What is the FIRST THING that comes to mind at the dichotomous words good & evil?

1. 85

   gmwilliamsposted 7 years ago

   What is the FIRST THING that comes to mind at the dichotomous words good & evil?   Do you
   
   believe that good & evil are necessary components in life & consciousness for one can't exist w/o the other component?   Can there be good w/o evil & evil w/o good?  Are good & evil human inventions or preordained by natural, even divine law?
   
   

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2. 86

   tamarawilhiteposted 7 years ago

   That saying everything is gray enables more immorality because it cannot be called "wrong" and "bad".
   That those who want to make everything relative give rise to those who can make excuses for everything, including every immorality, and it isn't stopped because those who call it wrong are considered more wrong than those committing the evil acts.

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3. 91

   WiccanSageposted 7 years ago

   I don't believe the dichotomy actually exists, so no, I do not believe they are necessary.   
   
   Morals are relative, which for the most part is why they change from time to time, place to place, culture to culture. I absolutely believe things like context and circumstances are relevant. And ultimately, whether something is 'right' or 'wrong' in the scheme of things are just perspective.
   
   I believe morality and ethics are necessary, but they are also largely debatable. On some issues we agree more (murder, for example) than we agree on others (homosexuality, for example).
   
   I think it's better for society to accept that morals and ethics are things we need to consider and debate and revisit. It's better to use reason than artificially deciding complex things are black or white.

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4. 0

   threekeysposted 7 years ago

   This is a Universal question-huge! Circumstances, context, societal and cultural aspects are some needed aspects to consider when one is ascertaining if one is good (beneficial/harmless) to you or if one is evil(harmful/destructive) to you. To obtain a more rounder evaluation one would have to experience the Yang of the Yin and the Yin to the Yang. That is experience to some degree "both sides of the coin". And while one may be experienced as being "evil"(having a lack of conscience)to you it could be that this person may be perceived as "caring" (and hence good) as they have a parent that they "care" for by doing their weekly shopping for them or paying their bills on time.
   
   But hate begets hate.
   
   Some say that good is two thirds stronger than evil. Therefore good overcomes evil-eventually. But as laughter is contagious so is hate which is a expression of the word evil- here in the "religious" context.
   
   Life is about the shades of grey. And no I dont mean the book!

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   1. 86

      tamarawilhiteposted 7 years agoin reply to this

      Hating Brussel sprouts is not evil, and those committing genocide may not hate the people they kill but see it as a task to be done, whether Muslim terrorists or Nazis gassing Jews.
      The evil is the actions, not the emotions.

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   2. 0

      threekeysposted 7 years agoin reply to this

      Thats a great point! Yes the feelings are not evil but one'actions.I know you have made that comment on another question and I am grateful to hear this great distinction. It's like the old adage "actions speak louder than words".Thanks Tamara!

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