Is it Easier to see Evil????
By bird123
@bird123 (10632)
United States
January 21, 2012 12:26am CST
Religions try to tell us what is good and what is evil. I have heard some say that everyone is sinful. I know many have been taught this from childhood. Do these religious lessons make it easier for us to see evil in people rather than the good?? Do you see good in anyone other than yourself?? We have to remember that God didn't create a bunch of evil people. Though some choose evil, basically all people are really good. The only reason they choose evil is that they truly do not understand. Next, diversity is important to this world. Being different is NOT EVIL.
So often our actions define who we really are. Are we to allow religion to corrupt our thinking to the point where we can no longer see good in others?? Will this lead us to treat others mean or with hate?? Let's not make it about what's wrong. Let's make it about what is right. The love, kindness and encouragement you give others will lead them toward the light much quicker than your condemnation of them. Goodness wins out in the end, Let's use that to teach others rather than the hating, blaming and condemning that supplies very little results.
OK, tell me. Is it easier to see evil??
5 people like this
17 responses
@ruperto (1552)
• Philippines
21 Jan 12
interesting ...
It seems we "see" based on what we are and our current condition...
There's a saying: "Its not what we're looking at...it's what we see."
and "There is a time for everything... under the sun..."
it seems it is fine to see evil at certain points in our lives. Though as we grow in various ways to grow ... we seem to evolve into seeing good all the time ...
Perhaps what is perceived as evil may actually be a call for help ... if we can perceive everything as a call to do good, at any cost ... perhaps that is the ultimate success ...
what do you think ?
1 person likes this
@bird123 (10632)
• United States
21 Jan 12
Yes. You do Understand. Until we reach a high enough level we must work on trying to see what is, rather than what we want things to be. It's like your said. What we see shows God and the world not only who we are but what lessons we need to learn. Very Good. Your vision is good.
1 person likes this
@bestboy19 (5478)
• United States
21 Jan 12
The Bible says, All have sinned and come short of the glory of God, Romans 3:23 KJV. It doesn't say, all are evil. There is a difference between sin and evil. Sin is missing the mark and evil is wickedness. I don't know of anyone who looks at an individual and sees evil. If anything, they don't judge one way or the other. I also don't know of anyone who thinks a different person is an evil person. Our actions do often define us, such as bearing false witness. For example, accusing someone or, in this case, something of actions for which they are not guilty. Isn't that the same as trying to get others to hate who you are falsely accusing? Would you call that sinning, committing an evil act, or just not understanding? I call it malice aforethought.
@bestboy19 (5478)
• United States
22 Jan 12
My above response asked you a question, but you did not answer it. Is bearing false witness 1. sinning, 2. an evil act, or 3. not understanding? Is it all right to say all manner of false evil against someone or something in the hopes those you tell will hate them as much as you do? Surely you can come up with an answer. This response you gave doesn't really address my question. Do you not understand what I'm asking?
@bird123 (10632)
• United States
22 Jan 12
If you received enough consequences from your actions, you will understand just what your actions are. You will be the one to decide. You do not need me to make your definitions for you. Discover for yourself. It's the same with hate. That's why I choose not to lie or hate. How about you??
@bird123 (10632)
• United States
21 Jan 12
Are we so sure of our ways that we never question them?? How much of our view is blocked simply by our choice?? Indeed. many questions need to be asked and resolved.Is the world, the country and people all bad and getting worse?? Maybe it's selective vision. We choose to see nothing else. Indeed, many questions need to be asked and resolved. Lots of Love and Kindness on the task ahead. Seeing goodness generates goodness within ourselves.The world can change before our eyes.
@6precious102 (4043)
• United States
21 Jan 12
Did that someone say that everyone is sinful or that all have sinned? There is a difference. Saying everyone is sinful makes it sound as though they never stop sinning. To say all have sinned says that no one is free from having sinned some time or another. If they said all have sinned, they're quoting from the Bible so had precedence for their remark. Also, did that someone offer any solutions for sins, like directing people toward the saving grace of Jesus Christ?
What religion does is help us understand that all of us are in need of a savior, and points us toward that Savior.
If religion is telling the truth and things we need to hear, then it's certainly not corrupting anyone. Also, God gave all of us minds, so with some effort anyone should be able to determine whether or not they want to accept what religion teaches. Religion has no power to force anyone.
Let's make it about what is the truth and tell the truth in love.
@6precious102 (4043)
• United States
22 Jan 12
I suppose you have to ask yourself what our duty is toward God and then ask whether or not the world is good or bad. People are what they choose to be, some good, some bad, but all have sinned some time or another and are in need of forgiveness that comes from God through His Son, Jesus Christ.
