Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.
Note: This feature may not be available in some browsers.
Normal
As always, it depends on your definition of "evil". Frightened people in groups will do ANYTHING that is humanly possible to do. Hatred is a function of fear, greed is another function of fear (based on there not being enough for everybody). Fear tends to rule people's lives, I don't think they are evil because of it.Part of the confusion around this is the introduction of "supernatural" evil, as in Satan. All the "evil" things I've seen are things of which human beings are entirely capable, there is no supernatural, Stephen King kind of evil that I've ever seen proof of.When we talk about the Taliban or any other group we need to take into account how they have lived for centuries: starvation, war, religious insanity, and grinding poverty. None of those things excuse what they do, but those things help explain how they got to the point of being the kind of people they are. The Dick Cheney's of the world are harder to explain, but again I think it's fear. Dick's always been rich and privileged, the fear of losing that has to be an awful burden. There is an interesting book called WEALTH ADDICTION by Philip Slater that talks about a mental illness that affects many rich people, Howard Hughes died because he wouldn't pay for proper medical care. People have starved themselves to death rather than spend money on food. Fear does crazy things to people.
As always, it depends on your definition of "evil". Frightened people in groups will do ANYTHING that is humanly possible to do. Hatred is a function of fear, greed is another function of fear (based on there not being enough for everybody). Fear tends to rule people's lives, I don't think they are evil because of it.
Part of the confusion around this is the introduction of "supernatural" evil, as in Satan. All the "evil" things I've seen are things of which human beings are entirely capable, there is no supernatural, Stephen King kind of evil that I've ever seen proof of.
When we talk about the Taliban or any other group we need to take into account how they have lived for centuries: starvation, war, religious insanity, and grinding poverty. None of those things excuse what they do, but those things help explain how they got to the point of being the kind of people they are. The Dick Cheney's of the world are harder to explain, but again I think it's fear. Dick's always been rich and privileged, the fear of losing that has to be an awful burden. There is an interesting book called WEALTH ADDICTION by Philip Slater that talks about a mental illness that affects many rich people, Howard Hughes died because he wouldn't pay for proper medical care. People have starved themselves to death rather than spend money on food. Fear does crazy things to people.