The concept of evil poses great challenge to our thoughts. What is evil, where does it come from? After all, those who commit evil acts, are in fact, or at least look like ordinary people. Is evil part of human nature? Complex topic!
Here it is : establish and maintain absolute power, never admit a mistake or failure, lie consistently, spread disinformation, persecute those who disagree with you.
I must confess, I've never taken much interest in the evil characters of humanity (Hitler, Stalin, Mussolini, etc..). I spent no time reading books or watching movies featuring them. That much I know - Evil and its heroes have always been, and always will be, here and there, ready to strike.
I do take interest in the people though - those who could and did try to prevent evil. Not much has been done about prevention as people are engaged in the difficulties, pleasures, and intrigues of life which they claim to be short. Life is indeed short, and I'm not sure at all whether we, humans, can actually prevent evil and disaster.
Along the years, Man has violated God's World Creation, and judging by the climate change , wars, and various other existing conflicts, it doesn't seem certain He'll be willing to give us another chance in case of world destruction.
However, God might help with the survival of individuals and groups that are not ignoring His omnipresence and not using His name in vain, for getting power and money meant to harm the others.
Evil is disguised in many shapes and forms.
ReplyDeleteLike you, I don't use my precious time reading books about leaders who were or are devils personified.
History told us a lot about them.
Indeed, Catarina. Evil comes in many forms, starting with the more "superficial" ones like lying, stealing, disinformation, and going to the malignant ones: rape, killing, mass murder, genocide.
DeleteThere is a more widespread shift toward authoritarianism in various countries these days. The principles you mention sound familiar in more countries these days than in the recent past. There are good people working against these principles. Let’s hope their efforts aren’t futile.
ReplyDeleteRight, Marie. The above, is only a short list of principles, "delicately' phrased. No mention of killing and torturing opponents just the general term of 'persecute'.
DeleteBut love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Luke 6:35
ReplyDeleteOnly God is good and He is very, very good.
Please Sandi, I wish to have your own opinion on the matter, not Luke's.
DeleteI'm sorry, Duta. I quote scripture like that because it means more to me than other words can say. It says things more clearly than I can. I do believe there is evil (and good) in the world. We make a choice here who we will serve. God is real. He is the God of Israel. He spoke to Moses and called him. He spoke to all of the Patriarchs. He called Rahab and Sarah. Hebrews 11 names them. Have you ever read the New Testament? It is the story of the Jewish people. God sent the Messiah Jesus to you and even to me. Yes, there is evil in the world, but greater is He who is within me than he who is in the world. That is 1 John 4:4. Thanks for listening.
Delete'There's evil in the world, but greater is the evil within me" - it makes sense.
DeleteIt doesn't say that, Duta. It says greater is He who is within me. The verse is talking about God. God is greater.
Delete"Yes, there is evil in the world, but greater is He who is within me than he who is in the world. That is 1 John 4:4."
Sorry. My mistake. I got it wrong.
DeleteLet us pray
ReplyDeleteLet us, indeed. Praying to God is good and helpful.
DeleteThis post is very interesting and it’s also informative. Your blog is always a great read. Thank you for sharing this enlightening information. I learned something here I had not thought about before reading here.
ReplyDeleteYour comment sounds very flattering! It has made my day. Thanks a lot.
DeleteMany vicious tyrants had been decent democrats as young men eg Mussolini dedicated his younger life to supporting underpaid and endangered workers; Ayatollah Khomeini was a high ranking cleric, scholar, successful author and Time magazine's Man of the Year (1979). So how did they turn into dictators?
ReplyDeleteMilitary urging, evil allies, drug addiction, narcissism or testosterone poisoning strike me as immediate possibilities.
Interesting! I was not familiar with the positive background of Mussolini and Khomeini. Many factors in life might turn harmless people into tyrants.
DeleteI share your avoidance with studying bad people. Madelyn Albright who was the secretary of state during the Clinton administration summed him up as very intelligent and very evil. I think we have some very evil people in leadership positions and/or pursuing leadership positions in the United States. It is true for every country in the world. The problem is they are masters at manipulating people.
ReplyDeleteI find the comment by Hels very interesting. Some are very evil by nature. But many do evil things due to a rigid belief system.
Most politicians are master manipulators, and that makes them dangerous people, and even more, dangerous leaders.
DeleteEvil exists, but like you, I prefer to focus on people who work towards positive change. I believe there are more of them, but mourn that power seems to often belong to those I would classify as evil.
ReplyDeleteSadly, it is usually those of evil character that get the power to rule and take decisions.
DeleteLucky that I haven't really encountered any evil in my life...considering what has been happening around the world. Evil comes in many forms and quietly..sometimes you just don't see it coming.
ReplyDeleteMay you continue to be lucky, Angie, and never be touched by evil!
DeleteI don't seek out the evil people of this world who are shown in films. Like you I'd rather hear, watch or read about the good people in this world.
ReplyDeleteTake care Duta.
I totally agree with this attitude of looking for the good in people, not the evil.
DeleteEvil can be all around us and we might never know. Sad to think. Janice
ReplyDeleteTrue. Evil can be hidden "under the radar", until it strikes.
