Human beings are basically good

1. 56

   GoldenBirdposted 12 years ago

   We are basically good. Sometimes, environment and circumstances may corrupt us; but we can return. We are all good.
   
   -Do you agree?

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      Uninvited Writerposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      I do agree

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      kessposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      I can agree that all men are basically good...
      but since the statement need qualification it is still openended.
      
      For as long as death still reigns over most, I can also say men are basically evil and still be correct.

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         GoldenBirdposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         I say men are birds. And still be correct.

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            kessposted 12 years agoin reply to this

            Glad you get the idea.

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               GoldenBirdposted 12 years agoin reply to this

               Men are men.

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               kessposted 12 years agoin reply to this

               You had good reason for your fisrt statement....

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                  GoldenBirdposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                  If there was anything in my first statement, it was intuition.

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      lobobrandonposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      There's no need to become corrupt unless your dealing with a corrupt person.. If you turn corrupt first you can't call urself good.

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      Cagsilposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Yes.

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      Pcunixposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      I do.
      
      I'm an atheist, so I don't think this has anything to do with religion, but my 63 years of life tell me that most people are good and can be trusted.  MOST, of course, not all.

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      Brenda Durhamposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      No, not in that concrete way.
      Human beings do have the capacity to choose good over evil.  But the Bible says there is none good but God.

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         paradigmsearchposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         Well, I've never been called a God before...

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            paradigmsearchposted 12 years agoin reply to this

            Un-oh... I never should have said that... I am getting clobbered by a wind storm. News is saying 60 mph winds...
            
            I take it back! I take it back! I take it back! I take it back!
            I take it back! I take it back! I take it back! I take it back!
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            I take it back! I take it back! I take it back! I take it back!
            I take it back! I take it back! I take it back! I take it back!
            I take it back! I take it back! I take it back! I take it back!
            I take it back! I take it back! I take it back! I take it back!
            I take it back! I take it back! I take it back! I take it back!
            I take it back! I take it back! I take it back! I take it back!
            I take it back! I take it back! I take it back! I take it back!
            I take it back! I take it back! I take it back! I take it back!
            I take it back! I take it back! I take it back! I take it back!

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               paradigmsearchposted 12 years agoin reply to this

               Amazing! It has slacked off. Is it a lull? Or does God really have internet access?
               
               Stay tuned.

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         Cagsilposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         Nice guilt trip on the people, including children.

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            Druid Dudeposted 12 years agoin reply to this

            Yet, after he was through creating everything, he pronounced it all good. How can one reconcile these statements?

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               Cagsilposted 12 years agoin reply to this

               Ask a religious person. I don't need to reconcile it.

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               brotheryochananposted 12 years agoin reply to this

               Everything was good. This was mentioned before adams transgression.
               
               As for the guilt trip on the children... buy your kids some books and get them off the internet.. sheesh, how many children do you think are reading this anyway.

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      Eranofuposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      I disagree. I think nothing is good or bad on its own and the values we give are influenced by our perception. One thing might be good on one occasion and bad on the other.

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      paarsurreyposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      All human beings are born innocent; so unless they commit a sin; they have to be good very naturally.
      
      If they sin; they could repent and ask forgiveness from the Creator God directly; He is most Forgiving and Merciful.

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      manlypoetrymanposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Yes!

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       ccomishposted 12 years agoin reply to this

       Humans are at the core good, unless situations reprogram them to lose the core and replace the love with something not love.

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   Emile Rposted 12 years ago

   Sounds about right to me.

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   Daniel Carterposted 12 years ago

   All the goodness we are capable of is already in us. But it's up to us to tap into it and use it, rather than choose the alternative.

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      SomewayOuttaHereposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      mornin' daniel...have a good one today!
      
      later...gater

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         Daniel Carterposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         Mornin'! Hope your day is fab!

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4. 67

   KBEvolveposted 12 years ago

   I'm more in the 'human beings are more inclined to do evil than to do good' camp.

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   Disappearingheadposted 12 years ago

   Yes they are. Jews thank the Lord that their soul is pure in their daily prayers. It is the Church that teaches we are filthy unworthy sinners from birth, not God.

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   lizy625posted 12 years ago

   we all have goodness in us, the choice to use it or not becomes the struggle

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   prettydarkhorseposted 12 years ago

   we are basically good, we try to fill in our minds about things which we value as we enjoy our stay here. Initially, our mind is a "tabula rasa"

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   Rafiniposted 12 years ago

   All humans are good and evil.  The capability becomes reality with practice.

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   paradigmsearchposted 12 years ago

   There is hope...
   
   "Anonymous donors pay off Kmart layaway accounts"
   
   "OMAHA, Neb. (AP) -- The young father stood in line at the Kmart layaway counter, wearing dirty clothes and worn-out boots. With him were three small children.
   