@jennyze (7029)
• Indonesia
27 Jan 12
Yes, I do see evil easily than I see good. To me a goodness is often a cover for something really bad. It does not related to any religion, it's just the way I am thinking that no body is perfect. I won't hate you even when you did something naughty, it's not easy to hate people, when we know hat we are no better ourselves.
@bird123 (10632)
• United States
28 Jan 12
Hmmm?? Perhaps, the view would change with a different focus. I see you as a fun loving, kind and generous person capable of bringing great joy to people's lives. I see you as intelligent too. Any choice you make that differs from choosing unconditional love will simply bring you lessons to teach you. Our actions define who we are. I like to give everyone the great opportunity to be trustworthy. Sometimes just giving a person that chance will lead them to come up to that challenge. If I happen to get hurt over that, great. I value the goodness around me much more. Yes, there will always be goodness. The goodness we give the world attracts that back to us. Life isn't about being perfect or never getting hurt. Life is the education of God's children. This is a multilevel classroom. We all have different things to learn.Let's nurture the goodness in each other and make that grow in everyone around us. You know, you are already doing that to some extent. Well now, see. You aren't so bad after all. 
@bird123 (10632)
• United States
30 Jan 12
What do you mean you are none of those things I describe?? I have seen it in your comments not only with me but with others. Perhaps you should value the goodness in you more. Sure we all are learning lessons in life, but we CAN nuture our goodness. Are you sure you would be a burden??? You underestimate the good qualities you do have. Remember, there is no one in the universe exactly like you. Finally, let's put you to the test. Pick a day this week. Love everyone this day unconditionally no matter what they do or say to you. This doesn't mean give them everything they want from you. Give them what they need. Try it one day and see. Yes, you are capable of this. Notice how the people will change around you hearing and feeling all your kindness.
@jennyze (7029)
• Indonesia
30 Jan 12
I am not all of those you described. I am egocentric and a coward. I don't care what is happening around me as long as it does not directly affect me. I don't want to get hurt so I keep a distance from other people. I don't want to see only the goodness in people, I want to see them as gray that way I can keep my heart locked away and like people only for what they are. I don't think I am capable of unconditional love, and I would be burdened and sad if there is someone besides my family that loves me so unconditionally.
@2004cqui (2812)
• United States
22 Jan 12
Oh man, did you spark something I normally refuse to talk about. What you talk about is a tough subject for me. I was raised Catholic. I gave my children a choice if they wanted to continue down that road! Many guilt trips were thrown down to us by what we were told to believe. As a young girl these trips would sometimes make it hard to watch even some good, deep thinking movies or read good books. It limited our ability to see the real world. Then everything changed with Vatican II.
Bottom line-if we only focus on the positive in our lives we will become more positive. Focusing on the negative will only bring sin very close to us. We must view the world by the sum of it's parts, both good and bad. Both positive and negative exist. Focusing on the positive helps remove jealousy, revenge, anger and hate as well! Evil irritates us so it stands out. If we look for a positive way to resolve evil it can always be concurred.
@bird123 (10632)
• United States
22 Jan 12
Yes. You do see. Shine that light in the eyes of those who choose to see only evil. Remind them that there is goodness everywhere. We all have the power to Choose what we deem important in this world. Unconditional Love, Kindness, and Goodness top my list. WE can Share it with others.
1 person likes this
@bird123 (10632)
• United States
22 Jan 12
OK, what one gives the world does make a difference on what returns. One's view does shape our actions and what we give the world. We must look for the good in everyone. It does look like you are in great physical shape. That's much better than the overweight, out of shape people I see around and about.Let's never forget to exercise our minds as well. Brains will always beat brawn in the end. Those with true strength must look out for the weaker around them. I'm sure you are already doing that.
@clrumfelt (5490)
• United States
23 Jan 12
It is very easy to see evil in the world. It is all around us, and we are born into sin and all need to repent when we hear the gospel and are taught about our sinful state. The Bible says if we sin only one sin we are guilty of the whole law before God, and that no one can come to the Father except through Jesus Christ. We also may be able to see others sin and do evil things, but God commands us to love them and help them. To hate and mistreat and judge others because they are unrepentant sinners is wrong. We are to be examples, to love and pray for sinners so they may receive the gospel and be saved.
@bird123 (10632)
• United States
23 Jan 12
You say that it is very easy to see evil in this world. Isn't it just as easy to see good??? Has your religion influenced your view so you see evil more??? I see goodness all around us in most every person. Changing our view to see goodness will nurture that not only in us but in everyone we contact.
