[DRAFT]
People arguing that either God isn't real, or that He is evil because of death, illness, wars, and evil in the world itself. This is a poorly constructed argument. The regular atheist who would argue this is either lazy, or easily gives up to find the right answers.
To argue this is like questioning the existence of pests, insects, predators in the animal kingdom. Why do they exist? One similar but simple question would be why should cockroaches exist? Why would God create such a creature? I only see it as an inconvenience (see here how man's perception is very limited to its limited knowledge). Funny that another similar but seemingly different question would be, why are there predators in the animal kingdom; and are they evil?
But how about trying to figure out the answer to why they actually exist? One simple answer is cockroaches exist to let us know if a place is dirty. I have also asked if there is any good with cockroaches. A couple of things, yes. They are part of the food web, keeping the ecosystem balanced. Cockroaches are radioactive, too. That can be a good thing for researchers to study about.
The second question similar to the original argument is the existence of predators. This is a no-brainer. Are animals evil for hunting and preying on other animals? A normal-thinking adult would quickly say no. An innocent child would answer a bit differently, feeling a mix of a bit of fear and some morality. But generally, are they evil? No. They need to hunt to survive. They do not kill just for "fun" like humans do (notice how "evil" is different when it comes to man?). However, this is a similar thing to the cockroaches example. It's just a matter of how we perceive things.
One should definitely read C.S. Lewis's work, "The Problem of Pain". He was an atheist. A very smart one. Smarter than your average atheist. He didn't stop with questions. He came looking for the answers. Seek and you will find. Knock and a door will be opened. That is exactly what Jack (C.S. Lewis) did, and the consequent results are what he found. I shall not try discuss what it contains, except that it is a good book to quench all questions about the existence of pain, suffering, and general "evil" in the world. One who would claim intelligence (typically an atheist) would put his so-called intelligence into good use by reading this book. Let's say it is a test of true intelligence for one to read this.
Speaking of suffering, illness, and all those bad things, evil has repercussions, effects, costs -- to those who do it, and even those who don't. It ultimately is caused by the one who do evil. Bottom line, evil affects people negatively.
Question: Does God want death, etc.? He doesn't. He showed His love by becoming Man, and dying on the cross to pay for our sins (to pay for the natural cost of man's sin). But He also is a righteous God, and He will not break His own laws of goodness. But it doesn't end there; He provided a solution -- Christ's death, which must be accepted by faith.
Showing posts with label evil. Show all posts
Showing posts with label evil. Show all posts
Sunday, November 18, 2012
Saturday, April 28, 2012
Envy is Evil.
Envy is evil. We all are aware of that. Even if one does not believe that it is anymore. But why is it evil?
I've put a lot of thought in this, and probably feel convinced enough to the gut that another word about it feels like it won't do much more. At least for myself. But let me pour out anything I think about why it is indeed evil.
Endlessly thinking of how another person will always have something that you'll never have. This ceaseless observation that would lead to longings to have (lust), to covet (if applicable), to destroy (one's self, or the other). And the list never ends.
And, there's also the instance of trying to please others, and "improve" and "beautify" ourselves just to get to the point of getting the object of our envy's attention. And what's next? We forget to love ourselves, to give importance to what we have; and everyone does have a lot, we're just too blind to see it.
Alas, we can't be blamed for being feeble. We are only human. But that's what we need sheds of truth for -- to remind us of who we are, and what we can be, no matter our current state. Life is not easy. That is why there is always the temptation of envy. We always have a choice. We can always fight. Doesn't guarantee winning every time, but there will be "wins" if we at least try all the time to make a right decision. And there is also HOPE. Without it, without a reason to live, without love for ourselves, without any glimpse or expectation for something good to look to in the future, what do we have?
Self love. I'm not sure about the others who have no problem with this, and I cannot speak for them certainly. But I believe a lot of people are suffering from this. I must emphasize that we must teach ourselves, or at least learn, to love ourselves. This will banish the illusions of envy -- of the things it asks us to do to "quench", just for a short while, its tingle.
Lastly, I can't help but say how much LOVE indeed is the ultimate solution. And I'm not talking about our misconception of "love" that is either lesser, or more than, the required amount that it misses the target. I'm talking about the right kind, the pure type of love, that is so hot it melts away everything evil, in the end showing gleaming gold like in a furnace.
I've put a lot of thought in this, and probably feel convinced enough to the gut that another word about it feels like it won't do much more. At least for myself. But let me pour out anything I think about why it is indeed evil.
Endlessly thinking of how another person will always have something that you'll never have. This ceaseless observation that would lead to longings to have (lust), to covet (if applicable), to destroy (one's self, or the other). And the list never ends.
And, there's also the instance of trying to please others, and "improve" and "beautify" ourselves just to get to the point of getting the object of our envy's attention. And what's next? We forget to love ourselves, to give importance to what we have; and everyone does have a lot, we're just too blind to see it.
