Evil

Evil is a term describing that which is regarded as morally bad, intrinsically corrupt, wantonly , , or wicked.

Western views on evil

Western societies, among others, sometimes use the term evil as a generic label for reputed transgressions, inhumanities or moral corruptions which have reached a particularly 'extreme' degree. For example, activities such as rape, child molestation, serial killings, terrorism, and genocidal dictatorship are often considered evil in the West. Some people, especially for religious reasons, include more controversial acts that they view as wrong, such as homosexual behavior or abortions, though there is wide societal disagreement as to whether these acts are even immoral.

Related Topics:
Western societies - Rape - Child molestation - Serial killing - Terrorism - Genocidal - Dictatorship - Homosexual behavior - Abortions

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Dr. Brian Connor, a former Baptist pastor and current exorcist, says that "evil is animate and absolute. Evil is not a concept, but a living force. It is absolutely bad. None of it is acceptable in your life because it is out to destroy your soul and drive a wedge between you and your heavenly Father. There are hurting and oppressed people who labor under the darkness which has come upon them because of poor choices," he says. "The answer is Jesus Christ, who has the authority to drive out evil."

Related Topics:
Dr. Brian Connor - Baptist - Exorcist - Jesus - Christ

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For the French philosopher Michel Henry, God is the invisible Life that never stops to generate us and to give us to ourselves in its pathetic self-revelation. God is Love because Love itself in an infinite love is Life. By consequence life is good in itself. The evil corresponds to all what denies or attacks life, it finds its origin in death which is the negation of life. This death is an inner and spiritual death which is the separation with God, and which consists simply in not loving, in living selfishly as if God didn't exist, as if he was not our Father of us all and as if we were not all its beloved Sons, as if we were not all Brothers generated by a same Life. The evil peaks in the violence of hatred that is at the origin of all the crimes, of all the wars and of all the genocides. But the evil is also the common origin of all those blind processes and of all those false abstractions that lead so many people to misery and exclusion.

Related Topics:
Michel Henry - God - Life

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Generally, many western societies are divided in their views on morality between two extremes. One, "moral absolutism" holds that good and evil are fixed concepts established by God, nature, or some other authority. The other, moral relativism holds that standards of good and evil are only products of local culture, custom, or prejudice. Moral universalism is a recent humanist term to find a compromise between the unattainable absolutist sense of morality, and the relativist view.

Related Topics:
Moral absolutism - God - Moral relativism - Moral universalism

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Another definition of evil describes it as death and suffering, whether it results from human or from other natural causes (e.g., earthquakes, famine). In other words, it is not merely the intention to do evil, but the end result, namely, harm to others, that is evil. And, as Plato observed, there are relatively few ways to do good, but there are countless ways to do evil, which can therefore have a much greater impact on our lives, and the lives of other beings capable of suffering. For this reason, some philosophers (e.g. Bernard Gert) maintain that not causing and preventing evil are more important than promoting good in formulating moral rules and in conduct. From a physical standpoint, "evil" could be defined as increasing entropy when the cost outweighs the benefit.

Related Topics:
Suffering - Plato - Bernard Gert - Entropy - Cost

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Evil to one society or religion may be considered "good" and "sincere" while the moral and social standards of another may disagree.

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Some people define evil as not only a person who inflicts pain and suffering but does so for either solely selfish reasons (i.e. power or wealth) or because they are sadistic (which would mean they gain pleasure from it, placing it again entirely selfish). Under their definition of evil, a person who commits morally wrong acts but does so truly believing the ends justifies the means would not be evil, even if most people disagreed the ends justified the means. Even when they agree that the ends in and of themselves are morally wrong, so long as the person believes they are doing right regardless of how misguided they may be, they would not classify them as evil. This does not mean they do not view their actions as morally wrong, just that they do not see an evil intent in them. The intent of the actions is a key factor for them. Thus, for example Osama Bin Laden would not, in these people's eyes, be evil as his motives are based on his belief about western culture, the United States, Christianity and Judaism) as being evil.

Related Topics:
Sadistic - Osama Bin Laden - Western culture - United States - Christianity - Judaism

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Regardless of the source of their definitions, most human cultures have a set of beliefs about what things, actions, and ideas are undesirable. Undesirable circumstances are often categorized as evil within some cultures. Natural evils generally include accidental death, disease, and other misfortunes, although some cultures see these occurrences instead as a healthy part of the natural order. Moral evils generally include violence, deceit or other destructive behavior toward others, although the same behavior toward "outsiders" of the group may be considered "good." War provides many examples, and "God is always on the winning side." The Unification Church's definition of evil is: "Taking advantage of another person for one's own benefit."

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Many cultures recognize many levels of immoral behaviour, from minor vices to major crimes. These beliefs are often encoded into the laws of a society, with methods of judgment and punishment for offenses.

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