Destroying Evil in America

By MG Paul Vallely US Army (Ret) and LTG Tom McInerney, USAF (Ret)

There must a continued effort throughout America to identify and destroy evil. Leaders thought America in the schools, churches, cities or government must act. Our book, “Americas Endgame for the Twenty First Century” outlines the spiritual awakening that America must experience to save our precious Republic.

Since World War II, moral, political, and legal philosophers have become increasingly interested in the concept of evil. This interest has been partly motivated by ascriptions of ‘evil’ by laymen, social scientists, journalists, and politicians as they try to understand and respond to various atrocities and horrors, such as genocides, terrorist attacks, mass murders, and tortures and killing sprees by psychopathic serial killers. It seems that we cannot capture the moral significance of these actions and their perpetrators by calling them ‘wrong’ or ‘bad’ or even ‘very very wrong’ or ‘very very bad.’ We need the concept of evil.

To avoid confusion, it is important to note that there are at least two concepts of evil: a broad concept and a narrow concept. The broad concept picks out any bad state of affairs, wrongful action, or character flaw. The suffering of a toothache is evil in the broad sense as is a harmless lie. Evil in the broad sense has been divided into two categories: natural evil and moral evil. Natural evils are bad states of affairs which do not result from the intentions or negligence of moral agents. Hurricanes and toothaches are examples of natural evils. By contrast, moral evils do result from the intentions or negligence of moral agents. Murder and lying are examples of moral evils.

Evil in the broad sense, which includes all natural and moral evils, tends to be the sort of evil referenced in theological contexts, such as in discussions of the problem of evil. The problem of evil is the problem of accounting for evil in a world created by an all-powerful, all-knowing, all-good God. If the creator has these attributes, there would be no evil in the world. But there is evil in the world. Thus, there is reason to believe that an all-powerful, all-knowing, all-good creator does not exist.

In contrast to the broad concept of evil, the narrow concept of evil picks out only the most morally despicable sorts of actions, characters, events, etc. As Marcus Singer puts it “‘evil’ [in this sense] … is the worst possible term of opprobrium imaginable” (Singer 2004, 185). Since the narrow concept of evil involves moral condemnation, it is appropriately ascribed only to moral agents and their actions. For example, if only human beings are moral agents, then only human beings can perform evil actions. Evil in this narrower sense is more often meant when the term ‘evil’ is used in contemporary moral, political, and legal contexts. This entry will focus on evil in this narrower sense. The entry will not discuss evil in the broad sense or the problem of evil to any significant degree (these topics will be addressed briefly only in section 2).

The main issues discussed by philosophers on the topic of evil have been: Should we use the term ‘evil’ in our moral, political, and legal discourse and thinking, or is evil an outdated or empty concept which should be abandoned? What is the relationship between evil and other moral concepts such as badness and wrongdoing? What are the necessary and sufficient conditions for evil action? What are the necessary and sufficient conditions for evil character? What is the relationship between evil action and evil character? What types of evil actions and characters can exist? What is the proper analysis of derivative concepts, such as evil institution?

Evil is often defined as moral wrongdoing or suffering, arising from the choices of free beings and manifesting in various forms throughout human history.

Evil is a complex concept that has been explored by philosophers and theologians throughout history. It is often perceived as the opposite of good, representing actions or forces that run counter to high moral standards. Philosophically, evil is seen as a subjective sensation, shaped by individual judgments and societal norms. This dualism of good and evil is foundational to many moral frameworks, suggesting that these concepts are relative and constructed by human experience.

From a theological standpoint, particularly in Christian thought, evil is often linked to the concept of sin. Sin is described as a rebellion against God, leading to moral decay and suffering in the world. The idea is that God created a good world, but the introduction of free will made the possibility of choosing evil possible. This perspective emphasizes that evil is not a created entity but rather a distortion of good, arising when individuals choose to act against divine principles.

The origins of evil are frequently traced back to the biblical narrative of the Fall, where humanity’s choice to disobey God introduced sin into the world. This act is seen as the beginning of moral corruption, leading to the suffering and chaos observed in human history. The concept of free will is crucial here, as it allows individuals to make choices that can lead to both good and evil outcomes.

Culturally, evil is often personified as the devil, a figure that varies across religions and mythologies. These representations illustrate the struggle between good and evil, usually depicting evil as a force that seeks to disrupt harmony and promote chaos. The devil is seen as a symbol of human evil and moral failure, embodying the choices that lead individuals away from goodness.

In summary, the concept of evil is multifaceted, encompassing philosophical, theological, and cultural dimensions. It is understood as a moral failing that arises from the choices of free beings, reflecting the complexities of human nature and the ongoing struggle between good and evil in the world. Understanding evil requires a nuanced approach that considers these various perspectives and their implications for human behavior and society. 

The Stand Up America US Foundation

The post Destroying Evil in America appeared first on Stand up America US Foundation.

Source: https://standupamericaus.org/destroying-evil-in-america/