The Ultimate act of Evil.

Perhaps using Hitler as an example wasnt the best idea. Though I do agree what he did could be considered 'evil', There is much more to it than this thread could handle. Secondly, When I said 'faith' I didnt specifically mean a religion, Though I see much of the forum has interpreted it that way.

Very good question, and a difficult one to answer. Everyone has their own preconceived notion of what is evil and what is not. Personally, I think evil is a perception. This perception is derived from someone's moral fiber, conscience, up-bringing, and religious convictions if they have them.

When you break it down to the lowest common denominator, everyone has a different view on what is evil and what is not. It is really a matter of opinion and personal perception. At least as I see it. However, personally, to answer the question, I find the ultimate evil as an act of inflicting harm, whether physical or psychological to someone weaker or unable to defend themselves. It is another ultimate evil, when people who can defend the defenseless and do nothing.

The act of preying on the weakness of others is absolutely dastardly and should be scorned by civilized society! However, this kind of thing goes on all around us, and in all aspects of life. It goes on everyday, and people who can do something about it usually ignore it. No one likes to make waves. So, this corrosive behavior continues, and slowly the very principles that make us civilized fall away like a car fender riddled with rust.



[edit on 14-2-2010 by Jakes51]

I don't know what the ultimate act of evil is, but Hitler did exterminate the little "nose moustach". I haven't seen one since, and there has been more sightings of Bigfoot.

Originally posted by Blue_Jay33
reply to post by brokedown

 

Interesting, by that account Judas Iscariot blasphemed against the Holy Spirit by taking 30 pieces of silver and betraying the son of God.
And he knew better too, he witnessed all the many miracles first hand, he knew it to be God's son. Historically there is no greater betrayal by a human and by extension evil. To commit evil acts without ignorance or insanity but with full knowledge that you know exactly what you are doing, but especially an act of betrayal.

Betrayal against those that love and trust you with their lives, is a great evil.
Maybe that's why infidelity, hurts the innocent spouse so much.

If you are a Christian then you would have to conclude that Judas did as he was bid to by his master. He could do nothing else. The "prophecy" had to be fulfilled.

The pity was that in doing so, his grief and guilt got the better of him.

Which was more evil, the REQUESTED betrayal or the act of obedience?

All evil acts, no matter what their details may be, boil down to one thing: they are deliberate attempts to EXPLOIT another human being or beings, as the case may be. Rape, theft, murder, whatever act you care to choose, they are all acts of callous and cruel exploitation. To my mind no one act is more heinous than the rest. All of them are inexcuseable. If you're cheating at cards to take your buddy's money then you're indulging in the same mindset that allowed Hitler to send innocent people to death camps or Bush to kill innocent people for their oil. There is no such thing as being MORE evil than someone else or one act being LESS evil than another.

If evil is the opposite of goodness, then what does it mean to be good? In my opinion the purpose of spirituality and all we seek as intelligent beings is transcendence beyond our animal nature (to evolve to be a good soul). The ultimate evil is the rejection of the opportunity to transcend. We make choices, and when we choose what is base, we commit evil.

reply to post by Ghost in the Machine


When did Hitler kill 17 million people? I thought the "official" Holocaust death was 6 million. Remember history is written by the victor i look at all sources and have not fully decided on my opinion on that matter.
Technically he killed no one.

And no i don't think he was evil a little misled but not evil as there is no "good" or "evil" just shades of grey and we choose our path.

Although i have to agree with the person that said a child killer is definately what you could call evil.

Slaughter of non-combatants in war.

There are many great evils, but this is the most common and one of the worst, imo.

The greatest evil is doing nothing when you can do something.

is to use Hitler as a scapegoat for 2nd WW... as if the other countries did not kill anyone.

Hmmm... lets see, Got it!!!

When you doubt/lie to yourself and blindly follow the herd. To conform, believe, and follow the truths of others without understanding why. For one to accept and embrace ignorance is what i believe to have been the root of a lot of the "evil" that has been commited thoughout the history of man.

Deny Ignorance

reply to post by Ghost in the Machine


The ultimate act of evil?

To literally destroy someone's soul/spirit.


