Why does evil exist?

[Double Barrel]

There is no evil, just different points of view

That's quaint.

I guess this is just a another point of view?

Evil is that which purposely destroys life for the sake of it's destruction.

Evil exists because mankind chooses it to exist.

 

[punkbass2000]

Evil doesn't exist.

 

[Quasar1011]

god helps those who help themselves.

That sentence is absolutely not in the Bible. Rather, God helps those who call upon His name.

it means stop praying to god to correct everything wrong in ur life and get out there and take initiatives to make ur life better. u think if god exists, he wants to hear 6 billion people around the world asking him for stuff and make their lives better?

Actually, prayer works best when you pray for others, instead of yourself. It shows God that you genuinely care about others lives, and are not selfish. Usually when a person does this, they find themselves the recipient of the prayers of others as well.

By the way, God doesn't correct everything wrong in one's life. Even the Apostle Paul had his "thorn in the side".

BACK ON TOPIC: The short answer, is that evil exists because of pride.

@DoubleBarrel: evil predates mankind.

 

[Perfection]

@DoubleBarrel: evil predates mankind.

How does that work?

 

[Quasar1011]

Lucifer was the first sinner. He was created before mankind. All the angels predate mankind.

 

[A'AbarachAmadan]

From a Christian standpoint, it is called "Free Will". Although I'm no longer religious, I've always thought statements like "It's God's plan or God's will" were stupid, they go against the very essence of Free Will. Evil exists so that we can have a choice. Most things are in the 'grey area'.

 

[~Corsair#01~]

People are evil. Albeit not pure evil, and many succeed in supressing their inner evil.
People exist.
Therefore, evil exists.

 

[classical_hero]

From a Christian standpoint, it is called "Free Will". Although I'm no longer religious, I've always thought statements like "It's God's plan or God's will" were stupid, they go against the very essence of Free Will. Evil exists so that we can have a choice. Most things are in the 'grey area'.

That is not true what you said, because then you are denying that God has a free will. God never does anything that will be bad for us so ultimately it is what he wants for us is really the best thing we could ever dream of.

But, if I think I know where you are going with that, then you are on the right track. Some people often use the excuse that it is "God's Will" in their life, and yet they do nothing about it. When God has a plan for our he will invite us to be part of his plan. That is the wonderful thing about God, he wants our participation in his plans. He does not want idle obedience, he wants us to fully trust him. Having faith is just as an important part of a Christians walk right now, as it is anytime in his/her life.

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

If we do what He wants for us, then only what God can limit our potential.

 

[classical_hero]

People are evil. Albeit not pure evil, and many succeed in supressing their inner evil.
People exist.
Therefore, evil exists.

Then why are people evil? What caused us to be evil?

 

[~Corsair#01~]

Then why are people evil? What caused us to be evil?

We're sentient. As a result, we all have the potential to be evil. If a person can be hurt, if a person doesn't like another person... so many chances to be evil.
Some people like the power it makes them feel, others call it justice/revenge.
Some people just do it for the sake of it.


We're all evil, it's the events and oppurtunities in our life that decide whether they'll be released.

 

[h4ppy]

There is no difference between good and evil, to make such a distinction I would have to accept a "cosmic right and wrong" and I won't do that.

 

[CIVPhilzilla]

Everthing in the universe has opposites: good/evil, light/dark, matter/antimatter.

 

[Seanirl]

Good and Evil are just relative. What ever we consider immoral is evil. If we believed killing someone in cold blood was not immoral, and was acceptable in society, it wouldn't be evil.

But there is unhappiness and happiness which could be compared to good and evil.

 

[Seanirl]

This is why god doesnt help people because they pray or have a bad life. God won't feed the poor children in Africa. This is why we have to understand the past: Africa was conquered by Europeans, Africa wasn't much improved by the Europeans, was splitted in some parts, there were corrupt leaders and all this conducted to the mass poverty in Africa.

Exactly. WTH do you expect God to do? How the world be free of famine if people make it full of famine? They take food from people and then complain to God when they've got nothing to eat!

Of course... not that you believe in God, but in your hypothetical, "if God existed" theory, it's like that.

 

[Seanirl]

Actually, here's a questin for people

If you don't believe in God, what stops you from putting a bullet in your head?

Nothing matters, may as well end it now. Actually, I'd rather ride a nuclear bomb like in Dr. Strangelove but... that's a dream... nothing more...

 

[punkbass2000]

I don't so things just because I there's no good answer to, "Why not?"

 

[Zwelgje]

Actually, here's a questin for people

If you don't believe in God, what stops you from putting a bullet in your head?

Nothing matters, may as well end it now. Actually, I'd rather ride a nuclear bomb like in Dr. Strangelove but... that's a dream... nothing more...

Why would I put a bullet in my head? It's a strange question you're asking there dude...
I'm enjoying the life I live and intend to do so for a very long time. Further I believe that humans are just mammals and I'm gonna do what every mammal is here for: reproduce and bless this world with more copies of my genes.

 

[Scuffer]

Evil could be tritely defined as acting in one's own interest, rather than the wider interests of society. Therefore evil exists because people are selfish.

OK, it's a little weak, but the principle is sound.

 

[ComradeDavo]

Evil is a term that humans use to describe acts by other sentient beings that they deem to be wrong in the worst possiable manner.

What we deem evil is determined by our own minds.

So evil 'exists' because these acts continue to be commited.

As for God, well I'm an athiest so any religious meanings to evil mean nothing to me.

I suppose one question would be, if someone occassioanly thought evil thoughts, but did not carry them out, does that make them evil? Because surely even the most pure among us are soemtimes tempted by the dark side.

I suppose what is evil to one person is not to another.

 

[blackheart]

Good and evil don't exist. Evil is a higher (human) form of thought, created for the unplesantries that accompany the ability of logical thinking and emotions.

Evil is what good isn't.

BTW, no more rhetoric about what the bible says please, it's like the same stuff keeps spewing over and over.