Thank God for Evil.

[Greatest I am]

Greatest I Am, can you fix the last quote of mine in your post? Some of your comments spilled into the quote.

For the noun comment, fine. Is the knowledge we gain from "evil acts" necessary for optimum growth? If so, how?



I don't see the relevance in this comment. Is not learning about finding the optimum strategies and best ways to achieve our objectives? In that sense is the long-term effects of evil acts in regards to the development of humanity optimum in learning and growing?

We today think that we are more civilized than our fore fathers in terms of war, shal we say because we have analized the past and decided that more is gained by peaceful co existance than from fighting.
This optimizes growth.
A child learning how to ride a bike will recognize that it is not desirable to fall. Knowing this evil maximizes growth.

Regards
DL

​

 

[Wings]

A child learning how to ride a bike will recognize that it is not desirable to fall. Knowing this evil maximizes growth.

Regards
DL

[/INDENT]

So, let me get this straight. Your definition of evil is whatever is harmful to us, and good is whatever is beneficial to us? Is this correct?

 

[Greatest I am]

Neither does a baby learning to walk but you said that was good.

It is good and as far as I know, so does the baby.

Regards
DL
​

 

[Greatest I am]

Can you elaborate on that? I am not aware of any such plan.

Our first two commands from God were to reproduce and learn of good and evil.
We are doing both well.
If evil was not part of the plan, He would remove it.

Regards
DL
​

 

[Greatest I am]

So, to be clear, you think this is "good:"



If you are being sincire, you are a dangerous and frightening creature.

As stated, we are more civilized today. The Khan would find it good, we would not.

Regards
DL
​

 

[Greatest I am]

So, let me get this straight. Your definition of evil is whatever is harmful to us, and good is whatever is beneficial to us? Is this correct?

Basically.
What little jewel are you hiding?

Regards
DL
​

 

[tsg]

It is good and as far as I know, so does the baby.

Regards
DL
​

I have no idea what you are saying here.

 

[Wings]

What little jewel? At the moment I'm just trying to understand your point of view.

 

[Greatest I am]

So you maintain that we know the difference between good and evil, because we know "what is desirable?" How would you characterize Ghengis Khan's fondest desire?

What little jewel? At the moment I'm just trying to understand your point of view.

I guess I am getting paranoid in my old age.
I thought you had something up your sleeve is all.
I meant the remark to sound playful.

Regards
DL
​

 

[Greatest I am]

I have no idea what you are saying here.

Perhaps we should start over with a different analogy.

You first.

Regards
DL
​

 

[tsg]

Perhaps we should start over with a different analogy.

You first.

Regards
DL
​

How about you just explain what the hell you are talking about?

 

[Loss Leader]

For a baby that should walk and does not is bad or evil.

As incoherent a statement as I have ever read.

 

[Greatest I am]

For a baby that should walk and does not, this is bad or evil.

Regards
DL

 

[ImaginalDisc]

For a baby that should walk and does not, this is bad or evil.

Regards
DL

No, no. Putting in a comma doesn't help, but getting out of the coma might.

 

[Wings]

So basically, you're using bad and evil as synonyms of each other? I'm guessing evil being the same as bad, and bad being "What is harmful to something"?

I don't see these words as synonyms though. I see the difference being in the intention of the agent that brings about the harmful or negative change.

A meteor falling from the sky does not have an "evil" intent, but a person stalking a child to murder can be considered to have an "evil" intent. That is the difference of whether the acts are bad or evil.

I think you're being too broad in your definitions and using words too loosely and that is why people are confused.

 

[Loss Leader]

No, no. Putting in a comma doesn't help, but getting out of the coma might.

Nominated for pith.

 

[Darth Rotor]

Halleluah! Thank god for rapes, murders, stealing, torture, war, manipulation, racism, sexism, fraud!

Without them many movies would be boring. Nothing for the hero to deal with.

for Hiroshima, for Nagasaki, for Iwo Jima!

Where is the evil in these?

Thank god for Gauntamo Bay.