   He asked to pay something on his bill because he knew he wouldn't be able to afford it all before Christmas. Then a mysterious woman stepped up to the counter..."
   
   More...
   
   http://finance.yahoo.com/news/anonymous … 35611.html

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      prettydarkhorseposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      sweet.....

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10. 60

    paradigmsearchposted 12 years ago

    "Human beings are basically good"
    
    They may or may not be basically good, but the majority are definitely a bunch of major screw-ups. Seems to be the nature of our species...

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11. 93

    habeeposted 12 years ago

    I think MOST people are basically good, but every now and then, you run across an evil human being.

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       paradigmsearchposted 12 years agoin reply to this

       It's possible that I'm dealing with one of those right now. I am unable to determine if he is truly evil or just the most incompetent business owner on the planet.

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          habeeposted 12 years agoin reply to this

          Ugh...sorry. Have you tried using a cross on him?

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          couturepopcafeposted 12 years agoin reply to this

          Today, we are more inclined to assume someone is just out to get us.  It's probably best to assume incompetence not malice.

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          Hollie Thomasposted 12 years agoin reply to this

          Exploit his incompetence.

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12. 59

    Druid Dudeposted 12 years ago

    I agree. When we are babies, we're all cute. A person has to be trained to be mean.

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       TLMinutposted 12 years agoin reply to this

       Some babies and little children ARE mean. They don't need to be trained that way, they have those tendencies. However, I think those tendencies can be nurtured very carefully into a positive direction. Though right now, I can't think of the positive side of a trait of enjoying seeing others suffer. I know some people actually do enjoy that from a very young age and I don't know why. What could that be turned into?

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13. 60

    knolyourselfposted 12 years ago

    The body is good. It is that mind that can get very bad.

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    TLMinutposted 12 years ago

    Incompetence instead of malice, I think I agree. The levels of incompetence are astounding though.
    
    "Realizing" that people are inherently precious and wonderful, GOOD, left me so shocked that I wrote a hub about it. I really still can't fit it into my sense of reality but I keep trying to think of what I see and hear. People championing causes that sound evil to me doesn't matter since they're trying to make things right in their view. And being selfish can't count as evil, that's biologically sensible.
    
    I've long thought that children/people with tendencies toward evil really just have tendencies toward a trait. It depends on how that trait is nurtured and influenced whether it turns out for good or bad. Perserverance/stubborness, morally upright/rigidly judgmental, compassionate/victim...

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    knolyourselfposted 12 years ago

    Treadmill to goodness.

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    Melissa McClainposted 12 years ago

    I don't think we're basically good or bad really (vague answer, I know).  Very young children (the closest people you'll find to a blank slate) can be extremely selfish in their actions but also selfless.  They're acting on their natural instincts.  If a child does something wrong we have a tendency to say "they don't know any better" which lends itself to the "basically bad" camp because we're saying they have to be taught how to be good.
    
    At this point you could bring up the nature vs nurture discussion. I say it's a combination of both. But, as many have already said, there are people out there that make you wonder if true evil exists in human form. I just try to avoid those people.

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       couturepopcafeposted 12 years agoin reply to this

       IMO, children are selfish or better put - self preservationist.  They don't know anything else.  They are generous when it doesn't involve their own preservation.
       
       Re humans being evil - Read a really funny book by Neil Gaiman - "Good Omens - The Nice and Accuate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter Witch"  In it the devil character named Crowley says that humans have an uncanny knack for thinking up things to harm themselves and they do a better job of it than any devil ever could. (paraphrasing)  I think that's hysterical.

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    knolyourselfposted 12 years ago

    True evil does exist in human form as the only known kind. It is not intentional. It is stupidity.

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    paradigmsearchposted 12 years ago

    

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    paradigmsearchposted 12 years ago

    

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    paradigmsearchposted 12 years ago

    Not looking good... The place really can't take the predicted 12 more hours of this.

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       paradigmsearchposted 12 years agoin reply to this

       
       It actually appears to have stopped.
       
       This thread sure got off track. Sorry about that.
       
       Back on track...
       
       

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    pstraubie48posted 12 years ago

    agreed. and goodness begets goodness.

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    paradigmsearchposted 12 years ago

    
    This image is in my one-and-only God hub. It is exactly what I'm seeing right now when I look outside, excepting it's over land.

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    paradigmsearchposted 12 years ago

    

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    humanismposted 12 years ago

    Protagoras was a humanist and believed there's no measure greater in cultivating the human good than that of the measure of human beings. It starts when you're very small, you believe humans are good and you think evil is not that of a natural human being, so you think human nature is justice and decency. I used to believe that for a long time. Though I believe the world is evil I still believe in justice and the human good, there's hope for the positive pessimist. I also believe in the Christian good, though rare, there are brothers in a church of friends and they're good people, yes there is the Christian good, then the secular humanists, they're the best, people who are friends of decency and good will, unselfish people. I think being good is very human.

