Freethought & Rationalism Archive

christ-on-a-stick · 03-07-2003, 12:34 PM

Starboy sez:

Quote:

If you called them a bully, physically abusive or compulsive then you have something to go on, but evil is one of those first century terms like soul and spirit that everyone uses but that doesn't seem to mean anything. It is time to drop such nonsense on the scrap heap of history along with soul, spirit, demon, god, angel and all the other superstitious claptrap from the first century.

I think I agree with this. Although I use the word "evil" in an informal/descriptive way, for purposes of serious discussion I tend to think that "evil" is nothing more than an adjective - as opposed to a thing or entity that exists - and us such is entirely subjective and not particularly useful for application to the natural world.

Starboy · 03-07-2003, 12:43 PM

COAS, I don't see that it has any more use subjectively than calling someone kakahead. The problem as I see it is that for many Christians it has become the word-of-the-day and it appears that our fundy President has made "evil" a large part of his foreign and domestic policy and that is frightening.

Starboy

christ-on-a-stick · 03-07-2003, 12:47 PM

Actually I agree with you Starboy. I tend to use it subjectively and as I said, informally - much as I would use "kakahead". As a descriptive.

I too am chilled by our President's apparent love affair with the E-word...it makes me shudder everytime I hear him say it. IMO such a nebulously defined word has no place in politics and only serves to fan the flames of religious hatred spewing from either side against the other.

Starboy · 03-07-2003, 12:56 PM

COAS, I agree. Our president has done nothing more than paint a big red cross on our backs for opposing religions to take aim at. He could learn a great deal by reading the treaty of Tripoli.

Starboy

christ-on-a-stick · 03-07-2003, 12:57 PM

Or having it read to him!!!

The Gnostic · 03-07-2003, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by emotional
Have you never seen the evil looks in their eyes when they do so?

I believe you having a difficult detaching from your personal experience as a child to look at this objectively. To describe such looks as "evil" denotes some form of bias. Objectively, such looks would tend to be noted as anger.

Having said that, I have two children. I have seen them quite angry. And be mean to each other. Additionally, as a grade schooler, I was often the butt of jokes and bullies due to my then small size. However, there is a big difference between a kid who gets angry and shoots evil looks, or is a bully, and people that are "evil".

I ask you, have you ever truly looked into the eyes intent on killing you? I believe that would change your perspective quite a bit. I have been in war (er... conflicts) and I have worked with the violently inane. I have had a man look me in the eye, and with true intent tell me he was going to "cut me up into little pieces". I can almost assure you that after that, a normal persons "anger" is quite tame in comparison.

Demigawd · 03-07-2003, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by The Gnostic
and I have worked with the violently inane.

LOL! With all due respect to The Gnostic and the seriousness of his post, I gotta steal that. The Violently Inane would make a great band name.

Sabine Grant · 03-07-2003, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by emotional
I open the daily newspaper and what do I see? Killing, murder, cheating, stealing, sorrow, suffering, struggle, disease - DEATH! Honestly, there are days I can't open the newspaper or watch news on TV at all because of the depressing effect it all has on me. The world is so full of sorrow, it's simply unbearable. Sorrow, suffering, pain - and in the midst and at the end of it all, DEATH!

I don't believe death is a natural part of existence. Ever since I first heard of the fact of death, at the age of eight, I've never been able to believe death is something natural. Ever since eight, I've been afraid of death, and atheist though I am, I have prayed for a "cure for death". Death is not natural. Death is an aberration, a disease that needs to be cured. Don't ask me what evidence there is for this theory; I just feel that way, as I have felt since I was a little child.

What is life worth if it ends in death? Nothing. Really NOTHING! A life, as happy as it may be, is made sorrowful and tearful by the existence of death everywhere.

In a world gone wrong, please, O Lord of Life, save me from death!

Hi Emotional...
That is when you can make a difference. Empathy is contagious. Use your own goodness and the world will not seem so evil. Some die in despair and regrets others die content. The goal is to be one who dies content. Having lived a life of being involved with other human beings by making differences IMO may be what makes death more acceptable.
I may be "a bit idealistic" but I personaly find a lot of goodness in people. Sometime, it is a matter of giving people a chance to find their own goodness.

Infidelettante · 03-07-2003, 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by emotional Honestly, there are days I can't open the newspaper or watch news on TV at all because of the depressing effect it all has on me.
In a world gone wrong, please, O Lord of Life, save me from death! [/B]

Well, there is your answer. Lay off the media for awhile till you get a little better perspective on things. I think you can do a lot to help yourself not focus so on the evil of life, but if you can't I think you might want to find some help outside message boards.

JT

The Gnostic · 03-07-2003, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Demigawd
LOL! With all due respect to The Gnostic and the seriousness of his post, I gotta steal that. The Violently Inane would make a great band name.

LOL, figures my typo, somebody else's name for a band.

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03-07-2003, 12:43 PM	#12
Starboy Banned Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Tallahassee, FL Reality Adventurer Posts: 5,276	COAS, I don't see that it has any more use subjectively than calling someone kakahead. The problem as I see it is that for many Christians it has become the word-of-the-day and it appears that our fundy President has made "evil" a large part of his foreign and domestic policy and that is frightening. Starboy

03-07-2003, 12:47 PM	#13
christ-on-a-stick Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Durango, Colorado Posts: 7,116	Actually I agree with you Starboy. I tend to use it subjectively and as I said, informally - much as I would use "kakahead". As a descriptive. I too am chilled by our President's apparent love affair with the E-word...it makes me shudder everytime I hear him say it. IMO such a nebulously defined word has no place in politics and only serves to fan the flames of religious hatred spewing from either side against the other.

03-07-2003, 12:56 PM	#14
Starboy Banned Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Tallahassee, FL Reality Adventurer Posts: 5,276	COAS, I agree. Our president has done nothing more than paint a big red cross on our backs for opposing religions to take aim at. He could learn a great deal by reading the treaty of Tripoli. Starboy

03-07-2003, 12:57 PM	#15
christ-on-a-stick Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Durango, Colorado Posts: 7,116	Or having it read to him!!!

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