A Study of Evil

 EVIL AND SOCIETY

 Now we come to the moment of truth. We consider the individual in terms of evil—not a multitude, not a cult, not a religious sect, not an army, not a populace. We see only a person with a soul that permits an act of evil against another person or group of persons. We don’t deal with gradation. Instigating the murder of millions is evil. Remaining silent during the execution of evil is evil. Numbers, as we have noted, only tend to magnify, sanctify, intensify, and vilify evil according to its breadth and scope. It all begins with an individual action.

Let us begin by supposing that the act of evil deprives someone or some group of something which is necessary to enjoy not a grandiose life, but an average and acceptable condition of existence. That includes a long spectrum, ranging from the ability to vote in an election to the ability to breath, with the right to live free from pain and distress somewhere in between.

Within that broad spectrum, it seems reasonable to limit our search further. For example, here are some examples that may rise to the level of sin[i] or illegality,[ii] but not evil:

The procurement of sexual activity between two consenting adults;

Activities relating to dietary laws;

Minor financial deceit;

Violations of religious edicts not otherwise defined as evil;

Victimless crimes;

Failure to conform to societal or military edicts or laws:

Public nudity; or

Public profanity, as defined by someone or something.

Moving up the scale one notch are actions considered acceptable or normal in some sects but defined as evil in others. For example:

The beating of children as a training exercise;

Domination and/or abuse of women by men.

Racial discrimination;

Masturbation;

Sex with minors;

Prostitution;

Polygamy;

Sex or marriage to close relatives;

Public execution of criminals or deviants;

Same-sex love and/or marriage, or homosexuality in general;

Rape;

War or aggression;

Tattoos;

Usery;

Contraception; or

Unnatural sex acts as defined by the sect.

This complicates things further, but wait. Some among these have changed in context due to a sort of civil evolution. For example, polygamy enjoyed approval and participation by Judo-Christian ancestors but fell out of favor somewhere along the line, as did slavery among a large segment of the population. The execution of criminals in America evolved from public spectacles to near extension, now carried out in shameful quietude. Now to lighten this depressing journey up a bit: As the old comedy line suggests, masturbation has moved from an absolute, hell-promising sin guaranteed to produce blindness to the prohibition of, “just until you need glasses.”[iii]

With that, we will close and work on a modest definition.

---

[i] Let us use: “Any thought, word, or act considered immoral, selfish, degrading, shameful, detrimental to order, or alienating by a defined religious or societal group."

[ii] As defined by appropriate legal codes.

[iii] From the film Can I Do It Til I Need Glasses? distributed produced by Dauntless Productions and distributed by National American Films, 1977.