Hmmm do I believe that EVIL does not exist? Forgive me but I like to challenge myself
and don’t mind thought provoking questions that seem to unnerve others.
Yours is a perfect question to provoke the point of the post…thank you.
It depends on your definition of Evil and weather I believe the same.
If so then we are in agreement and feel affinity towards each other fighting against the
same thing so to speak but fighting/struggling no less against an insidious and not so easily recognized or defined force.
If I do not agree with your definition will you become defensive, hostile, rejecting,
resistant, critical, afraid and become angry ? Will you avoid me think I AM EVIL
or under the influence of EVIL and unfriend me…:]
That was the point of the question/statement posed to me.
I was provoked to consider….What would we do differently and How would the world
change if we could not blame the Beast, Devil, Evil and label and classify anything as
being Evil ?
Would others fight each other if we all realized that evil was just an attitude and
behavior demonstrating, ignorance, fear, hunger, confusion, frustration and lack of
choices or knowledge to do better, behave better make better choices.
The ignorance of how to behave in a loving manner because of lack of
seeing enough people model that for them in their lives. How would things
change for those that live with the belief that EVIL exists if they suddenly found
out there is no such thing. All this horrendous behavior was just ignorance
and stupidity, lack of awareness and opportunity for people to make better choices.
How would the world change if we choose to educate instead of Proselytizing ?
Would that flesh out the Love and Divine Presence far more effectively by not
labeling anything as EVIL. How would the world be different…what would change….
that is the question.
After I posted my answer and with further deliberation I put pen to paper to articulate
a more encompassing answer to that question. If only for myself. To process a
larger perspective and not be quick to jump or judge……..
it was a question asked me…to consider as a point of view the question of EVIL
and what if it did not even exist.
So I asked myself…….
What if people STOPPED pointing at others NOT like them or believing or behaving
like them and stopped judging them as EVIL based on their interpretation of their
doctrine and theology. If someone or a group, religion, country is classified as EVIL
it promotes fear into Hate and violence…how would that change humanities attitude
and behavior. Who can we blame then ? Would it bring about anarchy or Sodom
and Gomorrah if we did not believe in EVIL ? Another Flood ?
Many people don’t believe in Hell or God. Yet it appears before us and throughout
History wars are started by the notion the enemy is under the control of EVIL and
needs to be dealt with and eliminated.
Evil is expressed thru and BY PEOPLE…not animals…without People the question
would be irrelevant….Evil is expressed when people are not expressing Gods love.
But as we know people sincerely think they are doing Gods work when they call
ohers beliefs and actions EVIL. How do you fight against something so intangible
as EVIL ? You don’t, instead you fight against people categorized as evil based on
personal beliefs. We witness in The Middle East everyday this theology and war….
that is what is meant by ignorance….If you label others as Evil then you feel
justified to Fight on GODS side…hence suicide bombers, Jihads, Crusaders,
Holocaust, Holy Wars….etc…and who determines what Gods side is…
both think they are right. Who Wins…No One.
In a bit of humor….
If two football teams pray to Jesus in the locker room to Win and
they sincerely pray, have trained and are prepared….
Which team gets God’s blessing to WIN ?
So if people stop classifying others AS EVIL in the name of their belief of God
and what there scriptures classify as EVIL…then maybe we can focus and unite in
a mindset and attitude of compassion and understanding, and tolerance.
We may actually have a chance to truly be effective and move towards peace
and love in every way.
In subtle ways this is played out by prejudice. Americans experience this
thru one group labeling the others as EVIL…..I can think of two groups
specifically in America that point fingers and call others Evil and feel
justified for their horrendous attitudes and behavior because they are on
GOD’s side….Christians, Muslims. Humanist point fingers and may
not call other groups EVIL but get infuriated by religious groups calling
them EVIL. It is no small thing to be on the other end of a pointing
finger and labeled EVIL.
Jesus knew that personally and was crucified for it…literally.
If we focus on The message of LOVE…Jesus came,lived,died for
and rose preaching that message. He empowered people to be
loving and one with God not attack them for being different or
label them EVIL…He was labeled as EVIL….Mohamed preached to
love God and live that love in strict adherence. It boils down and is all
a matter of perspective and awareness….IGNORANCE of who and
what the other is about and inflicting their definition on the other group
is the source of hate and intolerance. Just suppose people stopped
labeling and blaming the Beast, Devil or whatever they believe it is that
is EVIL on everything that we don’t agree with, deem as EVIL or horrible
acts, and realize people are ignorant to another way of behaving, believing,
deciding and being. Instead…What if we took responsibility for our actions,
and words and lived in compassion, understanding and love…Would the
world be a better peaceful more loving place….
That is what the question was asking us to think about who gets to
determine what is EVIL and WHO IS EVIL……and what if it did not
exist then what would we call others bad behavior…..IGNORANT,
poor decisions, lack of understanding that they have choices.
This can be dealt with…but a deep belief in Evil vs Good cannot.
