

In Jewish thought, we humans are born with both a good inclination, innocent and selfless, and an evil inclination. This so-called evil inclination is not regarded as evil per se even though it may lead to evil and sinful behavior if it is used inappropriately or abused by means of excess. It is based on our aggressive and selfish drives which are necessary for survival and involve basic activities such as eating, drinking, working, playing, competing, having sex. If these aggressive behaviors are not properly channeled and controlled, they may turn into evil behaviors.
 
tonyrey said:
How would you demonstrate that evil is a fact to be reckoned with?
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I think one way evil may be demonstrated as real is the fact that people everywhere, from all walks of life, seem to be innately repulsed by any kind of injustice, falseness, harmful behavior, etc. I think that since most people are able to discern between good and evil, coupled with their innate desire to avoid the evil they see and to seek the goodness they also innately desire, is perhaps another demonstration of the reality of evil.
 
Heuchler said:
There has to be evil in the world. If not then raping a child would be just as ok as baking a cake for the kid. Unless, you wish to support child rape and every other illegal and mean act, you have to say that there is evil. Same with murder or theft. You can’t say that donating money to a church is good and then say the opposite (stealing from a church) is not evil meaning it is also good.
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Your delightful antitheses are irrefutable!🙂
 
empther said:
Evil is an event such as an earthquake that kills thousand,
or an action, such as raping a child, which is also an event.

Evil has no substantial existence but is the negation of good.
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Vivid examples of physical and moral evil. 👍
 
shoe said:
I think one way evil may be demonstrated as real is the fact that people everywhere, from all walks of life, seem to be innately repulsed by any kind of injustice, falseness, harmful behavior, etc. I think that since most people are able to discern between good and evil, coupled with their innate desire to avoid the evil they see and to seek the goodness they also innately desire, is perhaps another demonstration of the reality of evil.
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Excellent reasons! 🙂
 
tonyrey said:
How would you demonstrate that evil is a fact to be reckoned with?
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You want a demonstration of evil, or a proof of the existence of evil? or both?

Demonstrations would be easy, but I don’t think anyone on this board wants to suffer the repercussions of demonstrating it for you. 😉
 
I think proving the existence of evil to one who does not believe in it is like trying to prove the existence of God to an atheist. The proofs that a believer puts forth will almost never suffice. A nonbeliever has to experience true evil for himself. Otherwise “evil” is just an earthly phenomenon and a temporary roadblock on everyone’s path to Heaven (or oblivion), the result of genetics and/or traumatic childhood, etc.
 
Sonic said:
You want a demonstration of evil, or a proof of the existence of evil? or both?

Demonstrations would be easy, but I don’t think anyone on this board wants to suffer the repercussions of demonstrating it for you. 😉
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Ideally both are essential if we want everyone to be absolutely convinced. It should be possible to give a demonstration without the risk of being detected - but that would suggest either:
  1. At least one person who believes in the reality of evil is prepared to be evil in order to prove the reality of evil…
or
  1. At least one person who doesn’t believe in the reality of evil is prepared to be evil in order to prove the reality of evil.
Phew! That doesn’t seem to be very convincing… They might both be crazy! 🙂
 
tonyrey said:
Ideally both are essential if we want everyone to be absolutely convinced. It should be possible to give a demonstration without the risk of being detected - but that would suggest either:
  1. At least one person who believes in the reality of evil is prepared to be evil in order to prove the reality of evil…
or
  1. At least one person who doesn’t believe in the reality of evil is prepared to be evil in order to prove the reality of evil.
Phew! That doesn’t seem to be very convincing… They might both be crazy! 🙂
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Well all I can say is what Mother Angelica said when the mafia tried to get her nuns to pay protection money to be able to sell roasted peanuts.

“If I’m going to go to hell, it sure ain’t going to be for peanuts!”

I’d say the best line from a nun ever! :rotfl:
 
tonyrey said:
Sexual thoughts are not evil if they are not wanted!
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How do you interpret Matt 5:28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
 
Lisa44 said:
How do you interpret Matt 5:28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
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Sexual attraction can cause a man to look at a woman with desire but that in itself isn’t evil because it is a** natural **reaction. Lust comes into the picture when he begins to dwell on the possibilities **voluntarily and derive pleasure from his fantasies - in stark contrast to our friend who has been tormented **for two days and has had little sleep during that time. The last thing he wants is to commit adultery! In fact he is displaying heroic virtue by his efforts to resist temptation… :clapping:
 
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