How Do You Know What Is Evil? (moral, homosexuality, abomination)

[Mister_T]

Which makes me ask how is a third party to know who was told the "good". How is it an abomination for you and good for another when each is a revelation from ther Holy Ghost? Each of you have the same access to God and each tells a different story.

The thought is that you deny the Holy Ghost speaking a message of love.

Pah made a good point in this post. How do we know who is right and who is wrong?

I classify evil as intentional harm and wrong doing both mental and physical.

In another thread I said that things such as incest and homosexuality were not evil.
While I wouldn't participate in these activities, I certainley don't consider them "evil"
I was then essentially told I was evil and so was my "spirit." Even though thinking otherwise went against my spirit, moral fiber, concious, whatever you want to call it.

Am I wrong?

My question is how would you guys gauge evil? How would you measure evil? Would you base evil on what religious texts defines as evil? Would you use your feelings and intuition? Or would you use something different? Would you ever consider love and compassion evil? Is evil relative to the individual?

I'm interested to hear from theists and non-theists

[standing_on_one_foot]

You don't know. Not unless you're willing to take someone else's word for it (and many people do). But most of us muddle through alright. I'm not sure I believe in evil, per se, but I do believe that actions can be morally wrong. Intentional (and sometimes unintentional) and unnecessary harm definitely make up most of it. That and not paying your debts.

[evearael]

I would qualify evil as surrendering to your base desires to the detriment of others, though it is often hard to spot the true motives of other people. It is hard to describe without a circular definition. I use a combination of religious texts and intuition in my everyday life to reveal all the good and evil around me. I also believe it is the action that is evil, not the individual (although, I admit I sometimes forget to make that distinctions in my posts--please call me on it so I can more effectively work towards being a better person!).

[Buttons*]

well, i think that if you can pick something apart logically, and try to think objectivley whether the action is going to aid you or harm you in some way, then you can classify them as right and wrong....

I think there is such a thing as "evil" only ignorance. (unfortunatley that leads to mistakes, and is sometimes called evil, or sin....imo)

[Maxist]

Well, quite simply my idea of evil is if one of Nietzsche's "super men" were to intentially creat the civilization that made them "super men," or if another attempted to change that environment in such a way as to do an evil act. These evil acts are defined as controling to comit intentianal acts of violance ---starting a war. It could be changing human nature. War acts, intentional acts of violence aside from in self defence. Most things that Kant said were evil in his Was Soll Ich Tun? Philosophy ---a great majority of it.

[Daibhidh]

Originally Posted by Mister_T

In another thread I said that things such as incest and homosexuality were not evil.
While I wouldn't participate in these activities, I certainley don't consider them "evil"
I was then essentially told I was evil and so was my "spirit." Even though thinking otherwise went against my spirit, moral fiber, concious, whatever you want to call it.

Am I wrong?

My question is how would you guys gauge evil? How would you measure evil? Would you base evil on what religious texts defines as evil? Would you use your feelings and intuition? Or would you use something different? Would you ever consider love and compassion evil? Is evil relative to the individual?

That's a good question. A difficult question, but a good one none the less!

Perhaps the toughest thing when it comes to answering such a query is the making myself and my feelings clear. I could give examples of what I thought was evil (such as rape and murder) and set them against things I believe to be that of good (making love; Neil Young LPs) -but that doesn't quite cut it now, does it?

To use your example, I don't believe homosexuality is evil. Lets get that opinion of mine straight as it's likely to come up time and time again.

Incest, on the other hand, I think is wrong. Wrong in the very sense of the word. It may not be evil, in the grandest notions, as reasons behind it are themselves beyond my reckoning. But I think it is shocking and wrong.

Evil exists in the mind of man outwith science and religion. It can not really be defined or measured from where I see it. 'Tis the difference between a man kicking his dog thrice daily, and a certain Austrian gentleman invading Poland. Both are undeniably evil, in one way or another, leaving it a matter of scale.

I think that I will indeed have to think a little more about this, in order to reply again when I've got a better idea of what I'm trying to say.

[lilithu]

Originally Posted by Mister_T

I classify evil as intentional harm and wrong doing both mental and physical.

In another thread I said that things such as incest and homosexuality were not evil.
While I wouldn't participate in these activities, I certainley don't consider them "evil"
I was then essentially told I was evil and so was my "spirit." Even though thinking otherwise went against my spirit, moral fiber, concious, whatever you want to call it.

Am I wrong?

My question is how would you guys gauge evil? How would you measure evil? Would you base evil on what religious texts defines as evil? Would you use your feelings and intuition? Or would you use something different? Would you ever consider love and compassion evil? Is evil relative to the individual?

I'm interested to hear from theists and non-theists

I don't think that a harm needs to be intentional to be evil. Evil can be done unintentionally out of ignorance. To me, things like institutional racism, sexism, classism, etc are evil. Often these are not the result of anything intentional but they in the grand scheme of things cause more harm than personal intentional racism, sexism, homophobia, etc.

To define evil, I first have to explain that for me, we are all interconnected with each other. The Spirit/God is what sustains our existence and binds us together. Ultimately, we do not exist except as part of the interconnected web and "independence" is an illusion (maya).

That said, for me, anything that isolates us from the interconnected whole is evil. Any time we view ourselves as separate from "Other." Only when we view ourselves as seperate can we hurt someone else, deceive someone else, take unfair advantage of someone else, hold a grudge against someone else.

Spirit connects/brings together. Anything that disconnects/breaks asunder is evil.

That said, I don't know about the incest, Mister_T

[Paraprakrti]

Evil is that which is detrimental to the spiritual path.

[Mister_T]

I don't know about the incest, Mister_T

Incest, on the other hand, I think is wrong. Wrong in the very sense of the word. It may not be evil, in the grandest notions, as reasons behind it are themselves beyond my reckoning. But I think it is shocking and wrong.

That's my feeling on the subject. It's gross and the very thought of it is beyond my comprehension. but evil...well I wouldn't go that far. It's definitley not something I would ever do.

[Scott1]

Originally Posted by Mister_T

Am I wrong?

I believe you are... but I would never suggest that anyone ignore his/her conscience:

When he listens to his conscience, the prudent man can hear God speaking.

.... so if you continue to be told you are "wrong" by followers of your own faith, you might begin to ask yourself if maybe you are in error. Conscience needs to be formed... educated... and if you fail to do so, I believe that to be one of the most "evil" things a person can do in this world.

All with Peter to Jesus through Mary,
Scott