I have done two recent blogs on evil, here and here.
I want to add an additional point that there is a higher order of evil that we do not often identify.
That higher order of evil is the one that denies the existence of evil or simply believes that evil doesn't exist. The two are not the same thing one is aggressive the other is passive.
I have spent an inordinate part of my life with Lefties and pacifists and do-gooders. I can explain their universal viewpoint, the viewpoint that allows them to hold the position that there is no such thing as evil.
These people believe that the level of perception on which evil appears is the problem. A higher level of perception will always reconcile the differences that we call evil.
Since I am living today in the middle of an era of anti-Jewish pogroms throughout America, Europe and the Middle East I can use this example. The people who deny or ignore the existence of evil will cite the case of the Israelis versus the Gaza Palestinians as a an example. They say evil doesn’t exist there. Just misunderstanding.
To them, the killing on both sides is misguided. It can only be seen as evil by either side as long as one views the other side as having a malevolent position, an inhuman concern and an erroneous historic background.
The problem, these people say, can be eliminated if we move to a higher level where each person or groups of warring people can come together and recognize that they are parents, human beings with needs, and part of a universal human family that needs love and appreciation.
At this higher level it is possible, in fact inevitable, that the two sides will be able to find common ground.
This perspective as false. I see this perspective as evil.
There is such a thing as evil in the real world. There are many situations in which a an evil person tortures an innocent person (or other being). Moving the perception of the situation to an higher order is doing nothing but excusing the real evil. Thus, willfully supporting the evil in the actual situation.
My classic example is the Jew hatered that has dominated Europe for 2000 years and resulted in the countless abuses, tortures, pogroms and genocide of a completely innocent Jewish population by a dominant Christian society. A perfect example is the founder of modern Protestantism. Martin Luther wrote over 100 pamphlets expressing his hatred of Jews. He had never met one. That unwarranted hatred was and is still one sided evil.
I repeat my blog headline. When we reject the existence of evil we have created a new level of evil.