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25. 69

    AshtonFireflyposted 12 years ago

    That depends on how one defines good and evil

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26. 49

    paarsurreyposted 12 years ago

    Human beings are basically good
    
    Sure; unless satan takes over them

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    Kyle Payneposted 12 years ago

    The original humans were basically good until evil through action and free will, which is sin, corrupted their basis of being. It has been passed on to all men which means that all humans are naturally bad. This does not mean that one can not overcome it though. But from conception humans are naturally evil.

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       Castlepalomaposted 12 years agoin reply to this

       People are generally good, that's why I think everyone is God
       
       Just get rid of those  too negative people in your life and this concept of Satan.

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          Kyle Payneposted 12 years agoin reply to this

          How do you define God?

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             Castlepalomaposted 12 years agoin reply to this

             :God:
             Love and a high energy source of good intention

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       A Troubled Manposted 12 years agoin reply to this

       It's unfortunate that religions propagate lies that "humans are naturally evil" when it is painfully obvious we are not. If we were, we would have self-destructed ages ago.
       
       Is this what we observe with the vast majority of people day in and day out? Is your neighbor plotting against you? Will your brothers and sisters kill you in your bed while you sleep?
       
       Seriously folks, please stop believing that crap as all it ever accomplishes is suspicion, paranoia and division amongst mankind.

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          GoldenBirdposted 12 years agoin reply to this

          Who created that trust, and that love, for fellow human beings?
          
          
          Will I laugh at you? Like this- -because you can not answer this question?

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             A Troubled Manposted 12 years agoin reply to this

             It evolved over generations. No "one" created it.

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                GoldenBirdposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                Unless you can show evidence, your theory is just as valid as any religion's. That is the point. Do you think things like 'love and trust' came into the universe out of accidental coincidence?
                
                Will I laugh now, like this- 

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                   A Troubled Manposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                   It isn't my theory. I can find hundreds of thousands of scientific papers on the subject. You can, too. Just type in words like "moral ethic evolution" into Google Scholar for example. I found well over a million papers.

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                      GoldenBirdposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                      If you can show the truth, you wont need hundreds of thousands of scientific papers to prove that. One will be enough.   (This time I am really) 

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                         A Troubled Manposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                         Sorry, but science is not like religion. We DO need thousands of scientific papers in order to understand the world around us, not some faith based fantasy laded "truth". Fyi.

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                            GoldenBirdposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                            The trouble is, A Troubled Man, religion can also show thousands of religious papers. Search 'God' is google scholar.
                            
                            Did you hear the laughter? -

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                               A Troubled Manposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                               I did, and found most papers presented evidence regarding the reason believers believe in gods, about religious fundamentalism being a psychosis, why religious militants kill people, etc. etc.

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                                  GoldenBirdposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                                  Search on your science. I bet some of your scientists were mere psychos that lived in their respective societies. You can use any search-engine. Religious folks show much more wisdom- get to know Buddha.
                                  
                                  I think you do not even deserve a

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                                     A Troubled Manposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                                     If you say so...

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          Michele Travisposted 12 years agoin reply to this

          A Troubled Man,
          You are correct.  Most of the wars in history have been fought in the name of God.  Christians, Jews, and Islamics have always been killers.  Not all of them, but some.  But, it is not Gods fault.

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             A Troubled Manposted 12 years agoin reply to this

             It is the fault of the religion and what is written in holy books about gods, what they say and what they do.

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                Michele Travisposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                Not really,  in the history of Christianity the pope refused to let people read the bible for hundred of years.  I think at least until ( ok, I am not sure ) about 1750 maybe.  Popes refused to let the bible be translated.  People who owned bibles we executed.  That would be the fault of a single person. And thosde who followed his orders.  Not the religion itself.

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                   A Troubled Manposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                   Try reading what you wrote. You contradict yourself throughout your post.

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    F5487lauraposted 12 years ago

    I believe that we are mostly good people, but every one of us has some bad in us too. Thats what makes us who and what we are and become. We should always try to be better.

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       Castlepalomaposted 12 years agoin reply to this

       oowwhhh
       
       I'm GOOD when I'm bad

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    MickeySrposted 12 years ago

    If we were not us, if we were considering our history, the conduct of our yet to be influenced by society infants, the degree and commonality of our wickedness, etc, as though we were examining any other beings besides ourselves, we would be stunned silly if they had the blindness, brassiness, and/or arrogance to imagine that they were basically good.

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       Druid Dudeposted 12 years agoin reply to this

       If we are basically good, then we wouldn't have to be taught the difference.

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    Disturbiaposted 12 years ago

    I don't we are either bad or good. I think we can choose good or bad behaviors based on any number of factors and influences.

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    paarsurreyposted 12 years ago

    Human beings are basically good
    
    I think so

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