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Evil: It’s Reality and Meaning
Chapter 8 the text
The def in your Text
n“…the experience of a destructive force (or forces) encountered by human beings…” (pg 160). Here are some examples
n the corruption of what is good.
nSuffering (Some form of loss that results in harm).
nLack of self control.
Cont’ of text
nThe text focuses upon the evils of class, race and social economic class(
nThe text goes over lightly other religions and their definition of evil and how to deal with it.
nHere is a more in depth synopsis on evil for the religions
Buddhism
nBuddhism studies evil for the purpose of understanding it for its defeat (cancer example.)
nEvil fit into two categories man made and nature.(mention no supernatural or transcendent power)
nMan is intrinsically good. Why? (Everything has within it a Buddha nature, the ability for one to obtain enlightenment
nThere is such a thing as Sin, no such thing as intentional sin. Why? (Sin is against the self) (One can sin only in ignorance for philosophically once truth is know, what is the point of taking any other action).
nMara means death 4 types and follow in this order
nPersonalities which have destructive force (greed, lust, any unfulfilling desire which takes someone away from the eightfold path)
nThis leads to moral defilement (integrity is lost)
nNow individuals which possess these two are considered evil, for their actions prevent others from attaining Nirvana (Paternalism).
nThis will lead to physical death, for you will be reincarnated
nThe 4 noble truths are the answer, evil actions and people can’t exist within these parameters.
Islam
nWhat Islam recognizes as evil is defined by the culture you are in w/exception of the Quran stating otherwise.
nThis becomes highly subjective and personalized. Community agreement.
nOne major evil is an infidel, this is not one who is evil!!!!
nHarm is evil as well, the problem for Islam is restitution, which is not easy to come by.(there lacks logical and rational means to repair the harm done).
nSometimes this harm is so great, it defiles the good and a holy war or Jihad becomes necessary. (Religious survival)
nReligious Knowledge for Islamic followers is verified by evil, here is how:
nIslam states that people are good natured, but not intrinsically good and good followers of Islam learn that difference by (desire to be good, but
nA strict following of Islamic code, deviation creates a loss of submission
nThis in turn opens the mind of the follower and their submission is rewarded with divine understanding
nQuestions about code or creed are answered by signs from Allah and can be interpreted.
nMost importantly this will lead to an understanding of what is just (in most cases justice)
nSometimes suffering is necessary for understanding (Buddhism agrees)
Judaism
nEvil (ra) and wickedness (raah) are two separate things w/ strong correlation. (Evil is a state of being which is destructive internally and externally, whereas wickedness is a behavior that God denounces
nSin (actions, omissions & or intents) is defined as something that always offends God, but evil may not.
nA major sin is the idea that any living thing doesn’t have a meaning.( Meaning as referred to a value. The chosen people are a light to the world. When they have been punished, it is a message to the rest of the world not to act as they have, when they have been blessed, we are to follow. There is one exception in World History to this. Take a guess and what is the changed answer.
This value can increase or decrease according to obedience of the covenant (suffering has the ability to increase value) Story of Job to test obedience, see if one is worthy of the blessings bestowed upon them.
nThe ultimate value one can posses is having the presence of God,
nHere is what the presence of God does for the followers of Judaism and Christianity
nBalance in life (Evil becomes accepted as a part of this world, but it now becomes a truth that one doesn’t have to participate in).
nCommunity
(adoption in Judaism) One could by certain rituals (marriage, circumcision, etc
be adopted into a tribe of
nAlienation from God (In Judaism God hides his presence from the wicked, and they are left to accomplish what they can based upon their own strength).
nThe result here is realization of our weakness.
nJudaism states that man is not per se evil, but apparently enjoys sin.
nGod is the creator of all things, but not necessarily the actor, the Leviathan tempts man with sin.
nSatan in Judaism means enemy. This will lead into the contrast of Christianity and Judaism
Christianity
nEvil here has two authors, Humanity and Satan.
nHumanity is the author of an evil called Kakos. Our humanity on its’ own creates evil
nSatan is the author of Poneros. This evil is caused by supernatural powers and nature. (How is this so?)
nSatan is perceived in the New Test. that he is the Prince of this world and can act upon it.
nGod did create nature, but when nature acts, if evil is done, and it’s out of our control, Satan is the assigned culprit.
nSuffering is not always evil, in fact God at times creates suffering
nIs man evil by nature? Yes.
nOriginal sin consists of three parts:
nGod is Source of life ( Not only the creator but the energy by which life exists)
nHumanity creates a scenario in which the harm done by the sin is spiritually permanent
n The Source of life is lost by us. It didn’t leave ( In Judaism God leaves those who don’t listen, in Christianity the opportunity to repent and accept Christ is always present, therefore you leave it.
nChrist is the avenue in which that permanent damage can be repaired.
nHowever, one must have faith in Christ as this avenue, or else the damage can’t be fixed (acceptance is required and therefore no unclean thing can enter into heaven)
nFaith w/out works is dead. This means one must be like God, but not attempt to be God (WWJD).
Judaism’s reaction to Christianity ( Religions have reactions to each other. Those reactions are caused by an evil being perceived by another and the reaction attempts to fix that, and usually by desperate means, for the survival of the religion is at stake).
nEvil as defined by Judaism is be done by Christianity
nSpeech by Christ (I am one with God) ( He says He is god and He has the power to change all the code, and can’t be overpowered by any man except if God allows it.
nMessiah
according to Judaism ( The Messiah is suppose to reestablish
Enemies are destroyed in Judaism
Hinduism
nThere is no absolute evil here. All actions that one takes is at least some good and evil. (The Hindus look at consequence of the action. As by perception what is one man’s junk is another man’s treasure).
nIn Hindu mythology, The gods at times do evil acts. They may do evil to each other and to people. The difference b/w Gods and people is, the Gods are free. (They are not bound by desires, just outcomes and the ability to have those outcomes result in happiness for themselves. This could mean making others happy, or miserable).
nMoksha (means liberty) is a state of happiness. The Gods have learned that certain evils don’t prevent Moksha and therefore are ok.
nPeople have to learn this, which simply put is moderation of some desires and the elimination of others. The line is blurred resulting in no absolute evil.