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lightsun · Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2009 1:43 pm Post subject: evil

Evil is perpetrated by the ignorance and folly of humankind. It has followed
us from the dawn of time. For the most part we see evil in others but are
not so readily to see it in ourselves. This is because of defense mechanisms
such as denial and rationalizations. How do we combat evil or more
specifically? It goes back to the old adage that I see the twig in your eye,
but do not see the log in my own eye! Sure, it is easy to see the evil and
problems in the world. What is harder is to combat our own ignorance. It
begins with me personally! I, the writer plead "I do not know everything".
What's more much of what people and I know is opinion. This goes without
saying up to an including the most acclaimed, accomplished, brilliant, and
genius of experts. In my own case I, perhaps misguidedly, rely on an
intuitive intelligence. I also use as a barometer my internal emotions. If I
detect a negative emotion, label, or pejorative, then I know that at least
part of my message is distorted and ignorant. To combat ignorance, I will
walk the path and start with my own.

Mescaline · Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2009 5:00 pm Post subject:

Negative emotions are a rough and sometimes inaccurate measure of the rightness and in this case the wrongness of an action. Your biology betrays you when it comes to emotions that have deep seeded evolutionary routes, someone's aversion to homosexuality, particularly homosexual displays of affection is an example of how emotion can guide us down a path which many "enlightened" figures would say is the "wrong" path.

Also, what is evil? How do we judge something to be evil and something to be good? Is it the act or the consequences of an act? How do we combat something we don't have a well defined conception of? Evil, much like the word "Terror" is a vague and a relative term. It's a word thrown around so much that it's imprecise nature can make it dangerous.

ohifwinterends · Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 4:59 am Post subject:

There are quite a few good people in this world, though, that often see evil in themselves when sometimes it isn't there. Thank God for these type of people with such awareness of themselves...Conscience is something needed in everything we do.
_________________
"Even though I'm no more than a monster - don't I, too, have the right to live?"

lightsun · Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 6:16 am Post subject: evil

I can go the opposite direction and way with this line of reasoning. There is
"truth", beauty in all the world. It is all around us. We corrected and defeated
Hitler and his totalitarian regime of forced enslavement of other peoples!
There is beauty in Michalengelos paintings and sculptures. Supposedly, the
innocence and beauty of a new born baby, a living, breathing miracle!
There are heroes that rise to the challenge everyday in real life emergencies!
There are the coming together of people to right and fight the wrongs and
the injustices of the world!
What I am saying is to be aware of "pride", and "egoism" of being morally
superior or right!
To many times, innumerable multiple times, PEOPLE have used moral
superiority and perpetrated the worst crimes imaginable!!
What I am saying is that there quite frankly is small evil's continually
perpetrated by every living breathing person on the planet. What I am saying
is to be aware of the twig in your own eye, because that can be changed!

Fathergia · Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 7:54 am Post subject:

Evil is subjective
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I'm the dish that ran away with the spoon.

nonentropic · Advanced Member Joined: 15 May 2007 Posts: 2359

death is subjective
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nonentropic · Advanced Member Joined: 15 May 2007 Posts: 2359

evil is like the manifestation of the opposite of ideals. it exists, not perfectly, but if someone can do good or tries to do good always (or as often as possible)...well ,there are some out there who really are geared and focussed on doing things in opposition to good. call it bad works...and if they or one tend to do such things consistently and it seem to be intentional...well, not only will i think they or one is bad...depending on the magnitude...i could call them evil in essence and not have a problem with it. got some good labels for serial killers? how about dictators or tyrants? there is much variation among people and some really are heinous based on the way they totally disregard human life and the right of the individual to itself (for lack of a better term).
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lightsun · Posted: Sat Apr 25, 2009 3:22 am Post subject: evil

Is there evil?
Or is evil caused by ignorance?
Or are their both?
And in what proportion pure evil vs. Ignorant evil?

Curtain1 · Newbie Joined: 28 Apr 2009 Posts: 4

What?

lightsun · Posted: Wed Apr 29, 2009 3:49 am Post subject: evil

No hollywood is not evil.

I like Annabel-Lee's response of not using such binary terminology.

"Evil in my mind is mostly (1) sickness (2) ignorance (3) perhaps some

sociopath DNA (I don't know) (4) the primitive & emotion

laden part of our brain overriding our thinking & rational part.

(temporary insanity every time we get mad)!
_________________
Apollo LightSun Peaceweaver
I want PEACE!
I want to UNDERSTAND the nature
of distortions, distractions, &
illusions that keep us from the
TRUTH!
I WANT TO BE HAPPY!
INFP, cognitive style MERCY!
eneeagram #9!!
Zodiac "cancer"

Curtain1 · Newbie Joined: 28 Apr 2009 Posts: 4

lightsun · Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2009 10:34 am Post subject: evil

How do we conquer evil? Education?
The death penalty to purge people from society that contribute negative energy
and pain versus enlightenment and goodness?
This is what some radical fundamentalists believe in, in various religions.
That there way is the only way.
All others mst be purged.
Will evil continue to exist?
And why? Why can't we learn prevention & intervention?
Why can't we have a better educational system that teaches us humans to
be more humane?
Will evil go on forever?
_________________
Apollo LightSun Peaceweaver
I want PEACE!
I want to UNDERSTAND the nature
of distortions, distractions, &
illusions that keep us from the
TRUTH!
I WANT TO BE HAPPY!
INFP, cognitive style MERCY!
eneeagram #9!!
Zodiac "cancer"

Ape · Member Joined: 17 Jun 2009 Posts: 12

nonentropic · Advanced Member Joined: 15 May 2007 Posts: 2359

"it" exists. it is a human problem and issue that i believe very strongly must be overcome as well-as thoroughly as possible...otherwise, it (it's degree in any or each of us) will be our undoing. excluding mistakes, human imperfections and other things beyond our control...it is a lack of caring...a lack of conscience...an inability to empathize...pathological traits and so on that allows evil actions/things/creations to happen-occur-continue to exist. link to my thread here: http://similarminds.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=6071
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lightsun · Posted: Wed Jun 17, 2009 2:24 pm Post subject: evil

Ape, "The twisted shit will never end as long as We remain in captivity".
Part of me buys into your viewpoint. I believe we were supposed to stay
connected to nature. I have the "GAIA PRINCIPLE", & "ENVIRONMENT"
to cover some of this.
We are in a certain alignment when it comes to nature.
But what can we realistically do?
I proposed "NON NEGATIVE ENERGY", as a key to self actualization, as well
as happiness and peace in daily living.
Now of course you will always have ignorant barbarians.
But that is not our path it is theirs.
_________________
Apollo LightSun Peaceweaver
I want PEACE!
I want to UNDERSTAND the nature
of distortions, distractions, &
illusions that keep us from the
TRUTH!
I WANT TO BE HAPPY!
INFP, cognitive style MERCY!
eneeagram #9!!
Zodiac "cancer"