Evil: Evil and its root cause, Ignorance: What causes Evil? Can you forgive evil? What is to be done about evil? Who defines what's good and evil?
deathwarmedup wrote, (all quotes by deathwarmedup followed with my reply)
(1). "...take ... notion of "ignorance"... spiritual sense." and "Evil" acts result from our sense of separation: we have no responsibility towards the Other."
I believe we are all interelated including our animan brethren and all life. The closest analogy for god or being spiritual is being connected to nature.
(2). "...plaything ... gratification...vanity, our sense of power, our lust for domination."
I believe in humanitarian ideals such as children, education, health care, increasing the happiness quota ratio and decreasing the gap between the rich and those who are poor. Instead of doing this we as a society (generalization) focus on money, power, fame and beauty. We do not seek inside as all the major religions guide but pursue 'Mara' or the worldly illusions of the world. it is a never ending black hole to fill. True happiness from a spiritual standpoint comes from within. We have misguided priorities in society.
(2) "Secular speaking, evil means nothing." "....artifact of our values...fears...culturally rooted morals."
I concur that the idea of evil is an abstract taken to be truth and part of our reality. There is a biological component to pure evil, such as those who have neither empathy or remorse but are psychopaths. Most evil in my mind is caused by ignorance. There are so many people who advocate that love is THE answer to all are problems. I am much more scientifically inclined. I say the heart must be trained by empathy lessons in classrooms at an early age.
In addition mindfulness of cognitive fallacies and outright distortions in thought, writing and speech must be rooted out. This too must be taught. it isn't instinctual but is hampered by blind spots, rationalization, denial and emotional reasoning.
(3)" Psychology...explain it all away in terms of a "lack of empathy", "projected hostility", "ego gratification", "the sublimation of our natural aggression's" ..."
As far as science is concerned there is a big researched field called 'Resiliency' and the development of the 40 developmental assets for a healthy human being. The more developmental assets you don't have in childhood the greater the likelihood of dysfunction breeding dysfunction. These are the 40 developmental assets I've discussed that lead to resiliency and are crucial in the child rearing age and development. What is more the main article shows parents and providers how to implement these developmental factors in a young child's life.
Our parents are metaphorically our gods and they can shape and mold the child just as they would a vase. If the parents provide love, safety and proper boundaries the child will most likely grow up with a healthy self concept. The reverse is also unfortunately true. If the parents don't provide these nourishing factors into a child's life and abuse them emotionally, verbally, sexually, physically and psychologically the 'vase' or child will not be straight but dysfunctional leading an entire lifetime of distress all stemming from childhood.
The earliest intervention of an adult figure not in the immediate family can help regulate a child through the storms of home life. There are 40 developmental assets that instill resiliency. If the child does not have access to these other developmental assets then sadly statistically they will suffer from mental illness, dysfunction and or substance abuse. Resiliency studies have replicated these scientific findings that in a dysfunctional home life one of three children can still thrive despite the odds.
The unacknowledged truth due to emotional reasoning, rationalization, denial, blind spots, defense mechanisms and overcompensation still regulate the other two children to be in the throws of the dysfunctional cycle. Children and this country would be better off learning the two mental disciplines of critical thinking (being aware of distortions in the thought, written and speech format of our thinking. We need to be taught to think critically.
All the wise sages say it so but the government stares at the wisdom on the road as if blind and do not address this quality. The second crucial learning is developing empathy skills to grow up more humanitarian and with Agape compassion for all life: human, animal and plant.
https://www.search-institute.org/…/40-developmental-assets-…
(4) "Secular psychology threatens to remove blame, and therefore responsibility."
I don't believe this to be true. Many would advocate to not use subjective labels such as evil and condemn but rather seek to understand and hold accountable those who have digressed from the law.