Discoveries About Life #5: GOOD and EVIL

Uphold that which is good, and don’t let the existence of that which is not good discourage you.

Overcome evil with good.  (Saint Paul)

A world without good and evil is not possible.  Our human understanding differentiates between the distinct things that we perceive.  We characterize things or persons or events or phenomena as better or worse.  This is the root of our definition of good and evil. 

A life filled with anger, hatred, or evildoing cannot be forced upon anyone by another, or by circumstance.  It is the result of decisions that are made over and over with each thought... as is a life filled with goodness.

In its most simple form, ‘good’ is that which enhances life, and ‘evil’ is that which diminishes life.

God made a world in which some animals must kill others in order to live.  This is a mystery.  Protesting will not change the fact; this is the nature of the world in which we have our existence.  We accept because we must, and because we trust. 

The existence of pain is no excuse to condone cruelty. 

God takes no pleasure in death or sacrifice. (Ezekiel, Hosea)

To treat ‘spiritual’ as good and ‘physical’ as evil is to completely misunderstand the meaning of all four terms.  Physical life is a blessing and a joy… as is spiritual life.

The world contains mysteries that are beyond resolution.  Do good anyway.

The web of our life is of a mingled yarn, good and ill together. (Shakespeare)