Have you ever considered how significantly worldviews shape peoples’ lives and opinions? A conversation yesterday got me thinking along these lines, and I started messaging some interesting thinkers I know with this:
Curious worldview question: do you think “evil” exists?
I gave no definition of the word, but left it at that. I so thoroughly enjoyed the answers that I decided to publish them, without attribution to protect those who I did not ask permission to share their views. I hope they forgive me. :)
Person A:
Mmm the devil is part of god
Infinity of notion, yet, it’s the division of that unity that creates the world we live in.
Hence, light is the deceiver, all blackness and dark was the mother.
This world is created by the infinite divinity, divided. 2/3 & 3/2
Thats my mathematical interpretation of the colors of the infinite.
Person B:
Good one
I don’t think an active demonic force that is outside me and tempts me towards evil exists in a traditional way
I don’t think there is a binary between good and evil people
But i have a hard time not looking at the Holocaust, say, as evil
Like, it’s not a word I use much, but I think it has uses and I don’t try to expunge it from my world
(Followed by a personal story I won’t disclose which included an experience of something described as a demon.)
Person C:
It depends on how "evil" is defined. Certainly spiritual Light and Dark exist. So, by virtue of that, evil is sometimes understood to be a degree of spiritual darkness. On the other hand, evil is sometimes defined as other things that may or may not exist depending on the definition.
Person D:
In the mind only
There's some dark forces in the universe that are a part of the equilibrium. I've seen it play out through people. I've also had client that came to me with their kids being 'possessed ' by really dark entities.
So yes it exist, there are frequencies in the mind. Most people wouldn't see it people it hides so well and manipulate the week minds. So I would say it does exist for sure but by raising our frequencies to love we are able not giving it power.
At list what I came to realize through my own experience.
It's always going to be 2 polarities forces, yin ☯️ Yang.
We can see those 'evil' bibrations playing in the world today - the characters in our government etc!
This is the reason we are experiencing a whole spiritual shift for humanity 🙏 That's why your purpose is so clear! To free people with the truth.
Person E:
I’m certain that “good” exists. I’m also certain that we live in a dualistic universe - all the ancient teachings, including Hermetics, teach this fundamental principle - so evil must exist IMO.
It seems that it exists on many levels as a polarizing principle - the opposing dynamic to good/love/unity, what have you - but humanity experiences it primarily as the shadow aspect of Jung’s collective unconscious.
Person F:
I think “evil” exists as a human-constructed concept to help regulate human behavior, intentions, motivations, etc. Same with the concept of “good”. Moral concepts exist purely within the human experience.
But does “evil” exist apart from humans? Does it have an objective reality outside of our experience? No, I don’t think so.
Person G:
I have had some deep discussions about the existence of evil recently. I do think it exists. It’s the use of the Will to promote anti-life things. (Live - eviL) the mirror of using the Will to promote life, love, liberty and growth.
It’s hard to think of another word that could possibly describe genocide, rape, murdering a child etc.
Person H:
yes.
but it is entirely relative to the observer: a spider is evil to a fly
a spider is evil incarnate to a fly
to a human, it's a little cobweb to be brushed up or even vacuumed
evil is simply what preys on or destroys what you love
Elemental evil - the things which will destroy everything that everybody loves, destroyed life itself - certainly exists too. Nuclear weapons and the minds that produced them, for one example.
It's not clear what's eating what there - hence "destroys or eats". I used to just say "eats."
Person I:
Absolutely
Have you read Dostoyevsky
Person J;
define "evil". way too nebulous a word to give a bool answer
without context, it seems like a tautological question. i mean… in a sense, wouldn't (almost?) any and every word represent something at exists, even if only conceptually?
to take it beyond tautology though:
yes, i think "evil exists" in the same way morality exists. in the same way good, justice, peace, flourish, pain, suffering, love, and hate, happiness and sadness, all exist.
spitballing quickly and without a super deep analysis of what i'm typing:
i think they're all dependent upon consciousness (and/or possibly "life" more broadly, but maybe not), though i think definitionally and by common usage (across all spheres and contexts?) "evil" depends on intent and/or knowledge of the effects on the wellbeing of other conscious entities.
in other words, would "evil exist" in a context devoid of conscious entities? no, because it only exists as a concept within "thinking meat" (or i suppose thinking non-meat in a hypothetical situation such as They're Made Out of Meat, which i love)
Person K:
Unfortunately and for sure, I believe “evil” exists
I believe it for sure in our 3D world - through people’s greed, and mal-intent
And then not that I fully comprehend, I believe it on the 5D + universal level - with massive forces at play
(I may add more answers as they come in)
Those are the responses I’ve received since this morning. I want to share them because they are a reminder of the amazing thinkers I have the privilege of calling friends. I haphazardly sent the message to whoever was top of mind this morning and started thinking just now of many more who I’d like to share their opinion on this also. Maybe you could share yours in the comments as well.
Why is this question interesting? Why does it matter, especially now?
Well, here’s a perspective I’ve been chewing on:
If evil exists:
Then some things may actually be attributable to malice and not incompetence. Some things may only make sense because evil wills it. Like the Lord of the Rings saga portrays so well (I recently during holiday vacation watched the whole extended cut including the three Hobbit movies), there may be a darkness that spreads and kills and destroys.
If evil does not exist:
Then I see a place for compassion and empathy and better systems to bring about more beneficial outcomes which increase the ability to function. I see a world with less shame and guilt and more understanding. I see the need for practical, pragmatic solutions for that which decreases the ability to function.
Though many things operate in duality, I’m not convinced either of these positions accurately describes our shared experience. Maybe “The All is Mind; the Universe is Mental." and we create that which we label evil. Maybe we individually create the experience of evil existing if we so choose. In that world, for our individual life experience, evil does exist. Or maybe we exist in a shared consensus reality where someone else’s strong beliefs about things like evil can influence my own individual experience.
Can good exist without evil to define it?
If evil exists, and we resist it, does what we resist persist?
“Bad men need nothing more to compass their ends, than that good men should look on and do nothing.”
John Stuart Mill
In this crazy world of lockdowns and conspiracies and grasping for answers to explain death and suffering, the existence of evil might even be a comfort for some. It creates an object to be anthropomorphized and dealt with. Maybe things just are and we decide what to call it from there.
Either way, I hope you’ve enjoyed the Saturday afternoon musings of some amazing people. Sincere thanks to those who contributed their views.
It's all part of the balancing act. In order to have 'good' one needs something to compare it to. Without evil, good cannot exist. So that's one good thing about evil.