Inspired by comments about recent news stories.
I am atheist and struggle (in fact get quite pissed off) when people describe people as 'evil' or having committed 'evil acts'.
To me evil doesnt exist. Its is just as made up as 'god' and used to keep 'good' believers in line. Calling someone evil is, to me, just the same as calling someone 'godly' however when evil is used it feels like its is being used to (understandably) declare a 'difference' between the person saying it and the person it is being said about. Of course most of us would never do such horrible things like have been in the news recently and consider ourselves incapable but we are just as human and in reality as capable (in that we have the ability)of such acts. To call them evil seems to me to be implying there is another force at work within that person that does not live within 'us' (the 'good' people). This is what i struggle with. I think it's an unhelpful or unhealthy way to think of them although i cometely understand the need to declare a difference between 'us' and 'them'.
However, on MN previoulsy people have said that they dont share my idea of what evil is so they are not doing what i think they are doing when they call someone evil.
So i would really appreciate if some could explain to me what they mean when they talk of evil. What does it mean to you?
TIA
Also, i really intend no offence by my comments but understand it is an emotive topic and accept that others will strongly disagree with my opinion.
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Philosophy/religion
If you believe in evil- what does evil mean to you?
149 replies
YoureBeingASillyBilly · 19/12/2013 18:55
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