You ever scuba dived or fished there? Nice place for it. Have you ever actually been to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba? It's a pretty place, after its own fashion, albeit on the hot and dusty side. I don't imagine the guys in those cells care for it, of course.

DR

 

[Wings]

Without them many movies would be boring. Nothing for the hero to deal with.

ROFL, good answer.

Where is the evil in these?

There is none, I was hoping he'd catch it. Oh well.

You ever scuba dived or fished there? Nice place for it. Have you ever actually been to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba? It's a pretty place, after its own fashion, albeit on the hot and dusty side. I don't imagine the guys in those cells care for it, of course.

I never said all of it was bad.

Nice catches.

 

[slingblade]

I understand your point but the animal in question does not.
If it understood good and evil it would know why it does what it does.
As far as we know at this point in time, it does not. Instincts guide, they do not know that they are doing it.
This would not be a good thing for man and is likely why we are the superior species.

Then why do wolves have a system for discipline within the pack?

 

[Darth Rotor]

Thank God for Evil.

Sure, why not.

Our Father, who art in Heaven, Hallowed be thy Name.
Thy kingdom come, thy Will be done
On Earth, as it is in Heaven
Give is this day our daily ration of evil stuff
And forgive us for screwing it all up
As we forgive those who screw up our lives
And lead us into temptation
So we have better stories to tell at Confession
For thine is the Kingdom
And the Power
And the Gory slasher movies
At the Matinee show.

Amen

Consider what and where we would be without evil.

Bored, mostly.

Many think that God was punishing man when He evicted us from the garden of Eden.

You were there? Hi, Adam. I thought you were dead. How's the little lady?

They would be wrong.

Perhaps.

Imagine us back in the garden without knowledge of good and evil.

Only if there is beer. Otherwise, I am not interested.

There would be little that we could talk about because all issues have a good and evil aspect.

I could talk about the water, the ocean, forests and mountains for a long time, none of which have evil aspects. Also, the weather.

Even sex would likely not be available because of this and we would not likely be here.

Of course we wouldn't be "here," you have us in the garden. Please keep up, with your own post, FFS.

We would eat of the tree of life but can a life without knowledge be called life. I don’t think so.

You are one of the few people who might know that from personal experience.

God wants us to know that we know why we follow Him.

In the Garden, or as we march to the mines?

Singing:

Heigh Ho,
Heigh Ho
It's off to work we go!

We can only know why we follow Him by referring to our knowledge of good and evil.

If He is the first One in line, following him, and knowing why we follow Him, is as simple as asking Him, "where are we going?"

"To the mines."

See? Simple.

Without it we would not know why we follow.

See above.

Evil then becomes necessary for us to know God.

So an innocent cannot know God? How does this square with Mary?

God then needs evil to accomplish His plan for man.

Right, so we are off to the mines. Looks like we are in for some fun with a Balrog. And some orcses, Precious. *gollum gollum*

If evil is a necessity for us, and even having evil thought is a sin according to Jesus.

That wasn't a sentence. Care to try again?

It is impossible for man not to sin if man is to know God.

False, according to Christian doctrine. One can know God and still sin, which is why confession, repentance, and forgiveness are part of the deal. See above about tools to stave off boredom.

This is why Jesus forgave all sin even while evil still dwells among us.

In the Garden, or in the mines?

We all hope that the evil that is done in this world is small evils but even as they occur we must thank God for them.

We must? I see, this is "Thank you sir, may I have another" time.
*bends over*

They teach us of who He is.

They? Are there other people in the mines, or are there multiple Balrogs? Orcs?

God is Perfect and has provided a Perfect environment for us to seek and know Him.

If Perfect is defined as including interesting trolls like you, yes, sure, indeed.

Let us try to recognize this and actually see the Perfection that surrounds us as well as the Perfection of all of us.

I am perfectly able to recognize my imperfections, thanks.

Is evil a requirement for intelligence and a knowledge of God.

Wait a minute, you just asked the question you spent some time trying to answer. Is your middle name "Mobius?"

Regards
DL

Get a clue.

DR