The implications of this are huge. Anything Earth bound is limited to this single existence and lifetime. We are talking ULTIMATE act of evil...

reply to post by infobrazil


You should take time to go through the posts. I stated on the top of the page that Hitler wasnt the best example to use.

reply to post by m khan

I think you can apply this same kind of reaction to betrayal of trust to our government's black ops. We have trusted our government and they have betrayed us and keep betraying us and we keep ignoring their previous betrayals until it is getting rediculous. In Revelation it talks about the Beast at the end times, but I thing our democratically elected government IS the Beast.

Not to get too far off topic but if one the beasts of Revelation is America and a branch of this beast did pull off 9/11 and then blamed it on somebody else, that too is a very great evil. Committing murder is a great evil, but committing murder and then framing and blaming somebody else is even worse. But even worse is mass murder and then blaming it on somebody else, just like 9/11.

Then again ask yourself does any of these verses from Revelation describe modern day America?

Revelation 13

11 Then I saw another beast rising up out of the land [itself]; he had two horns like a lamb, and he spoke (roared) like a dragon.
12He exerts all the power and right of control of the former beast in his presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell upon it to exalt and deify the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed, and to worship him.
13He performs great signs (startling miracles), even making fire fall from the sky to the earth in men's sight.
14And because of the signs (miracles) which he is allowed to perform in the presence of the [first]
beast, he deceives those who inhabit the earth...

reply to post by Ghost in the Machine


It's hard to pin down one act of evil, two groups that come to mind are leftist governments and what ever the mohammedans are doing this week.

The ultimate act of evil is to blaspheme the Holy Spirit, as Jesus said. It is NOT forgivable according to Jesus.

Having watched a documentary last night about "The Massacre at My Lai", I'd say that hit fairly high on my most evil meter.

It brought tears to my eyes listening to the accounts of those who had to witness that...

Link below for those who may not have heard of it...

Massacre At My Lai

To carry out such things while knowing it's wrong - Is surely the ultimate evil.

Peace

The Final Solution: From 'Thinker's guide to Evil' by peter vardy and julie arliss, says: The TREATY of Versailles in 1919 ended the first world war but it was an unfair treaty. Anyone know why? The winners of the war US France Britan put all the blame on Germans who had to pay 130 billion to the winners as war reparations for suffering they had caused. Destroyed German economy, the war, they could not pay. The germans printed more money and the econommy collapsed in 1926, everyone in Germany was then very poor. It was made worse by the Great Depression in 1929, led to collapse of jobs across the West. Hopelessness, no food, future looked grim. No jobs to be had. These events helped the rise of hitler because he seemed to promise hope. He was popular and marvelous speaker, appealing to german pride, offering a way forward, claimed that Germany was not a fault, but Jews and communists instead. Blaming the Jews for Germany's problems made him popular, Jewish shops looted, destroyed. He decided Jews had to leave and were put into Ghettos, surrounded by barbed wire or walls, sealed from leaving or entering, made the Jews look different by forcing them to live this way, treated like rabbits, cats, dogs, experiments, killed in any case. Then used as slaves in factories, or just killed. Contributory causes were: Treaty of Versailles, caused bold imaginative plan to rebuild germany, punish Jews instead of Germany. Also caused by hatred of Jews, where Christian gospels interpret Jews as killing Jesus. Yellow stars were started by Christian leaders, not nazis who used it later. Jews did not integrate but maintained their own diet, dress, customs, language, made them a target when scapegoat was needed. Also, since Jews were oftentimes talented, wealthy, ordinary Germans were jealous of their success. Hitler appealed to pride, restor glory and nationalism. Neither the catholic church nor the lutheran church condemned hitler, they saw him as a defender of christianity. Were nazi guards who feared their life, who obeyed orders in death camps evil? What could they have done?Wasn't this an institutional evil, against the german economy and pride?

reply to post by Ghost in the Machine


Not only being desirous of a particular outcome ie a persons death, but actually deriving pleasure or finding joy, arousal or piqued interest in witnessing or causing the prolonged suffering and pain of another living thing, be that child, adult, animal or even vegetable...is to me the ultimate act of evil.

reply to post by bookreader


Thank you.

You are one of few people that have looked beyond the BS to see what truely happened to my wonderful, ancestral homeland.

How many wonderful cities were destroyed by all of this? How much art?

Not just in Deutschland either.

Till this point, this wonderful part of the world had been a manufacturing beast! This is one reason I think they targeted it.