Good and Evil

[porfin1234]

Hello all

Do you believe that people are either inherently good or evil?

I've just come to the conclusion that I'm evil. Wolf in sheep's clothing.

What I don't get is sometimes feeling for people or being touched by sentimental things

Yet I have done horrible horrible things to myself and others.

Or is it just practice? Can people change truly? Is there love and goodness in all of us and we just have to tap into that? I was really getting into that idea this past year. Really becoming more spiritual (so I thought) but after my actions I feel like it was all just a dream and reality is I'm some sort of monster. When I'm around most people, my friends, I feel like an imposter. They are kind and stable and good hearted. If they only knew how toxic I really am but somehow not all have seen it and ones that do go away eventually. I've even honestly wondered if I could benefit from an exorcism.. maybe crazy. Don't know heh

 

[WhyIsLife56]

Good and evil are made up as a construct. People don't necessarily change, they adapt.

 

[jgm63]

Hello all

Do you believe that people are either inherently good or evil?

I've just come to the conclusion that I'm evil. Wolf in sheep's clothing.

What I don't get is sometimes feeling for people or being touched by sentimental things

Yet I have done horrible horrible things to myself and others.

Or is it just practice? Can people change truly? Is there love and goodness in all of us and we just have to tap into that? I was really getting into that idea this past year. Really becoming more spiritual (so I thought) but after my actions I feel like it was all just a dream and reality is I'm some sort of monster. When I'm around most people, my friends, I feel like an imposter. They are kind and stable and good hearted. If they only knew how toxic I really am but somehow not all have seen it and ones that do go away eventually. I've even honestly wondered if I could benefit from an exorcism.. maybe crazy. Don't know heh

You should be overcoming the evil inside yourself, as best you can. Otherwise you are probably building up karma, which is a debt that will eventually have to be paid. So you may as well start now...
But nobody is perfect, although you can strive to improve...

 

[porfin1234]

I have so much debt... I know it...
But I also have self sabotaged so much I wonder if that in itself is punishment enough.

 

[mesohappy]

We are all good and evil,depending on the circumstances..What I consider good maybe construed as evil tomorrow,What I consider as evil maybe applauded by my peers.

 

[jgm63]

I have so much debt... I know it...
But I also have self sabotaged so much I wonder if that in itself is punishment enough.

Only life knows. But you shouldn't try to punish yourself because that's not right or necessary.
Just do your best, and if life improves then perhaps your debts are clearing.....

We are all good and evil,depending on the circumstances..What I consider good maybe construed as evil tomorrow,What I consider as evil maybe applauded by my peers.

It's more about being true to what you believe to be right within you. What other people believe is not important.
What you believe to be right can change over time also, but as long as you are being true to it in any moment, then you are doing the best you can...

 

[OneBigBlur]

I believe in determinism. I'm not a saint though and would not forgive a evil person despite believing in it, I'm still human after all.

 

[Polka]

Yes there are plenty of reports of people that consistently manifest evil behavior. The rest of us do it only occasionally and to a much, much lesser degree.

It's good that you are thinking about yourself and your effect on others:

Yet I have done horrible horrible things to myself and others.

This is not unusual.

Now you are aware of this and can start to figure out why that happened. That helps ameliorate it and you get some benefit.

If you have an idea of the kind of person you want to be and what you want to happen in your life then you can start a plan to achieve that.

 

[k75]

I think a very small handful of the population is inherently good or evil. Most everyone else is just pretty normal and while they may have those traits, they're learned or created. Plus everyone does undesirable things sometimes. That's just human nature.

I don't believe you're a bad person. You say you've done horrible things, but what's your threshold for that? And what were the reasons? Unless you thought it was fun and did it because you enjoyed it, I don't think you should hold it against yourself.

Evil people don't usually think they're evil, not do they care. They don't care about others, either. By saying what you did, you've shown remorse. That means you feel bad and could change.

A lot of people think they are worse than they really are. It's a type of cognitive distortion, which can be a symptom of mental illness. We tell ourselves we're bad people who do unforgivable things, but a lot of time it's not as awful as we think. And even if it is, recognizing that means it's possible to change and do better. The fact that you have people in your life who don't see the bad things in you that you see is a very good indication that it's not a reflection of reality.

 

[chris8000]

I do think there is an inherant goodness in everyone and it is just a question of learning to operate from that.

However, there are some truly evil people out there that are so far away from goodness, that they don't even know that or reflect on their behaviour, as @k75 has pointed out. These people are basically sadistic and may be stuck like that for a long time, potentially many lifetimes.

I do think everyone has the potential to change for the better in this lifetime, I do not think anyone is permanently stuck as an evil person. So you don't need to worry about that and you sound like your the reflective type of person who considers their actions carefully. Most people are stuck with some kind of unnecessary self loathing, this takes time to work its way out and practice. Spiritual practice is about that, do good, refrain from evil, and purify the mind.

I don't think you need an exorcism because I don't believe in that, but that's for you to decide.

 

[FreedomInDeath]

Maybe you have some unknown brain damage. Or figure out what has gone wrong emotionally/behaviorally that has caused you to be so cruel. I am not sure there is good and evil, just well or damaged. There is always some cognitive, emotional, or behavioral issue at work.

 

[Final Escape]

Everyone has the capacity for good and evil which is why It's dangerous when some people have too much power over others. Human beings are not perfectly moral and can even be brainwashed away from being good.

 

[Kuolema]

Good and evil? Yeah ofc Batman vs the Joker.

 

[Hopeindeath!]

I believe anyone can change and deserves a chance to.