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Should We See The World In Terms of Good and Evil, or Suffering and Not Suffering?

Since evil can be boiled down to suffering, or causing suffering, why don't we look at good and evil in these terms instead? That way there aren't evil people, there are only those who suffer and conduct others to suffer as well.

Doing good is just being compassionate: alleviating the suffering of others.

To me, this absolves the conflict of duality over good and evil into manageable terms. There isn't evil in the world, there is suffering in the world. God didn't create evil, he created impermanence, which is what causes suffering if we don't adapt, and help each other to adapt.

Thoughts? Comments?

14 Answers

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  • 1 decade ago
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    That's a somewhat more reasonable approach. There is no abstract "good" or "evil." Equating "evil" with suffering at least defines it relative to our human situation. Of course, there are bound to be situations in which two or more parties both feel that they're suffering at each others' hands, so the next question is, whose suffering is more important?

  • 1 decade ago

    The way I understand this is that evil is a behavior of man alone and does not truly exist past our social and cultural concepts. Men do "evil" because of suffering. We engage in self destructive behaviors to fill voids within ourselves. This can manifest as a personal thing like a drug addiction or be more severe as in the case of any conqueror from our past or present. The root of this suffering a sense of separation from the All. God , Spirit, Energy at the Quantum level, call it what you will. This is what we all are made of, and when we are aware of it we are less likely to engage in these "evil" behaviors because of the sense of oneness that comes with this awareness. What I do to my Brother, I do to myself.

    The present state of things is more akin to keeping up with the Joneses. "if I only had that job, this much money, that car "....etc.." I'd feel better about who and what I am, people would accept me"...etc.. We are in a constant state of competition, which may eventually lead to our destruction as a species. The other option is cooperation, which will ensure our survival. The challenge here though is getting people on board because cooperation costs in the beginning, and profits , although enormous, are long term. Most are just too greedy to cooperate.

    So I agree with you, we do need to adapt, and most importantly selflessly help others to adapt. Compassionately guide others to an understanding that they are not alone in the world, that they are an integral, esential part in the Grand Design. No part greater or lesser than any other, all equally needed. This particularly applies to the religions of the world. They all got it right. Still, the moment they insist that the other guys got it wrong , they have missed the point, and we're in competition and conflict once again.

  • 1 decade ago

    Is a lion evil for killing? Is a hyena evil for stealing? Is anything other than man evil (in the natural world)? I don't think so. Man is nothing more than an intelligent animal with a wild imagination.

  • 1 decade ago

    The "world"- so called- doesn't care. Only humans have the facility to care. A bug doesn't care. It just procreates and dies. A dog doesn't care - it loves you unconditionally - evil or not. Good and evil are the creations of religious dogma to bend your mind to some preacher's influence. If you buy it, you go to heaven, and if you don't it's fiery damnation for you

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  • 1 decade ago

    I prefer to see the world in terms of reality versus unreality. But to tell the truth, I don't spend a lot of time thinking about how I see the world. I just live in it.

  • 1 decade ago

    I don't think evil is the same as suffering... people are born blind and people are born in third world countries... they aren't evil due to that...

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    When it comes to my jeans I'm so clean when I step on the scene I know you feeling me?! Yea, always think that its good vs evil, like Dr Doom I bring boom! Ugh check me out

  • 1 decade ago

    Evil causes suffering and poverty. Understand the root of poverty and you'll have a better chance of forming a solution.

  • 1 decade ago

    Suffering is a process that can be used for GOOD

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    Sure....except God didn't create impermanence either since he doesn't exist.

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