Does supernatural evil exist or is all evil human made ?

As for "Does supernatural evil exist or is all evil human made ?": nobody else is responsible for evil deeds, by thought, speech or body, then the one who does, at least.
So no way to reject responsibility, even if (and now to " Does a devil/satan exist) an evil-minded being for more a sublime sphere suggest one to go for, do, evil.

The are also evil-minded being in higher spheres of existences, not to speak of lower realms.

The King of evil is called Mara (from the word marana, death), alias "the evil One", "Cheater", "tempter", "corruper". A famous deity ruling the realm of joy, good householder.

How ever, those personifications are always rooted in trying to illustrate own defilement, at least by ways of following evil advices.

May one be reminded that doing wrong is always rooted in not knowing, at least. So avoiding and reject advices from evil mined beings doesn't requires to hate them.
 
ProblemOfEvil said:
Does a Devil/Satan exist ?
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There is no independent force of evil, many talks given on this topic in the Baha'i Writings, this is but one.

"The reality underlying this is that the evil spirit, Satan or whatever is interpreted as evil, refers to the lower nature of man. This basic nature is symbolized in various ways. In man there are two expressions; One is the expression of nature, the other the expression of the spiritual realm. The world of nature is defective. Look at it clearly, casting aside all superstition and imagination... God has never created an evil spirit; all such ideas and nomenclature are symbols expressing the mere human or earthly nature of man. It is an essential condition of the soil of earth thorns, weeds and fruitless trees may grow from it. Relatively speaking, this is evil: it is simply the lower state and basic product of nature."

- ‘Abdu’l-Bahá: Promulgation of Universal Peace, pp. 294-295.

Regards Tony
 
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Perhaps the devil is gravity, that drags all living creatures down to death and decay, and rebirth in new forms from the fires at the centre of the earth ...
 
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Tony Bristow-Stagg said:
This basic nature is symbolized in various ways. In man there are two expressions; One is the expression of nature, the other the expression of the spiritual realm. The world of nature is defective.
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I agree with this.

Not sure about the word 'defective' but allowing for subtlety of translation -- where the 'uncreated world' of spirit is perfect, pure and eternal -- in the material 'created world' of nature 'red in tooth and claw' the perfection of spirit is shifted, polarities are jumbled mixing into time and space, and all nature ends in death.

Whether there is an independent force of 'evil' that concentrates on misleading human beings may or may not be true, imo
 
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ProblemOfEvil said:
Does a Devil/Satan exist ?
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Neither. To the title question. :P

I don't believe in the Devil/Satan, at least not as some singular cosmic embodiment or source of supernatural evil.

But I also don't think that means all evil must therefore be human-made. That's a false dichotomy. Humans aren't the only beings in my worldview with agency.
 
iBrian said:
The concept of evil is a social construction.
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That's too unattentive perceived, good householder Brain. Dukkha, suffering, death, pain, seperation, unease, ... are bad, evil. That what causes evil, leads to evil, is called evil as well. Those neglecting evil, encourage to evil, act evil, and hide up ways out of evil, blind, are called Evil Ones.
Of course, if seeking reason for Dukkha in regard of outwardly supply, the perception of bad is just individual, and/or a matter of convention, in accordance of certain preferences of supply and demand for ease.
But in regard of the real reason, of which is actually the demand of supply for ease, this very craving, or the act of depriving ease from others, eg. causing suffering intentionally, that isn't just a construct, but very clear, yet hard to see, hard to understand, for one with wrong views, and not instructed in the teachings of the Noble Ones.

The roots of evil are always craving, aversion and delusion, not-knowing (evil, it's cause, it's ending and the way of practice for an ending). Bind to it, one may declare all kinds of reasons, all kinds of evil.

Individual, according to certain perception, arising desired is common called good, while not desired bad. One should not mistake bad with currently disliked, and good not with currently desired. So bad does not necessary means dislikes and good not necessary liked.

Beings act every moment, by mind, speech, bodily deeds, just to escape Dukkha, evil, yet not knowing cause, end, release and act for it, they act harmful for themself, others and both.
 
The Hammer said:
So is it more about perspective then? One's/Societies perspective determines whether or not something gets called "evil"?
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Looking at the sociological and historical evidence, I'd have to say yes. After thousands of years of debate, much of it violent, there's no consensus and no sign of reaching one.

Absolute morality requires a single point of view which overrules all others, a fixed reference point. Monotheism provides this for those who have faith in it, I guess.

The rest of us have to think for ourselves.
 
ProblemOfEvil said:
Does a Devil/Satan exist ?
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If we can be evil then why not a higher being? Given the right circumstances.

he would need to battle a higher order of data.

In order for US to be evil we need to go against parenting and social rules...made by mere man...or by a God in fictional form(Bible).

A higher being would go against the rules laid down by God in his real form, in full knowledge he was doing so.

What trauma or truth would lead to such a state of mind?
 
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