@Pose123 (21635)
• Canada
21 Jan 12
Hi bird, I like what you say about being different is not evil and I completely agree. I know that we may not agree on everything but why should we? I feel that we must be able to see good, even in someone that we might consider our worse enemy. Darkness exists only in the mind of those who cannot see the light. I agree that we should make it about what we see as right, not about what we see as wrong. It is my belief that evil was invented by humans and only exists in the material plane. Blessings.
@bird123 (10632)
• United States
21 Jan 12
Pose123 Your quote: Darkness exists only in the mind of those who cannot see the light. my answer. yes, indeed. Sometimes people choose evil just to discover what it is. The problem comes when some focus so hard on it that they block the light from their lives. I think it is the duty of all to shine the light into the world to guaranty that everyone will have access regardless. We can shine the light in their eyes and hope they will see. With the diversity in this world, someone will always carry just the right thing to say to get in.
Lotterylover. Look beyond the stories. There is so much more to discover.
@Graptopetalum (1807)
• Canada
25 Jan 12
Pose, are you saying that evil, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder? Only there are features that most people find beautiful (e.g. symmetrical face). There are also things most people believe are evil: rape, killing people without a good reason, any others? Why are so many cartoon villains abusive to their henchthings with a tendency to laugh manically? Does this pander to some subconscious idea of what constitutes evil?
Who is to say what is evil? Are you saying that we shouldn't consider anything evil and just have a rape, kill, steal, whatever free for all?
@klw5000 (213)
• United States
22 Jan 12
For me, I am one of those people who really looks at everything and everyone. I moved to the area I live in now 3 years ago. The evil is everywhere. But I really don't think they know just how evil they are. I wonder some days if they people have lived this way for so long they don't know any better. I've tried to adjust to being here, but the backstabbing and the talking about people and stirring up trouble is just horrible. They try to do what ever they can to break people down. I don't understand why. We are always taught to see the good in people and I used to believe there was good in everyone, but sometimes I wonder.
@bird123 (10632)
• United States
22 Jan 12
Perhaps it's time you nurture the goodness in your friends. Tell them when you see goodness in them. The love and kindness you give them will make them want to strive for more. After all, if they are used to getting nothing but evil, then goodness will be like a cold drink on a hot summer day. It will feel good going down.
1 person likes this
@greenfeathers (1206)
• United States
22 Jan 12
Truth be, I don't get involved in religion as religion, for me, is more a reflection of human attitude and prejudices. That's what the denominations reflect, human notions intermingled with spiritual truth and, as such, tainted and in their own way evil. They mislead people.
Bible, as I recall, simply says 'Love one another'. That seems pretty straight forward to me. I also recall 'As you judge so shall you be judged'. So being positive about folks is one of the rules. And, finally 'Hate the sin but love the sinner'. I've told folks since my hippie dippie years that '..if you want to point a finger find a mirror. That person deserves your condemnation.'
Granted, I'm not perfect. On a perfection scale of 100 I figure I'm up to -7 but I try to see the evil in the one person I truly control and see the potential in folks I can influence with the positive attitudes..ENJOY!
@bird123 (10632)
• United States
22 Jan 12
One can never go wrong giving people and the world unconditional love along with encouragement. You are right. We can nurture the goodness in all of us. I do think you should give yourself a bit more credit on that perfection scale. I bet you quietly help many people in this world.
@cecil04 (409)
• South Africa
23 Jan 12
The truth is religion is not what taught us to mostly see evil in people. It's really human nature at work, no one wants to be hurt so they pass on jugdement to others. There is a lot of evil people out there some of them don't even know that they are evil.
@bird123 (10632)
• United States
24 Jan 12
Are you saying that since evil people can hurt us we place more importance of them through our human nature??? Some of this might be true, however doesn't religion paint the world as evil then teach that to their followers?? There is much more goodness in the world than people give credit for. Let's value and nurture the goodness. It can change this world for the better.
@jaihobalodiji1 (949)
• India
22 Jan 12
thats how religions differtiate good and evil.yes i am completely agree with the you no one can look for good easily but when its come to identify evil its much easier to see them. they is not to look for them we have to eradicate those evils activities from our nature.
@bird123 (10632)
• United States
22 Jan 12
Perhaps, if we focus and nurture the goodness in ourselves and others, we will discover that evil will have no foothold. WE can choose to give the world love, kindness, and encouragement or we can choose to judge, condemn and hate. Which will supply the best results??? Unconditional love, We can lead the way to the real answer.
