Is life a struggle between good and evil? (moral, moral)

[Bright-ness' Shadow]

Personally, I don't focus on good or evil. I am what I am and accept what I am and there is no struggle for me to be me.

I am wise in the sense I know myself but have no idea if that wiseness is connected with intelligence - I suspect not.

My struggle is with the expectations and "demands" others may have.

[Master Vigil]

Originally Posted by atofel

Is rape not evil?
Is charity not good?

Rape is good to the raper. And charity is evil to those who hate giving to charity. Sure I believe rape is evil, and charity is good. But they are still suggestive. See, we are trying to define them. It's an endless battle.

[oracle]

Now from what I understand, there is no shuch thing as evil, but the ability to percieve good or evil is a brain function. The amygdala labels "evil" upon people or things that are hostile to one's own survival. It also labels "good" upon what is self-preserving. Our ability to percieve good or evil is ultimately egoistic as it is a survival mechanism. There is no such thing as good or evil, but these labels only exist because the brain has been functioned to place these labels. In an evolutionary aspect, this function is primeval and evolved for the purpose of survival. Because the human brain became complex, this function, as a result became complex. This, mixed with human ignorance and superficial knowledge, resulted in the birth of evil gods, demons, and devils. Everthing in reality, is amoral. Morality is an illusion created by the mind. Everyone has a set of different morals. People are wise in their own eyes.

I don't use the word evil, because the word is generally abusive when applied to people. I simply state if an action is just or unjust. My determination on what is just and what is unjust is based purely on egoism. We must measure the motives, intentions, and hidden agenda. If the agenda is egoistic and selfish, then the resulting actions are unjustified.Murder can be justified if the motive is selfless, [at last resort] to protect the life of another. Even "good" things can be unjustified, when incentives are involved, good works become egoistic. For Example:

-Charity can be unjust if the motive for giving is recognition. This is not charity, but money in exchange for social praise. True charity is given anonymously.

-Spreading the gospel so that "Jesus will come sooner", is an act of egoism and sinful against God. Ministering is given in exchange for selfish reasons.

-Believing in God because you don't want to go to hell is a sin against God. You only believe because there is an incentive. The belief is given in exchange for an inheritence.

All these actions are unjustified, because they involve an incentive. There is no difference between this and bribery.

I don't see life as a struggle between good and evil. I just see life as being plagued by human stupidity and the primeval motive of survival which is ego.

[Jaymes]

It's never good to view things in black and white terms. Things are not always either good or evil.

[Doc]

No, it is not a struggle between choosing good and evil, but instead, spending your whole life trying to understand what is good and evil.

[oracle]

Originally Posted by Doc

No, it is not a struggle between choosing good and evil, but instead, spending your whole life trying to understand what is good and evil.

Perhaps that is why it's called "the tree of the knowledge of good and evil"

[jewscout]

I don't see it so much as good vs. evil as i do positive vs. negative

[Jayhawker Soule]

Originally Posted by Master Vigil

Rape is good to the raper.

That is about as disgusting an example of superficial moral relativism and symantic adulteration that I've seen in a long time.

[DianeVera]

"Good" and "evil" are value judgments concerning actions. But I see no reason to think of them as unified "forces" that fight each other. See Elliot Rose on the absurdity of "Evil" as a principle.

[michel]

I suppose I do see life in that way; I seem to be permanently chastising myself because I seems unable to reach the standards I have set myself.

Somone (I can't remember who - sorry) mentioned the 'grey areas' between black and white - those are the ones with which I stuggle most; I am so worried by 'the elastic conscience' concept that I do tend to prefer to see things as good or bad (good and evil)