Go to Sannhetseeker
- Add a comment
- Go to Evil Does Not Exist - Here's Proof
very good post
and loaded with questions.
It all hinges on one's understanding or definition of God. Everything is of God, all existence, that is. God is, I believe, Being, Truth, Good, Love, among other things. Evil does not not exist as Good does. I think Einstein had it right- evil is the absence of God or Good. The fact that there are people who commit evil acts and they are, we assume, creations of the Creator, does not mean God causes evil to happen. You can't say light causes darkness. It is as close, I think, to a perfect analogy as one can get. We talk about darkness as the absence of thing,i.e. light, but we don't define light as the absence of darkness, rather the presence of color.
Interesting that Jesus spoke of himself this way.
Can what is Truth, Being, Goodness, and Love be, at the same time and in the same respect, it's opposite? That doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me.
posted by
AnCatubh
on June 14, 2005 at 3:32 AM
| link to this | reply
Metta -
Interesting . . .
posted by
sannhet
on June 11, 2005 at 8:25 PM
| link to this | reply
yes...
God just hasn't chosen to "awaken" in them yet... I don't know if I believe that a person can truly choose to not awaken to God, but that it is God that has chosen not to awaken in a person - it is all God's Lila - game.... though it doesn't seem a very fun one at many times... and can appear down right evil...
posted by
Metta
on June 11, 2005 at 7:58 PM
| link to this | reply
Metta -
I think we are saying the same thing. "God" is in the heart of every murderer or evil person who has ever lived. They however, chose not believe or acknowledge that in their heart. So there is an absence of the acknowledgement of "God" by that person - for whatever reason. And they act accordingly.
posted by
sannhet
on June 11, 2005 at 7:15 PM
| link to this | reply
Painter -
I see what you are saying, and agree for the most part, but I do think there is an intelligent "energy" if you will that is Love. It's everywhere and in everything in the universe. This is "God". This energy would be in one who chooses not to believe in "God" just as it is in a plant. And I believe that this energy has an inclination toward loving acts or acts that are positive versus non-loving acts or acts that are negative. Just as metal shavings are attracted naturally to a magnet, so too are positive acts to each other. So I am not to sure that the universe doesn't care one way or the other.
posted by
sannhet
on June 11, 2005 at 7:12 PM
| link to this | reply
yes, it would seem that there was an absence of God... but God is in that, too... at least I beleive. Nothing happens beyond God's will - I like the metaphor Donald used as the movie, stage and players... it is all God - even if we don't get it... just another disguise - whether we are aware of it or not...
posted by
Metta
on June 11, 2005 at 3:56 PM
| link to this | reply
now of course if we say "There is god"
as Metta does, then we have also to admit that all things are of god.
all things are god.
this includes evil
this includes Satan.
this includes all the heinous acts of humankind throughout history.
this all is god.
so we then have to conclude that god is both good and evil.
because nothing exists that is not of god.
evil might be the absence of good -- but -- it exists -- as an absence.
just as antimatter exists -- and dark matter --
all that exists is god and is of god.
all moves as god
only those with volition can choose good and evil.
evil is still defined
thou shalt not murder.
killing could be good and not evil except that the law made it evil.
and then it is certain killings
evil still is something that someone defines.
all things are neutral until being acted upon or taking acton
like guns don't kill people, people kill people -- i don't think much of the ideology behind it
but guns are neutral until acted upon; then they take an acton through the maninpulation of the user.
and the user also is neutral until taking acton
i knew som ekids that were almost naturallybad
only thing no one defined bad to them nor did they define good.
the kids were neutral until they took bad actions.
besides
the universe itself really doesn't give a damn what the human race does.
only the human race does
or should
posted by
Xeno-x
on June 11, 2005 at 1:07 PM
| link to this | reply
sannhet - Ah! I see what you're getting at now.
posted by
donaldoji
on June 11, 2005 at 8:56 AM
| link to this | reply
Painter -
You make a good point, but I wonder if it goes beyond that? Even amongst cannibals, who see no evil in killing and eating of human flesh, there are surely those with cold hearts, who have turned away from their spirituality. This turning away from "God" - however It is defined - has happened within every people and throughout time.
posted by
sannhet
on June 11, 2005 at 7:26 AM
| link to this | reply
don -
See my comment for Metta - I do think there can be the absence of "God" in one's heart.
posted by
sannhet
on June 11, 2005 at 7:21 AM
| link to this | reply
OBP -
Hmmm, hadn't thought of it like that. Interesting.
posted by
sannhet
on June 11, 2005 at 7:20 AM
| link to this | reply
Metta -
I see it as having something to do with the absence of "God" within one's heart. "God" is everywhere and in everything. But there are those who will not allow "God" in. "God" is absent in their hearts, and therefore evil exists - one's actions are identified as "evil".
posted by
sannhet
on June 11, 2005 at 7:20 AM
| link to this | reply
Avant -
I've read that quote too. Good 'ol Einstein.
posted by
sannhet
on June 11, 2005 at 7:17 AM
| link to this | reply
now of course
evil is actions.
just as good is actions.
both are defined
that's the difference between this and the darkness/cold relationship
and we then ask the questino "What is evil?"
Well, evil is what a society, moral code, or individual defines it as, and the various societes, etc. have different definitions.
what is evil in one place is not in another.
posted by
Xeno-x
on June 11, 2005 at 6:29 AM
| link to this | reply
"...but how can there be an absence of God?"
Well put, Metta. Einstein says that Evil is the absence of God. But if God is absent then everything is absent, including Evil and "Good." God is the screen on which the movie takes place. No screen means no movie. The movie feaures billions of characters, all played by God. The screen is God, the movie is God, the actors are God. God is all and everything. There isn't anything else!
posted by
donaldoji
on June 10, 2005 at 10:23 PM
| link to this | reply
SAN
This furthers the case for hell. The absence of our Creator is to be dammed~~Good post and happy thoughts!
posted by
Offy
on June 10, 2005 at 4:58 PM
| link to this | reply
There is only God.... but how can there be an absence of God? I don't think there can be...
posted by
Metta
on June 10, 2005 at 4:48 PM
| link to this | reply
sannhet
i've read a lot about Einstein, but i have never heard that story. it was a great illustration, though. Einstein did question things that others assumed were correct, and for that he practically rewrote science. i remember him saying once that 'a truly great mind is attacked by mediocrity and considered insane.'
posted by
avant-garde
on June 10, 2005 at 1:04 PM
| link to this | reply