Most of us know how to finish the phrase above and realize that it is from the Lord's Prayer or the Our Father, as the Roman Catholics call it. Many of us repeat it regularly as a part of worship. In our congregation we have moved the Lord's Prayer earlier in the service so that the children will learn it as well. From the inclusion of this phrase about evil we can assume that Jesus believed in it, and was eventually subject to it when he was executed for the flimsiest of reasons.
Is evil, both the deliberate and unthinking decisions which bring harm to others a reality? We tend not to discuss evil much anymore. When we do so we are entering into the realm of morality and moral choices. Whose definition of evil do we adopt, in this age of pluralism?
I was interested to see that a Columbia University professor has created a Gradations of Evil scale with 22 "shades" along the scale. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129175964His application is to the crime of murder, but having a graded scale of evil is a challenging concept. Is character assassination evil, even though no one is physically harmed, and where would it fit on a scale? What about the Bernie Madoffs of this world who selfishly destroy the financial well-being of others? Is the Canadian soldier who shot a suffering Afghan insurgent guilty of an evil act because he took another life, or was he compassionate? How many grades are there for war, which always does harm?
Do you believe in evil? Is there a force of evil? What about gradations of evil? How is this to start your Monday morning?
2 comments:
Yes, I believe in evil. Next time you want to do a blog on evil, just send me an email and I can provide you with a picture of my ex. You can put her right there next to Manson!
Ex's are a whole other can o' worms Johnny!
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