Both Good And Evil Are Life's Indestructable Forces

So then, evil serves a necessary purpose by maintaining a balance in the Universe?

So all my heavy metal ravaging, pillaging, philandering, drug and alcohol abuse and general sh1tty attitude is actually a valuable service to humanity?

When do I get my medal? If it's a real gold one, can I just have a couple hundred dollars instead? I want a new tattoo.

Welcome, K.V.Shanker, it is good to have you on a2k.

It has been many years since reading Milton's Paradise Lost, but I think it is a good example of the divinity of evil. There are excellent philosophers on a2k who will most likely show up fairly soon and give you a good dialogue on good and evil. As far as I'm concerned, there is no way to establish a world of only good or only evil since all of us are capable of both, even though we hate to admit to the possiblity of doing evil.

It would be impossible to appreciate the goodnes and beauty of our world and the people in it without the comparison with ugliness and evil. As you said, evil is still very much with us.

I look forward to reading more as others join in the discussion.

Thank You Diane.I also Look forward to the views of our members.

(BiPB--all your pillaging and philandering has probably produced some good music, but go ask Squinny for money--you'll get nothing from me. If you get the tattoo, show us some pictures.)

We just wouldn't have words or even concepts for the negatives.

Terry said,

Quote:

We just wouldn't have words or even concepts for the negatives.

My point was, in a way, the same--we just wouldn't have words or even concepts for the positives.

K.VEE.SHANKER, you asked if evil is a divine force, but do not allow "no" as a choice in your poll. Why not?

IMO, neither good nor evil are divine forces. They are judgments about the actions of our fellow human beings based on morality/ethics developed by thousands of years of living in society. (Animals are not judged by the same standards because most kill by instinct, not choice.) Good is choosing actions that benefit society, or at least our own friends, family, or group. It may be instinctive (such as maternal love and the facility for reciprocal altruism) but my guess is that most "good" behavior is learned. Evil is the result of giving in to biological urges that result in harm to others.

Urges such as greed and lust have been honed by millions of years of evolution and usually improve the odds of survival and reproduction, but can be detrimental in excess. Variability in DNA ensures that some people will be born with greater or lesser urges than average. Those who cannot or will not control their urges and cause harm to others in their attempts to fulfill them, are judged to be "evil." Those who overcome their biological urges and work for the good of society are the only force for good that demonstrably exists.

No, evil is NOT required for good to exist. You can also have beauty without ugliness, truth without lies, joy without suffering, health without disease. We just wouldn't have words or even concepts for the negatives.

Then by your own admission evil is necessary and created of God. If it is created by God then it is good somehow, because all things work to God's purposes and an omniscient, omnipresent and perfect God cannot create anything without useful purpose. It would be against His/Her very nature.

Therefore good=evil and evil =good.

Classic doublespeak, God must be George Orwell.

And Satan might be George Bush. :wink:

Maybe I have a chance to get to heaven after all.

Bi-Polar you're either trying to distort my views or you've not understood them.God created many forces so that a self sustaining Life is in place.Poison is also God's creation.Does it mean that you can consume it?I only meant that you can not declare something as undesirable and useless and try to eliminate it.This doesn't mean that it is to be promoted.Each and everything has its own purpose.We should not yearn for an ideal state bereft of our dislikes.
As regard to your ticket to Heaven, you already have one (way) ticket in your pocket!

K.VEE.SHANKER wrote:

Bi-Polar you're either trying to distort my views or you've not understood them.God created many forces so that a self sustaining Life is in place.Poison is also God's creation.Does it mean that you can consume it?I only meant that you can not declare something as undesirable and useless and try to eliminate it.This doesn't mean that it is to be promoted.Each and everything has its own purpose.We should not yearn for an ideal state bereft of our dislikes.
As regard to your ticket to Heaven, you already have one (way) ticket in your pocket!

Are we supposed to take your word for the fact that there is a God who can do all the stuff you say the God does -- or are you going to present some evidence that a God exists -- and that the God does the kind of things you say it does?

Does God exists? is a question I'm also interested in,like you.May be you can throw more light on it.Meanwhile,you can substitute nature in place of God.
As regards to your question wether God or nature does what I've claimed to,I only wish to say that I'm talking about what's present already in this world.I would love to give advice if God asks for it!