Activity

1. Do Now:Briefly explain your thoughts on ‘EVIL’…….-What is Evil?-Does Evil even exist?-Are you evil?

2. Activity Read and Annotate the article : What Do We mean By Evil?

3. Historical Beginning . . . • The biblical account tells the story of evil with a convergence of characters: • In the first temptation on record, we discover that it began with a competing truth claim. A strange being  approached Eve and offered her an alternative view of reality. • She had only known one way of seeing things – God’s way. • But this character (whom we now know as Satan or the evil one) offered a different way of looking at life. He offered a different version of God and of what happens when one abandons God’s way for life. • The offer was made in an alluring context of self-interest. It was not offered in a detached philosophical way. It was a twisted version of reality to lure her to a different way to live – a way centered in self-absorption.

4. (Cont’) • It started with a subtle and twisted suggestion that God is overly restrictive in His demands. It moved to a blatant denial of the Divinely stated consequences of disobeying God’s will. Thus was introduced the Suspicion of Eden— the notion that the good life is outside of the will of God, not within it. No philosophical detachment in this offer. • In the predictable pattern of evil, Eve saw what was forbidden, desired it, took it and gave it (Genesis 3:6). The generational consequences have been disastrous! (see: Genesis 3-4; Romans 5:12ff.).

5. Interestingly…… Seven Consequences Emerge Each affects a major area of human existence and provides a background to the primary occupational majors at Early universities. 

6. These consequences correspond directly with the human story from our beginning to this day. They included the following:  • Physiological: death, decay, sickness and suffering (Gen. 3:17-19; Rom. 5:12; 8:19-22) • Psychological: shame, guilt, fear (Gen. 3:7). • Sociological: blame-shifting, alienation, separation (Gen. 3:8, 12-13; Isa. 53:6).  • Ecological: ground is cursed, thorns and thistles (Gen. 3:17-19). • Spiritual: hiding from God, enmity: seed of woman and seed of Serpent (Gen. 3:8, 15, 4:1-15; I Jn 3:12; Isa. 59:1-2). • Epistemological:distorted thinking, spiritual blindness (II Cor. 4:3-6; Rom. 1:28) Noetic affects. • Criminal:murder! (fratricidal) - Genesis 4 Cain kills Abel.

7. Interestingly…… Universities offer majors related to each of the seven areas: Doctors Psychologists Sociologists Environmentalists Ministers Philosophers Law enforcement

8. The Many Forms of Evil

9. Soooooo…..What is evil anyway? There are many interpretations of evil: one theory is that . . . evil is something created or committed by humans. This means that evil is not random and therefore it generates a very emotional response.

10. Abuse of Power * Abuse of power is seen as constituting evil when it results in unnecessary suffering or gross neglect. * Abusers of power have denied their victims the right to free will and fairness. * The abuse itself may be very deliberate (Nazis, organized torture, arsonists, corporate evil or animal abusers), or a neglectful shirking of responsibility (governments who tolerate homelessness)

11. Terrible Unknown • * The Terrible Unknown is a distorted or disguised version of humanity. • * Evil masquerading as goodness (in human form but really soul-less, behind a mask) includes an element of deception, liars, amplifying the evil via a demonstration of intent. • * Common disguises interrupt the accepted norms of safety: clowns or other common children’s icons of safety.

12. The Other * The Other is evil as it disrupts conformity (EMOs, extremists, scientologists): humanity fears that which we don’t understand. * The lack of conformity is seen as irrational due to the breaking of accepted social norms, therefore it is possible for individuals or groups to be non-conformist and non-evil (Goths, EMOs) *The evil occurs when The Other attempts to challenge social norms via recruitment/preaching (religious fundamentalists)

13. Vice Squad • * Vices are evil willingly played out in the face of evidence and reason • * Cigarettes, alcohol, gambling and drugs were repeatedly raised as evil that is amplified because it’s unnecessary and preventable • * Interestingly, humans who fall victim to vices aren’t the evil, the humans who provide, create and encourage the vices embody evil (cigarette companies, drug dealers)

14. Historical Evil • * Historical Evil is a representation of the old manifestation of evil. • * This version of evil has been so commonly used in public dialogue that the icons of devils, demons, skulls and the fires of hell have become overused and cliche. • * Historical Evil has been so neutralized it’s now commonly used for invoking humor rather than fear.

15. Everyday Beasts • * The only core theme that isn’t a human evil, Everyday Beasts invoke an emotional response from pure fear. • * Sharks, snakes, spiders and aggressive dogs all represent a fear of violent physical harm* Unlike the other themes, this evil is largely random, often heightening the fear. • * This theme was strongest with kids, indicating the fear is often neutralized with age.