Alas, we can't be blamed for being feeble. We are only human. But that's what we need sheds of truth for -- to remind us of who we are, and what we can be, no matter our current state. Life is not easy. That is why there is always the temptation of envy. We always have a choice. We can always fight. Doesn't guarantee winning every time, but there will be "wins" if we at least try all the time to make a right decision. And there is also HOPE. Without it, without a reason to live, without love for ourselves, without any glimpse or expectation for something good to look to in the future, what do we have?
Self love. I'm not sure about the others who have no problem with this, and I cannot speak for them certainly. But I believe a lot of people are suffering from this. I must emphasize that we must teach ourselves, or at least learn, to love ourselves. This will banish the illusions of envy -- of the things it asks us to do to "quench", just for a short while, its tingle.
Lastly, I can't help but say how much LOVE indeed is the ultimate solution. And I'm not talking about our misconception of "love" that is either lesser, or more than, the required amount that it misses the target. I'm talking about the right kind, the pure type of love, that is so hot it melts away everything evil, in the end showing gleaming gold like in a furnace.
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Is Destruction Only Evil?
Is destruction evil? Why do we attribute destruction, death, and all that as evil all the time? Let us try to think about that question.
How about when someone passes away? Is it evil? Is it bad? We feel a longing feeling or sadness for whoever passes away, especially if they are important in our life, or have been a significant part of our life. When we build the time with others, no matter how good or bad it is, and when they pass away, it feels like something is taken away from us. I'm not talking about a hostage-kidnapper relationship. I am talking about a two-way relationship, such that both parties have a sense of ownership of each other. Am I saying that we should not feel bad about people passing away? No. It's just that maybe we should not view death as wholly evil, or as something entirely bad.
In mathematics, if we multiply a negative number by a negative number, we get a positive number. The same goes with life. We remove bad things so that only the good ones are left. When a man is hunted by a beast, and the only option left is to face it through bloodshed, is that evil? There is pain and death, but was the man who, if he kills the beast who plans to hurt him, evil? Also, in that sense, shall we say that the beasts in nature, especially the whole predator-prey relationship in the animal kingdom, are they evil?
So, what is evil exactly? When does something become evil? Who judges and qualifies something as evil? When and where did "evil" in the Christian biblical texts start or originate, anyway? If I am correct, the first time it has been mentioned was as a description of a particular tree in the book of Genesis -- the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, the one that man ate, particularly Adam and Eve. In that sense, is it only man who qualifies as perpetrators of evil? The beasts did not eat of the fruit, or we do not know but they haven't really been told not to eat of the fruit of the Tree. Whatever commands the Creator gave to them, even those that may be unknown to us, it is their concern.
It must also be noted that in the book of Genesis, evil was only used to describe or to name a particular tree in the midst of the Garden of Eden. It did not have any exact definition. So, where did the description originate anyway? Did it exist even before the writing of the book of Genesis, which was written by Moses? Must it be that in his writing, evil already had existed, but was not defined either in text, or in a specific sense? Was it known as just an essence? What is it really?
Back to the animal kingdom. Are they excluded from evil? Well, at least let's take into consideration that the "evil" we are talking about is the man's concept of evil. Do they have their own concept or knowledge of evil? Are the able to hold knowledge? Well, if their description or kind of knowledge is their instincts, or something that they alone hold, I believe they are capable of knowledge. But, about their knowledge being compatible with the type of knowledge that man possesses, that I do not know, but I highly doubt as of the moment.
So, what is evil? Why do we judge something as evil? What is our basis? Us be an atheist or a theist, how do we define evil? How do we "discern" something to be evil in the first place? What gives us discernment of evil? Or, for that matter, "who" gives us the meaning of evil, if not what? And, I would like to ask if every human being believes in evil in the first place -- or knows of its existence, whether accepted or denied. Or, at the lack of it, is it because of ignorance, and yet despite ignorance, is there still a sort of intuition telling one's self that there is something that exists in the metaphysical plane that perfectly fits the description of those who know the word "evil"?
Take for example infinite circumstances of evil. When there are natural calamities. When there are deaths. When there is destruction. When there is judgment of someone doing "evil" acts, and damnation unto death. When an act such as those that do not fit our customs or modern practices, to the point of gruesomeness and unconventionality or "immorality" are committed. When there are outbreaks of diseases. When there is war. When there is darkness. When there is no light.
Who defines evil? How is it identified? Can we quantify evil? What is evil?
