the infinite genie

[Netti-Netti]

to be truly good is to let good happen not make it happen.

It seems Adam and Eve second-guessed what G-d had in mind for them. Because of their lack of faith, they couldn't just let Good happen. They wanted to be able to make it happen themselves.

It seems Buddhism, Confucianism and Taoism agree that attachment to self is the root evil.

I thought Judaism had something to say about arrogance....

 

[Netti-Netti]

I don't believe any one adult or child actually tries to be evil in this sense. They can be unfortunately misguided when not aligned to the responsibility of good intention.

I believe there are forms of evil that arise where people specifically choose evil and do so knowingly and systematically in the hope of destroying the Ideal that ordinarily provides motive force and guidance for action. It is fully conscious defiance of the moral imperative to take responsibility. I would identify this kind of thing with the demonic.

Also, good intentions may not be enough: The Road To Hell Is Paved With Good Intentions.

 

[Ciel]

I believe there are forms of evil that arise where people specifically choose evil and do so knowingly and systematically in the hope of destroying the Ideal that ordinarily provides motive force and guidance for action. It is fully conscious defiance of the moral imperative to take responsibility. I would identify this kind of thing with the demonic.

Also, good intentions may not be enough: The Road To Hell Is Paved With Good Intentions.

Netti-Netti,

Considering George Bush on this issue, then yes. And we can throw Robert Mugabe in the same bag.

Yet there are good people in this world and good progresses through their intentions.

- c -

 

[_Z_]

hmm irresponsibility is perhaps a natural reaction to the restrictions placed upon us by family ~ especially as concerns youth who maybe are not ready. there is also a necessary chaos element to change, however in extremes these things can loosely be called evil.

...and you are right some people choose to be evil. i just don’t like the word because without some spiritual nature of ‘evil’, i don’t have to contemplate as to why it exist [duality etc]. i understand god as the whole so there cannot be spiritual evil - jus my definition though.