Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that money is the root of all evil?

39 replies

Beeinalily · 10/09/2025 11:33

Well most evil, at least. Don't believe me? Have a quick look on here, there are non important things like CFs not paying their way, heartbreaking threads about money actually dividing families and everything in between. I almost feel lucky to not have any!

OP posts:
WoahThreeAces · 10/09/2025 11:56

Loads of things can be the root of evil things. Sex, money, power, religion.

Onthebusses · 10/09/2025 11:54

It's just a token we use to barter. If it wasn't money we would be arguing over chickens etc.

It's human nature that is the root of all evil. Just look at how we treat one another, let alone other animals. No other species is as sadistic.

TheGodsOfTheCopybookHeadings · 10/09/2025 11:53

usernameinserthere · 10/09/2025 11:39

…. It’s ‘all kinds of evil’ - it’s not all evil. Evil comes in many forms.

Show quote history

Good point! I was paraphrasing, it's a long time ago I last read that.

Makes much more sense that way!

Marshmallow4545 · 10/09/2025 11:44

I find discussions like this a bit strange because 'money' is just basically how we allocate resources in modern society. If you somehow abolished money then we would still be in the position where humans are fighting over often limited resources. If you look to the animal kingdom you will see that the fight for survival is often resource related so this isn't something unique to humans.

The same goes with religion really. Religion is just shorthand for deeply held beliefs. Almost every human in the world holds beliefs of this nature even if they don't relate to a particular god or religion. For example, almost all of us fundamentally think that murder is morally wrong. If a new regime came into power that suddenly condoned murder then I imagine many of us would be prepared to fight to reject this ideology because we believe it's fundamentally wrong. This is really no different to religious people fighting for their beliefs. Beliefs are a fundamental aspect of the human condition and won't just be removed if we stop all organised religion.

Original poster
Beeinalily · 10/09/2025 11:43

GiantTeddyIsTired · 10/09/2025 11:40

Frankly I prefer being able to take my flappy bit of paper to the shops to exchange for groceries than a bag of potatoes to barter.

No sense of adventure! 😉

OP posts:
Original poster
Beeinalily · 10/09/2025 11:41

Oreosareawful · 10/09/2025 11:35

I think religion is worse.

Bit of a crossover there too, I think.

OP posts:
Original poster
Beeinalily · 10/09/2025 11:41

TheGodsOfTheCopybookHeadings · 10/09/2025 11:35

The love of money is the root of all evil. Plenty of people with plenty of money manage to have perfectly good lives and relationships.

Yes you're correct, that's the quote isn't it? And it's true.

OP posts:
GiantTeddyIsTired · 10/09/2025 11:40

Frankly I prefer being able to take my flappy bit of paper to the shops to exchange for groceries than a bag of potatoes to barter.

usernameinserthere · 10/09/2025 11:39

TheGodsOfTheCopybookHeadings · 10/09/2025 11:35

The love of money is the root of all evil. Plenty of people with plenty of money manage to have perfectly good lives and relationships.

…. It’s ‘all kinds of evil’ - it’s not all evil. Evil comes in many forms.

KpopDemon · 10/09/2025 11:39

I think you can take a step back and say broadly speaking greed, jealousy and covetousness are at the root of a lot of evil.

but not all of it. Some of the worst evils are perpetrated because people enjoy power and inflicting pain and suffering on others.

usernameinserthere · 10/09/2025 11:38

Beeinalily · 10/09/2025 11:33

Well most evil, at least. Don't believe me? Have a quick look on here, there are non important things like CFs not paying their way, heartbreaking threads about money actually dividing families and everything in between. I almost feel lucky to not have any!

The actual quote is

“For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”

So loving money more than other things can cause some evil.

Random violence isn’t about money but is definitely very evil etc.

hyggetyggedotorg · 10/09/2025 11:36

Add religion to that & I agree.

The things done in the name of religion (all religions or most) are mind blowing.

TheGodsOfTheCopybookHeadings · 10/09/2025 11:35

The love of money is the root of all evil. Plenty of people with plenty of money manage to have perfectly good lives and relationships.

Oreosareawful · 10/09/2025 11:35

I think religion is worse.