I have lived almost 60 years and have seen evil in action all my life. Anybody who hasn't is blind.
Yes. I admit that reading them react to the possibility evil exists did seem elementary. Followed by the thought if the psychiatric community is only now aware of this concept I am more than ever convinced they shouldn't be dispensing advice, let alone prescriptions.
Evil is a concept so central to the Biblical worldview—a worldview that teaches us that the germs of evil can be found, not only in serial killers, but also inside every human heart. You’d think that would be common sense.
Except in a culture that is desperate to avoid accountability. Then acknowledging that 'evil' spoken of in the Bible becomes what must be avoided at any cost. IF there is good and evil, than people make a conscious choice to be on the side of good or evil every moment of their lives. IF there is evil, there must be a consequence for that evil. It cannot be rationalized or reduced to relavist thought. To a 'whatever feels good' culture.
Forensic psychiatrist Dr. Park Dietz put it, “I think the main reason it’s better to avoid the term evil, at least in the courtroom, is that for many it evokes a personalized Satan, the idea that there is supernatural causation for misconduct.” It’s so much more appealing to believe that all misconduct can be explained in scientific terms.
Appealing? Perhaps. But fulfulling? I've known very few people that are fulfilled within in the absence of an absolute parameter of what is acceptable and what is not. Usually they seek a way to fill the absence the surety of thought and purpose would provide. Some turn to drugs, some to sex, some to food, some to criminal behavior, some to sects that preach virgens if you commit mass suicide.
Many of these people spend their lives on the couches of therapists seeking answers their therapists are not qualified to give as only NOW are they open to the possibility evil exists. In a world where terrorists slit throats, men rape babies and planes fly into buildings killing thousands you would THINK the possibility of evil would have been given credence before now.
Short list, but it gets the point across.
Look up Amalek. The Amalekites deliberately slaughtered the Jews in ancient times, by sneaking up behind them, among a laundry list of other atrocities. Amalek is another word for evil. I googled up some good sites discussing this topic. If you have time check it out.
As for the shrinks, the DSM IV eliminated pyschopath and sociopath, in favor of "antisocial personality disorder". I guess they don't want to offend anyone :/
BTTT