16. Mary was the only child of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon to live past infancy. Crowned after the death of Edward VI and the removal of The Nine Days Queen-Lady Jane Grey, Mary is chiefly remembered for temporarily and violently returning England to Catholicism. Many prominent Protestants were executed for their beliefs leading to the moniker “Bloody Mary”. Fearing the gallows a further 800 Protestants left the country, unable to return until her death. It should be noted that Elizabeth I shares position 10 on this list for her equally bad behavior. QUEEN MARY I 1516-1558

17. Myra Hindley 1942-2002 Myra Hindley and Ian Brady were responsible for the “Moors murders” occurring in the Manchester area of Britain in the mid 1960’s. Together these two monsters were responsible for the kidnapping, sexual abuse, torture and murder of three children under the age of twelve and two teenagers, aged 16 and 17. A key found in Myra’s possession led to incriminating evidence stored at a left-luggage depot at Manchester Central Station. The evidence included a tape recording of one of the murder victims screaming as Hindley and Brady raped and tortured her. In the final days before incarceration, she developed a swagger and arrogant attitude that became her trademark. Police secretary Sandra Wilkinson has never forgotten seeing Hindley and her mother Nellie, leaning against the courthouse eating sweets. While the mother was obviously and understandably upset, Hindley seemed indifferent and uncaring of her situation.

18. Ilse Koch Born: 1906; Died: 1967 “Die Hexe von Buchenwald” the Witch of Buchenwald, or “BuchenwälderSchlampe” the Bitch of Buchenwald was the wife of Karl Koch, commandant of the concentration camps Buchenwald from 1937 to 1941, and Majdanek from 1941 to 1943. Drunk on the absolute power rendered by her husband, she reveled in torture and obscenity. Infamous for her souvenirs; tattoos taken from the murdered inmates, her reputation for debauchery was well earned. After building an indoor sports arena in 1940, with 250,000 marks stolen from inmates, Ilsa was promoted to Oberaufseherin or “chief overseer” of the few female guards at Buchenwald. She committed suicide by hanging herself at Aichach women’s prison on September 1, 1967.

19. IdiAmin Dada IdiAmin was an army officer and president of Uganda. He took power in a military coup in January 1971, deposing Milton Obote. His rule was characterized by human rights abuses, political repression, ethnic persecution, extra judicial killings and the expulsion of Indians from Uganda. The number of people killed as a result of his regime is unknown; estimates range from 80,000 to 500,000. On August 4, 1972, Amin issued a decree ordering the expulsion of the 60,000 Asians who were not Ugandan citizens (most of them held British passports). This was later amended to include all 80,000 Asians, with the exception of professionals, such as doctors, lawyers and teachers. Amin was eventually overthrown, but until his death, he held that Uganda needed him and he never expressed remorse for the abuses of his regime.

20. Pol Pot was the leader of the Khmer Rouge and the Prime Minister of Cambodia from 1976 to 1979, having been de facto leader since mid-1975. During his time in power Pol Pot imposed an extreme version of agrarian communism where all city dwellers were relocated to the countryside to work in collective farms and forced labour projects. The combined effect of slave labour, malnutrition, poor medical care and executions is estimated to have killed around 2 million Cambodians (approximately one third of the population). His regime achieved special notoriety for singling out all intellectuals and other “bourgeois enemies” for murder. The Khmer Rouge committed mass executions in sites known as the Killing Fields. The executed were buried in mass graves. In order to save ammunition, executions were often carried out using hammers, axe handles, spades or sharpened bamboo sticks. Pol Pot

21. Hirohito Hirohito was the Emporer of Japan from 1926 to 1989. In 1937, Japanese troops committed the war crime that is now known as the Rape of Nanking (the then Capital of China, now known as Nanjing). The duration of the massacre is not clearly defined, although the violence lasted well into the next six weeks, until early February 1938. During the occupation of Nanjing, the Japanese army committed numerous atrocities, such as rape, looting, arson and the execution of prisoners of war and civilians. A large number of women and children were also killed, as rape and murder became more widespread. The death toll is generally considered to be between 150,000 and 300,000.

22. Criminals Gorgers Takers of InnocenceManipulators AggressorsDeceiversSelfishnessthe proverbial seven....Haughty eyes A lying tongue Hands that shed innocent blood A heart that devises wicked plots Feet that are swift to run into mischief A deceitful witness that uttereth lies Him that soweth discord among brethren extravagancegluttonygreeddiscouragementwrath envypride