As a Free American I know I would not be comfortable with a Muslim
pointing a finger in my face declaring me as an EVIL infidel and shooting
me, hacking me up over a Muslim definition of what is EVIL in the name of ALLAH.…
Is that not tragic and ignorant…They believe we are EVIL as do most of
the middle East…That attitude is brewing war and terrorist attacks all because
of who thinks who is EVIL and God will bless them if they get rid of the infidel
and receive a glorious position on the other side.
Christians believe that if we don’t control the actions and behavior in this country
that God will be displeased and bring calamity, judgment, pestilence and dreaded
slavery to us as we read in the Old testament. Your personal eternal salvation being
secure by your personal faith but the fear that you can still suffer as the
holocaust demonstrated on God’s Chosen is a overwhelming fear to keep God
pleased. This Fear motivates Christians in so many ways whether they admit
it or are conscious of it. They must fight back the EVIL DOER or God will lift
his favor and we all will suffer his judgment and wrath. Witch Hunts should
never happen again. 6 million women across Europe in the middle ages were
killed because the Church labeled them heretics and EVIL.
This is a war that will never be won or stopped…
Ah you may be thinking it will all end at the second coming…but we are living
now and here so we need to live the message of love rather than force everyone
to live our ideas,hence the question…. So let’s re frame and entertain, for a moment..
What if evil did not exist OR we replace the word for evil with ignorance and perceive
that others just might be ignorant and hurting when they are violent, kill, steal, or are sexually promiscuous or deviant and effect the health, safety and population of the world…
ignorant that they have other choices….How would that change a person’s attitudes
and behavior if educated on how to get their needs met and be free peaceably, constructively.
Would that perspective create a different attitude and encourage tolerance of
differences. Cause us to behave more loving without resorting to violence and hate.
Encourage us to educate in a loving manor understanding that people are doing
their best with what they have been taught and when they see or experience or
are shown that they can make other choices besides blow themselves up or
shoot someone, steal.. or insult and reject. What if people combated violence
and hate with education, mediation and not promote this FEAR of offending their
GOD and bringing down curses on them for tolerating any indication of what
they interpret as EVIL…
I am not at all promoting anarachy or lowering your standards or beliefs but consider.
This is a two way street….golden rule is real….do unto others as you would have
done to you……as you judge you will be judged….we have all experienced this.
I don’t want my judgment to seal my own fate by labeling others as EVIL because
it will boomerang right back at me too. This has been proven thru out History..
Israel, Moslem, and Christians, each pointing fingers each still
in war it will NEVER CEASE they reap their own judgment boom a
ranged right back at them.
Jesus ate with the EVILSINNERS talked with the Samaritan woman
and exemplified love in action and attitude.
The world will NOT change as long as others label everything they don’t like
and believe is EVIL and offending their GOD. Beliefs based in fear are very powerful.
But IT will change with education,possibilities and choices to behave
and think differently for the good of all. Win/Win
I for one whatever my personal beliefs about what is evil or who is behind EVIL.
Hope and believe we can live in a loving, compassionate world for all, rather
then have a gun pointed in my face for believing different then someone else.
This is the day to day fleshed out reality we are in. The only attitude that we can
have peacefully and be loving about is to expand and at least respect others in a
practical way. Contemplate a different perspective…agree to disagree.
To not force,kill or destroy over beliefs that are in conflict with anyone’s dignity
and human rights to live free and in peace…..How do I be authentically me and allow
you to be authentically you and we both enjoy peace and freedom for all ?
That is why the Constitution was written with blood sweat and tears to declare
an standards all of us could understand and live by ensuring this wonderful blessed
and free lifestyle we enjoy. America is the greatest Country because of that constitution.
I get to live free and practice my beliefs unhindered. I have the right be free from anyone
classifying me as EVIL to justify their harassment. I also have to allow them
the same freedom to practice their beliefs unhindered and without harassment.
All groups have to follow the laws to coexist peacefully.
It is a changing world today and we either get this or we fight to the end to defend
our personal theology of who and what is EVIL and have Faith that the God we put
our trust in will come to our defense and rescue us.As mentioned tongue in cheek…
if both sides pray sincerely to God who does he favor.
Perhaps as mentioned there is no EVIL just ignorance. We are all connected no
matter how hard we pretend we are not. Let’s just evolve…and involve to a higher
way of being. I realize not everyone chooses the expanded and magnificent view
of all possibilities. But I for one hope more realize this sooner than later.
I realize I have to Be the model of what I want mirrored back, take responsibility.
Does an Evil force really exist? I find that not focusing upon that
will bring the change of peace and love to my life.
This quote sums up the attitude that is very powerful and renders evil powerless
in a person’s life If Evil is real and exists it can only manifest thru a human life
acting it out. I do know I can only control me. Today I choose to focus and model
love and letting that manifest in my life.
Rabia:
Rabia was asked: “Do you love God?”
She answered, “Yes.”
“Do you hate the devil?”
She answered, “No, my love of God leaves me no time to hate the devil.”…
