The [Non]Existence of Evil

Does evil exist in our world?

To determine whether or not evil does exist, one must first determine just what "evil" is. Is a person evil because he possesses no morals? Or is he considered neutral while his actions are considered "evil"?

Evil manifests itself not in a person's actions or being, but in the eye of the beholder. That is to say, "evil" is whatever we deem to be out of line or non-adherent to morality. For example, what one man views as pedophilia may very well be viewed by another as an expression of love (a rather extreme example, but nonetheless, my point still stands). In essence, the definition of "evil" is rather subjective, and as such, is unreliable and possibly nonexistent. One might say that a person is evil if he breaks the laws of society, but that is simply a subjective analysis in and of itself. Laws are not based on neutral mandates that differentiate "right" from "wrong" but rather, they are based upon the morality of the men who created them, and as such, laws are as every bit subjective as their creators.

Evil is simply the product of a subjective perspective. Those who say that evil does exist only present subjective evidence. There is no way to provide any sort of objective analysis that says "this is evil and this is not." When food is scarce, a mother hamster will eat its young to survive. if that happened today in a human household, the mother would be arrested and in all probability, be committed to an asylum under solitary confinement for the rest of her life. If that is true, then why doesn't that happen to the mother hamster? Why don't the all hamsters across the cage come together and deal with this? Perhaps they lack the mental capabilities to hold a trial, but in reality, they see it as a normal occurrence. They don't have any moral codes to adhere to, and as such, do not see "evil" when the mother eats her children. That being said, this is no such thing as "evil" because really, it's all just in our heads.

Without some sort of moral code, nobody would ever say that "this is evil" or "he's an evil person." "Evil-ness" is simply a matter of perspective and subjectivity. The existence of evil is simply this illusion created by our morals and ethics, which act upon our everyday judgment and tell us "right" from "wrong" and "good" from "evil."

Selfish Sacrifice

When we learn things, we are usually pleasantly surprised or shocked. Whatever the occasion, we often go to bed content, happy that we learned something new. But what if said enlightenment was not so pleasant? What if our new found knowledge only brought us distress and anxiety?

Why do we do things? And by that, I mean, "What do we hope to gain from it?" It seems like a selfish and shallow question, but I've pondered the issue for many years.

I initially believed that I did things to help people because it's "good" to help people. I helped people because it was right. I helped because God mandated it in that little black book called the Bible. Our Lord Jesus Christ told us to be a good neighbour in the parable of the Good Samaritan. I don't remember the exact book, but I recall that in the Old Testament that there was this passage that tells us to not go over the fields a second time, to leave behind some grain for the least, lost, orphaned, and alien. That's what I used to think of to justify my reasons for doing these so-called "acts of kindness."

But why did God tell us to do these things? Jesus talks of the Pharisees and how they give money to the poor when other people can see. He tells us not to be like them, because they have already received their reward, and to give in secret, that we may store up treasures in heaven.

To store up treasures in heaven.

That part gets me every time. To store up treasures in heaven? Is that any different from receiving our reward here on earth? (rhetorical question, btw) When he tells us to do these acts of kindness and love, the whole thing about storing up treasures in heaven just eats away at me. Are we not selfish either way? Do we not receive a reward whether we perform an act in secret or in public? Granted, the everlasting treasures in heaven can't compare to any reward on earth, but it's not the treasure I'm worried about per se, it's the fact that we do it for the treasure.

When people are asked why they do good deeds, the common response is often "because it feels good doing it." The same is with me: I get some fuzzy feeling inside by doing some "good deed" for someone. But ultimately, these acts of kindness, these good deeds, they're not for them, they're for us, so we can feel good.

Am I just going insane? Or is there a possiblity that there is some shred of truth in this?

A Requiem for Sorrow and Laughter

See him Awaken and Rise
Watch as she Walks and Dies
My God, time flies

A good man he was
A wonderful man indeed
His sister was the same
Though they each sought a different claim

One was a smile
The other a tear
We knew each other so well and dear

Out of life they dropped
To never exist again

Herein they lie
At the cause of plans gone awry
At the cost of plans gone awry
At the cost
At this cost
We cry, unfeeling
We cry our hearts out
That we may once more feel

The Comfort of Pain

The sweet comfort of repetition
The familiarity of change
Goodbye, one and all

Hear the screaming walls
Listen to the bellowing prison phone calls
Evidence but a silently crying crimson-speckled shawl

Violet
Rouge
Azure

Colours of her broken skin and smile
See them disappear upon the faded backdrop
All is snow white once more

Tirades but a memory
Locks once more secure
A heart is mended

Drip
Drip
Blood still flows
Freely from the walls it runs

A name tattooed in veins
Chains remain in place
This room
This room
This room holds her still

Love once held the thump-thump
It grew thorns
Thumping turned to dripping

Hear doors shut
Watch as windows are barred
Feel the shivering cement below

Trapped

The memories
They never left
He never left

A single whisper escapes her lips
"Love me, love me"