Is Anything Evil? Does Evil Exist?

Evil is a subjective human assessment dependent upon the person. For example, most people in America view 911 as evil. Many in the Islamic world view America as evil and 911 as deserved retribution.There are literally limitless examples of this type clearly showing that evil is a subjectively human construct. As has been pointed out in another thread, "natural" has many definitions. You could try tidying up your definitions, but a better approach might be to eschew a focus on definitions and instead just explain your position in greater detail, which you're going to have to do eventually anyway.I think what you're trying to argue is that qualities like evil, deceit, envy, greed, etc., are departures from what is natural. But if we're all evil, as you argued in another thread, then everyone is a departure from the natural. If no one actually conforms to your concept of what is natural, then it only exists as a sort of ideal and not as a reality.--Percy

Rob, a few points:

1. The words "purity" and "Christ" do not even appear in my message. I was making no such comment.
   ​
2. Since I'm not a Christian, I would be unlikely to introduce the issue of the purity of Christ.
   ​
3. Since this is a science thread, the issue of the purity of Christ is off-topic. Would you like this thread moved to [forum=-6] where you could explore such issues?

Returning to the actual topic, I was only explaining that the concepts you've mentioned, evil and so forth, are subjective human assessments. And if we're all evil, as you argued in another thread, then everyone is a departure from the natural. If no one actually conforms to your concept of what is natural, then it only exists as a sort of ideal and not as a reality.--Percy

Sure we can, but a precise definition of evil isn't the issue. The real issue is the relative nature of evil, or of empathy. Rephrasing my earlier example in terms of empathy rather than evil, Americans view 911 as reflecting a lack of empathy in the Islamic world, while many in the Islamic world view 911 positively and see America as having a lack of empathy regarding the Islamic world. No matter how you define the term, it's still a subjective human concept whose identification is in the eye of the beholder.--Percy

Nuggin used the exact same example I was going to use. The dropping of the bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki with the resulting death of thousands caused dancing in the streets of America, just as the destruction of the WTC towers with the resulting death of thousands caused dancing in the streets of the Islamic world.Evil is relative. There are literally countless examples. Here's another. The death of a husband in war is an unmitigated act of evil perpetrated by a belligerent power from the wife's perspective. But for the wives of the soldiers on the other side, the report of another enemy death is celebrated. One can come up with similar examples as fast as one can type.--Percy