PS
I did a Google search about "what is evil?", and what I found the most interesting was the following question -- "What is evil? Does it exist within our selves or does it originate from a force that is beyond our control?6"
Here are some of the links of the cloud searches I have found after writing this blog:
1 http://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=evil&x=0&y=0
2 http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&client=safari&rls=en&defl=en&q=define:evil&sa=X&ei=QNhnTbn4B83Xce-4_Y0M&ved=0CBMQkAE
3 http://www.oppapers.com/essays/Evil/46714
4 http://sprott.physics.wisc.edu/pickover/good.html
5 http://allaboutevillk.blogspot.com/2009/03/what-is-evil-anyway.html
6 http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art26766.asp
7 http://www.reformation21.org/articles/what-is-evil.php
How about when someone passes away? Is it evil? Is it bad? We feel a longing feeling or sadness for whoever passes away, especially if they are important in our life, or have been a significant part of our life. When we build the time with others, no matter how good or bad it is, and when they pass away, it feels like something is taken away from us. I'm not talking about a hostage-kidnapper relationship. I am talking about a two-way relationship, such that both parties have a sense of ownership of each other. Am I saying that we should not feel bad about people passing away? No. It's just that maybe we should not view death as wholly evil, or as something entirely bad.
In mathematics, if we multiply a negative number by a negative number, we get a positive number. The same goes with life. We remove bad things so that only the good ones are left. When a man is hunted by a beast, and the only option left is to face it through bloodshed, is that evil? There is pain and death, but was the man who, if he kills the beast who plans to hurt him, evil? Also, in that sense, shall we say that the beasts in nature, especially the whole predator-prey relationship in the animal kingdom, are they evil?
So, what is evil exactly? When does something become evil? Who judges and qualifies something as evil? When and where did "evil" in the Christian biblical texts start or originate, anyway? If I am correct, the first time it has been mentioned was as a description of a particular tree in the book of Genesis -- the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, the one that man ate, particularly Adam and Eve. In that sense, is it only man who qualifies as perpetrators of evil? The beasts did not eat of the fruit, or we do not know but they haven't really been told not to eat of the fruit of the Tree. Whatever commands the Creator gave to them, even those that may be unknown to us, it is their concern.
It must also be noted that in the book of Genesis, evil was only used to describe or to name a particular tree in the midst of the Garden of Eden. It did not have any exact definition. So, where did the description originate anyway? Did it exist even before the writing of the book of Genesis, which was written by Moses? Must it be that in his writing, evil already had existed, but was not defined either in text, or in a specific sense? Was it known as just an essence? What is it really?
Back to the animal kingdom. Are they excluded from evil? Well, at least let's take into consideration that the "evil" we are talking about is the man's concept of evil. Do they have their own concept or knowledge of evil? Are the able to hold knowledge? Well, if their description or kind of knowledge is their instincts, or something that they alone hold, I believe they are capable of knowledge. But, about their knowledge being compatible with the type of knowledge that man possesses, that I do not know, but I highly doubt as of the moment.
So, what is evil? Why do we judge something as evil? What is our basis? Us be an atheist or a theist, how do we define evil? How do we "discern" something to be evil in the first place? What gives us discernment of evil? Or, for that matter, "who" gives us the meaning of evil, if not what? And, I would like to ask if every human being believes in evil in the first place -- or knows of its existence, whether accepted or denied. Or, at the lack of it, is it because of ignorance, and yet despite ignorance, is there still a sort of intuition telling one's self that there is something that exists in the metaphysical plane that perfectly fits the description of those who know the word "evil"?
Take for example infinite circumstances of evil. When there are natural calamities. When there are deaths. When there is destruction. When there is judgment of someone doing "evil" acts, and damnation unto death. When an act such as those that do not fit our customs or modern practices, to the point of gruesomeness and unconventionality or "immorality" are committed. When there are outbreaks of diseases. When there is war. When there is darkness. When there is no light.
Who defines evil? How is it identified? Can we quantify evil? What is evil?
PS
I did a Google search about "what is evil?", and what I found the most interesting was the following question -- "What is evil? Does it exist within our selves or does it originate from a force that is beyond our control?6"
Here are some of the links of the cloud searches I have found after writing this blog:
1 http://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=evil&x=0&y=0
2 http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&client=safari&rls=en&defl=en&q=define:evil&sa=X&ei=QNhnTbn4B83Xce-4_Y0M&ved=0CBMQkAE
3 http://www.oppapers.com/essays/Evil/46714
4 http://sprott.physics.wisc.edu/pickover/good.html
5 http://allaboutevillk.blogspot.com/2009/03/what-is-evil-anyway.html
6 http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art26766.asp
7 http://www.reformation21.org/articles/what-is-evil.php
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Is Change Evil?
The time today is very different. Change is very evident. But, I have one question: does change mean forgetting what was? Then why do people bend the moral standards of yesterday and reason out "change"?
The world has indeed changed. It is very different. The ones who stick to their morals are now the ones who are being persecuted. The ones who create moral scandals are venerated. When you speak about your distaste or disagreement about an immoral act, you are being thrown hateful words. Seems like the world is turning more and more evil, as it becomes more and more tolerant of wrong-doings.
Is change really evil?
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