On the subject of good and evil

[Rawnrr]

Evil is a belief, not a state of being.
It is a judgement placed on something (or someone) by an outside observer.

No one believes that they are evil from their own perspective. Everyone (even violent criminals) hold that what they are doing is for the good of something. They hold a belief that even though there actions may be viewed as negative, they is a good which is coming out of them.

So if everyone believes they are doing good, why is there so much un-good in this world?

Like I said, the "belief" in the good they are doing is only a "belief", it is not a fact. They do not have the bigger picture to see how what they are doing is affecting the bigger picture in a negative way, and as such, the act is seen as evil.
Thing is...with belief, there is always a bigger picture. So what is seen as good at one level, may be seen as evil by a larger level, but who is to say that at even a larger level, that whole effect caused by that one evil action can again be seen as having a good outcome.
We never really have all the pieces, we are ignorant of the whole truth. So evil can only really be seen and judged as coming from a place of ignorance.
Therefore evil is simply a byproduct of ignorance.

[Johnnystuff]

Originally Posted by Rawnrr

Therefore evil is simply a byproduct of ignorance.

This is a clear point of view and I totally agree with yoh. But what if we think about consequences? At the end of the day we don't know if we're evil or not, but karma does.

[Rawnrr]

Originally Posted by Johnnystuff

This is a clear point of view and I totally agree with yoh. But what if we think about consequences? At the end of the day we don't know if we're evil or not, but karma does.

Karma is not about good and evil...it is simply reactions that occur for actions taken. Neither the action, nor reaction is good nor evil

[Dan_SF]

It all ends up into ones who knows about good and evil.

The one's who don't are automatically doing God's will, which is happiness for everyone.