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kentuck

(115,347 posts) Thu Feb 26, 2026, 06:36 PM Thursday

Does "evil" exist" [View all]

Or is it just a word originating in religious theories?

Is there such a thing as "evil" and how would you describe it?

Does it exist in people, places, or things?

Does it affect your life?

Does it affect your feelings and emotions?

How widespread is this "evil"?

42 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Does "evil" exist" [View all] kentuck Thursday OP

It wears orange makeup, hairspray, and sells bibles Blue Owl Thursday #1

Don't forget the girdle an high heels MustLoveBeagles Thursday #13

absence of empathy is definitive, and not as uncommon as I'd prefer (nt) normalynn Thursday #2

Quote from GM Gilbert, chief psychologist Blue Full Moon Thursday #39

Yes, evil is selfishness. Selfishness is at the root of all bad behavior. Coventina Thursday #3

Well said. jls4561 Thursday #4

Why cannot there be an opposite to "good"? kentuck Thursday #6

Sure: Imagine Satan, the Devil, Lucifer, whatever. Coventina Thursday #12

Um, "intelligence, strength, cleverness, wit, charm," are in no way automatically "good" qualities. Wiz Imp Thursday #30

Point taken, they can all be used to evil ends, but they are definitely not EVIL either. Coventina Thursday #37

each person will have their own interpretation of your question. NewHendoLib Thursday #5

I think its unevolved to be evil FullySupportDems Thursday #7

I'm an atheist, but I know evil exists in this world. There exists people who do horrible things to others, with sinkingfeeling Thursday #8

Evil is malevolence that is unprompted, unsought, or gratuitous bucolic_frolic Thursday #9

Evils only exists in humans OC375 Thursday #10

As a clinician, I didn't use to believe in evil. Irish_Dem Thursday #11

Do they recognize their own evil? mr715 Thursday #21

Usually not. Irish_Dem Thursday #22

Yes, in re: boundaries mr715 Thursday #25

I believe that good vs evil is the iconic human condition. Irish_Dem Thursday #26

"Money trumps peace." -- George W Bush Kid Berwyn Thursday #14

Greed...? kentuck Thursday #15

Precisely. Who today remembers Curveball? Kid Berwyn Thursday #17

Didn't Epstein say Trump is evil, that says a lot. nt doc03 Thursday #16

evil spelled backwards is "live" rampartd Thursday #18

The same 4 letters also spell vile. 3catwoman3 Thursday #35

And "veil" Orrex Friday #41

Does Evil exist AzTired64 Thursday #19

That's what I wonder. Haggard Celine Thursday #32

Very interesting question - ancient one. mr715 Thursday #20

There are no gods Mysterian Thursday #23

Apart from the religious connotations canetoad Thursday #24

M. Scott Peck TuxedoKat Thursday #27

M. Scott Peck TuxedoKat Thursday #28

You know it when you see it - and it must be destroyed - because it is innate, irredeemable, incessant dalton99a Thursday #29

Evil lives in that pit in the back of our brains. haele Thursday #31

There are so many different definitions of evil. Oneironaut Thursday #33

You made my brain work overtime. Do evil people think they are evil or do they just not recognize it. Ferrets are Cool Thursday #34

It does, and it absolutely affects my life. iemanja Thursday #36

The two wolves parody. hamsterjill Thursday #38

Yes Beringia Friday #40

Hmm... OldBaldy1701E Friday #42