DeleteHannah Arendt wrote a pretty amazing book. The question was how could a society or people be gradually turned to commit awful evil acts.
ReplyDeleteIt's a fascinating question. During the Balkans war, normal everyday people (who seemed nice and pleasant) joined the paramilitaries and were sent to the War crimes tribunal for crimes against humanity.
I believe, there's no one answer to this question.
DeleteIt seems to me men study these tyrants far more than women. [this is what I see being a library clerk at the library] It might start out as paper that needed to be written on the topic, but I see they indulge in knowing these types. Of course, I see them as selfish dictators who have no remorse or feelings to what they are doing in their leadership.
ReplyDeleteOf course, evil takes all forms. Some can say it's human nature. I remember my grandmother saying, "Television is the root of all evil!" But she liked her soap operas too. A new trend in NYC is women being punched by men in the face while walking down the street. (This could be a TicToc thing for all I know) So yes, media does play into evil too. Recently, a friend from Pennsylvania was mugged and she punched him, but he did have the upperhand and her purse. Needless to say, it is an ongoing fight between good and evil. Some give up quickly and turn to it..while some of us keep praying good will prevail with all the hardships we face. But in the end, few see that most follow the crowd. And things we thought would never change, have. 💕❤️🧁thank you so much for your visits. Thank your reading and thanks for your comments.
I'm not surprised that men are more attached to dictators and tyrants. Some of them start by being dictators themselves at their own home. Besides, it probably looks ..'manly' to exhibit dictatorship behavior.
DeleteDuta, this is such a well written post on a hard topic. I can definitely see some of the same characteristics in the likes of Stalin and Hitler in our own government here in the US. My trust is in God and His will.
ReplyDeleteThank you very much, Dianna. That's indeed a hard topic. We can trust only God on this, and on any other life topic.
DeleteHi Duta, your opening question, "What is evil, where does it come from?" has confounded many a scholar and layperson.
ReplyDeleteI think our species has always had evil coursing through our veins - we are both good and evil. Can good people go bad? Yes, we've seen this throughout history and we see it now.
I also do not read or watch much about the evils of humanity, it's hard enough getting through the day without the baggage of the past, and it's not like lessons are ever learned from these past atrocities - they are often repeated, and with more viciousness than before.
Life is short, a blink of an eye and we are dust again - if only humanity could stay present, enjoy the little time we have here, and clean up a little before we move on. Wishful thinking, but, I'm ever the optimist.
I send smiles your way, have a happy day, Jenny
I completely agree with your view on things.
DeleteWe've probably got both good and evil in our veins. Lessons from the past are seldom learnt; atrocities are often repeated. Life is short; let's clean up and enjoy the little time left. for us.
Have a happy day too, Jenny!
I believe the devil and his demons are around and have power here on earth. Now - but not eventually.
ReplyDeleteWell, Sandie, you're certainly entitled to your belief.
Deletei hope that evilness is hiddnen deep deep down in this world and it never crawl on earth
ReplyDeleteIt better not exist at all, but it does; so your wish, Kathie, is ours too.
DeleteI grew up in New York City among Holocaust survivors (for example, my best friend's parents were German Jews who survived the war and made their way to the United States), so the topic of evil has been in my thoughts since I was young enough to understand the nature and existence of evil. These survivors never spoke of those years but we children somehow knew there was something so bad it couldn't be spoken of. Now, I believe that each one of us has the capacity for both good and evil, and the seeds of evil are deep in each of us. For most of us, those seeds never sprout. I have never figured out why good people turn to evil.
ReplyDeleteMy parents, Holocaust survivors kept silent too. As you put it, they " somehow knew there was something so bad it couldn't be spoken of".
DeleteI do not think that people are inherently evil but rather they do evil things.
ReplyDeleteYou could be right, Mary. Of one thing we are sure - there is evil in the world. Evil acts are constantly done by people against people.
DeleteWhen I read or hear about about the vile things that some people have done to family members or random other people, it is always inconceivable that such evil exists, but it is stirking to note that that vile and evil have the same letters rearranged.
ReplyDeleteHow interesting, Dorothy - 'vile' and 'evil' having the same letters! Both words being similar in their meaning - 'wicked'.
DeleteIt seems as though people are becoming more evil -- or at least more nasty -- in the past eight years or so. At least here. And of course, that brewed, it didn't pop up overnight; it was fed and grew like a yeasty sourdough. This is a very thought-provoking post.
ReplyDeleteI think so too. We have more wickedness, more evil during the last decade. I feel it even among people that I regarded as close and friendly to me.
DeleteEl mal siempre ha existido y tambien el bien. Y sería muy bueno que el humano supiera emplear ambos lo mejor posible. Aparte de las grerras que hay hoy, también se ve mucha violencia por todos lados, parece que las persomas estamos más irritados y se salta por nada. Esperemos un cambio para mejor.
ReplyDeleteGracias Duta.
Un abrazo.
It seems that evil and violence have greatly increased nowadays. Whatever the reason for that, we, humans, must do something to change this state of things, for our own good.
Delete