@CODYMAC (1356)
• San Diego, California
24 Jan 12
Hello, bird123. I have a hard time seeing anything but evil. It is everywhere present. Yet, in the BIBLE, it states that all are born with sin until they become a "son" or "daughter" of YAHVAH. Once that happens, then I know that they have no evil in them. If you are a son or daughter of YAHVAH, YOU DO NOT SIN. You do not have evil in you. You will see the world as it is, but with renewed eyes. I have a positive outlook on life, but I see the evil in all including myself. I have not yet been baptised in the name of Yashua and had hands placed on my head for the spirit. So I am not yet a "son". I hope to be soon!!! Anyway... May YAHVAH bless you. :) :)
@bird123 (10632)
• United States
26 Jan 12
Perhaps you should focus on the goodness in people. Yes, everyone carries goodness of some sort. If we make goodness more important, then nurture that in ourselves and the people around us, people will grow in goodness. So often it is easier to see the evil and fault then overlook the goodness. It's all a matter of what we choose to value. Finally, we are all God's children in spite of any of religion's rituals that is suppose to save yourself from yourself. Everything rests in our own hands with the choices we make and the learning that follows.
@sinagtala (29)
•
21 Jan 12
Wow! I'm enjoying my first few hours with myLot. Thanks to you all.
I had to read your first paragraph twice to grasp your thought. It made me do some flashback on what was taught in my Sunday school class. I remember being taught about sin and evil, good and justice, repentance, faith and deliverance, belief and salvation and others. I remember being taught that all are born with carnal sin. I wonder, does that mean "everyone is sinful"? I am inclined to think that being born with carnal sin is NOT the same as being sinful or evil. Commission of sin is a choice one takes. It is not taught in any religion. At least I haven't seen/heard of a religion that makes it easier for people to commit evil. What is missing in people is accepting the awesomeness of the Creator. Instead most people choose to see and do what is unpleasant in His sight. That leaves those who believe and love Him to take responsibility to make others understand the fruits of the spirit as taught in the Bible - the sole authority of what is right and evil. That means there is a lot lot things to do for us Christians. God bless!
@sinagtala (29)
•
22 Jan 12
I believe that all of God's creation is good. My Sunday school lessons has helped me grow in wisdom to discern and to separate the sin from the person. I would be a hypocrite to say I don't see evil in people but i would not say 'MOST' anyhow. There is a good number of individual who by choice has opted to do evil. But at the end of the day it will not be us who would judge whether they are good or evil because God has the sole authority to judge his creation.
Yes, there are MORE good people in this world than bad. And with you and me and the whole believers of the faith help in spreading the awesomeness of God, our creator we certainly will have a world with good people doing what is pleasant and acceptable in the sight of God.
@sender621 (14894)
• United States
22 Jan 12
I don't believe that it is easy to see evil. evil is a deceptive force that hides behind our weaknesses and unleashes its fury when we are at most vulnerable points in our lives. if evil was easy to see, then we would not be so easily led and maipulated by it. Evil has to deceive to have any strength.@bird123 (10632)
• United States
22 Jan 12
If evil has to sneak up on you then you must be seeing the goodness in people first.You have not allowed religion to cloud your vision into thinking everyone else in the world is evil.The greatest strength one has against evil is to truly understand it. If one truly understands it, it can never be a choice one could make regardless of the situation. Unfortunately, many must experience evil before they truly understand. Some will always choose to learn the hard way. Everyone will learn in time regardless of how they choose to learn.
@starsailover (7829)
• Mexico
21 Jan 12
Hi bird: I think that if people concentrate on sins and evil they would start judging too much and seeing evil everywhere. I hate the sin but I love the people and in general, people who make mistakes and took the wrong way because they are confused or feeling alone. It's better to offer and advice, to listen or to share opinions on someone's problem instead of calling someone evil and judging.
ALVARO
@solution1993 (52)
• Nigeria
21 Jan 12
to be good means you are righteous, merciful, faithful and or other good thing u can mention. evil in any religion is when u are don't care of others, u can kill, steal others properties, fornicating, backbiting and or other sinful act that satan has put into man right from our fore father (adam and eve) the origin of sin. u may be evil and not to be manifest to other, but known by GOD, but there is no way u are good and kind that people will not know right from ur behavior.
now tell me is it not evil killing other people? is it not evil taking others properties, is it not evil not to serve your GOD, your CREATOR? This is not the matter of hating other, when u see an evil being, you can't stay with him AL-else u are also evil doers. u will fear such person, 'cos u may be afraid not to get aim.
there is level of evil leaving on everybody, but all what will need is to pray 4 them for their repentance.
@bird123 (10632)
• United States
21 Jan 12
Did you say there is a level of evil on everybody?? Aren't you making my point??? Maybe your focus should be the level of Goodness. Has religion corrupted your thinking and focus???? I want to make a final point. If everyone chooses to stay away from those who choose evil, how can they ever see that there is a better way? Maybe the better choice would be to make them your best friend.
