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Are people basically good?

Are people basically good?

Spirituality


Originally posted by @kellyjay
So being at odds with God is being at odds with our creator, the
One that sustains us in everyway, and renews His mercy upon us each day so that we
are cast into judgment for all the evil and wicked things we do. I remind you He does not
need us, nothing about us forces Him to act on our behalf outside of His love for us, and
His longsuffering putting up with our hate and discontentment.
Are you able to talk about morality in a way that does not involve you regurgitating dogma about supernatural beings and phenomena - none of which you can prove the existence or relevance of to me?


Originally posted by @kellyjay
The absence of good.
So "99% good" is "evil"?

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Originally posted by @fmf
These assertions are all irrelevant to people whose have not been distorted by their religionist superstitions. It's a pity you see yourself as "evil".
You believe people can be good without every doing anything evil, wicked and so on?


FMF: What is "evil"?

Originally posted by @kellyjay
[b]An opposition to what is good and righteous.
"Evil" is "opposition" to what you claim is "good and righteous", you mean?


Originally posted by @kellyjay
You believe people can be good without every doing anything evil, wicked and so on?
Your definition of "evil" is daft and essentially meaningless. I believe people, for the most part, are basically good, for the reasons I have given.


Originally posted by @kellyjay
You believe people can be good without every doing anything evil, wicked and so on?
I cannot remember doing anything "evil".

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Originally posted by @fmf
Are you able to talk about morality in a way that does not involve you regurgitating dogma about supernatural beings and phenomena - none of which you can prove the existence or relevance of to me?
I believe we are in a universe filled with goodness, which is why when we act in ways that
are not good and righteous we feel compelled to justify our actions with excuses because
we know what we have done isn't the proper thing to do. So I believe you know as well as
everyone else that what is good and what isn't, except maybe those who continually
have gone against their own conscience, thus "searing" it, so it no longer helps them
avoid evil or wicked actions.


Originally posted by @kellyjay
You believe people can be good without every doing anything evil, wicked and so on?
I believe the word "evil" refers to certain kinds of morally unsound behaviour. It is a human social construct, not a supernatural one, even if many humans do superimpose such notions onto the concept in their efforts to make sense of the human condition.

I would suggest that "evil" is egregious immorality (as already defined earlier and in other discussions) and gratuitous, sociopathic action that is gravely detrimental and/or damaging to others, and which stems from an abject lack or even absence of empathy and compassion.

To avoid confusion, it's probably best used as an adjective rather than a noun. It's not a 'thing' that exists or that was instituted by an evil being.

The word "evil" is simply an adjective that is more loaded up with far more disapproval than the word "bad".


Originally posted by @kellyjay
I believe we are in a universe filled with goodness, which is why when we act in ways that
are not good and righteous we feel compelled to justify our actions with excuses because
we know what we have done isn't the proper thing to do. So I believe you know as well as
everyone else that what is good and what isn't, except maybe those who continually
ha ...[text shortened]... eir own conscience, thus "searing" it, so it no longer helps them
avoid evil or wicked actions.
If you want to describe yourself as "evil", speak for yourself.

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Originally posted by @fmf
If you want to describe yourself as "evil", speak for yourself.
If you think you are good, where does that put that bar at?


Originally posted by @kellyjay
If you think you are good, where does that put that bar at?
Whose "bar"?

1 edit

FMF: What is your definition of "evil"?

i]Originally posted by @kellyjay[/i]
The absence of good.
"Evil" is where "good" is absent? You mean where there is 0% "good"? It's "absent"? Not there?

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Originally posted by @kellyjay
Accepting evil and wickedness is just that. The degree that it is accepted really does not
matter, one lie, one act of disobedience and mankind fell. The very next generation the
first murder occurred, and here we are today. Allowing evil in is just that, no matter if it is
1% or 99%, it is still accepting evil over what should have been good. Think abo ...[text shortened]... fer. The race turns on
itself all the time, denouncing people while committing the same crimes.
Good is 53%

Anything over 72% is 'Great'.

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Originally posted by @ghost-of-a-duke
Good is 53%

Anything over 72% is 'Great'.
Think about it, anyone can say they are loving and kind, good and righteous. If they are
mean, hateful, belittling to others due to whatever reason the color of their skin, ideology,
faith, sex, nationality, political party, and so on pick a reason are they really loving, kind,
good, and righteous. If they are only good to a select few can they really be called loving,
kind, good, and righteous if they are only good to 72% of those around them? What if
they are good to almost all around them, but to 2 percent they attack without mercy,
destroy without cause, loath and so on. If we accept evil and wickedness, even a little it
spoils the whole.

1 Corinthians 5:6
Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump?

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