Freethought & Rationalism Archive

HomoSapien · 10-09-2002, 01:48 PM

St. Paul clearly saw man as evil...but Jesus seemed to see the good in everyone. They are in fact two worldviews.

Is man self destructive?

Or do the better Angels of our nature triumph?

What is the true nature of the Beast?

Are we essentially bad...or good?

Tom Sawyer · 10-10-2002, 07:34 AM

I think you're setting up a dichotomy where none exists. The amount of "goodness" and "badness" in a person is more of a continuum rather than him being one or the other.

We all have our own sets of morals (whatever they may be) and consciously stick to them or break them as we see fit. You can have a guy who's a loving husband and father and is totally happy providing a good life for his family, but when he goes out of town on business trips, has affairs where he can find them, knowing that it's wrong to do so. You can also have murderers and rapists who help out charities in their spare time.

We do good things and we do bad things. A good person who does a few bad things isn't changed into a bad person and a bad person who does a few good things isn't changed into a good person. None of us are all one or the other.

Laurentius · 10-10-2002, 07:48 AM

As a species, man is neither good or bad.
As individuals, however, people can be chiefly bad or good, according to their deeds and intentions.

Who is to judge?
I am.
Since I'm endowed with this particularly ability (i.e. judgement).

AVE

HomoSapien · 10-10-2002, 04:54 PM

Petyh,

I have given your response much thought....and I do believe your right. Man is not "one or the other", but a very complex individual. Maybe Jack the Ripper did do charities on nights he wasn't visting White Chapel. The whole Yin/Yang thing, the Jeykll and Hyde of out personalities is a reality.....

Nataraja · 10-12-2002, 09:32 AM

I am a beast. I am one sexy, sexy beast.

ex-xian · 10-12-2002, 09:37 AM

Oh beehaive!

Nataraja · 10-12-2002, 09:38 AM

Good and evil are essentially manmade concepts. Evil means, literally, destructive or harmful. Religious fundamentalism and Christian Evangelism are certainly very evil.

[edited, because "essentially" sounds so cool and intellectual in lieu of "actually"]

[ October 12, 2002: Message edited by: Nataraja ]</p>

10-09-2002, 01:48 PM	#1
HomoSapien Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: California Posts: 33	The Nature of the Beast St. Paul clearly saw man as evil...but Jesus seemed to see the good in everyone. They are in fact two worldviews. Is man self destructive? Or do the better Angels of our nature triumph? What is the true nature of the Beast? Are we essentially bad...or good?

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

10-10-2002, 07:34 AM	#2
Tom Sawyer Talk Freethought Staff Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Toronto, eh Posts: 42,293	I think you're setting up a dichotomy where none exists. The amount of "goodness" and "badness" in a person is more of a continuum rather than him being one or the other. We all have our own sets of morals (whatever they may be) and consciously stick to them or break them as we see fit. You can have a guy who's a loving husband and father and is totally happy providing a good life for his family, but when he goes out of town on business trips, has affairs where he can find them, knowing that it's wrong to do so. You can also have murderers and rapists who help out charities in their spare time. We do good things and we do bad things. A good person who does a few bad things isn't changed into a bad person and a bad person who does a few good things isn't changed into a good person. None of us are all one or the other.

10-10-2002, 07:48 AM	#3
Laurentius Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Lucky Bucky, Oz Posts: 5,645	As a species, man is neither good or bad. As individuals, however, people can be chiefly bad or good, according to their deeds and intentions. Who is to judge? I am. Since I'm endowed with this particularly ability (i.e. judgement). AVE

10-10-2002, 04:54 PM	#4
HomoSapien Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: California Posts: 33	Petyh, I have given your response much thought....and I do believe your right. Man is not "one or the other", but a very complex individual. Maybe Jack the Ripper did do charities on nights he wasn't visting White Chapel. The whole Yin/Yang thing, the Jeykll and Hyde of out personalities is a reality.....

10-12-2002, 09:32 AM	#5
Nataraja Regular Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: NC Posts: 433	I am a beast. I am one sexy, sexy beast.

10-12-2002, 09:37 AM	#6
ex-xian Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: :noitacoL Posts: 4,679	Oh beehaive!

10-12-2002, 09:38 AM	#7
Nataraja Regular Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: NC Posts: 433	Good and evil are essentially manmade concepts. Evil means, literally, destructive or harmful. Religious fundamentalism and Christian Evangelism are certainly very evil. [edited, because "essentially" sounds so cool and intellectual in lieu of "actually"] [ October 12, 2002: Message edited by: Nataraja ]</p>

Freethought & Rationalism Archive

The archives are read only.