Having just recently read Lance Morrow's Evil: An Investigation, I do have one point to add to the mix...
There is a well-documented historical tendency among groups of people whether by tribe, race, nationality, ideology, religion, etc. - to consider "outsiders" as sub-human. Thus, the murder, rape or subjugation of such outsiders is considered "good" to them. In their worldview, it would be “evil” not to murder, rape or subjugate the outsiders.
IMHO, the Westernized civilizations of this day and age - which was built upon Judeo/Christian values - takes the broad view that all human life is equally precious. This is not a new doctrine; the Great Commandment has always been to love God absolutely and our neighbor unconditionally (paraphrased) – but until very recent times, the “tribal” instinct was so great that even Christians wanted to pick and choose who would be their “neighbor” (to be loved) and who would be sub-human (to be destroyed).
Thankfully, the telecommunications age has made the world quite small and it is very easy to identify the groups who still hold that ancient “tribal” worldview, e.g. Islamic fundamentalists. I suspect that mankind – left to its own wisdom, without the light of Christ’s teachings – would still be dominated by such “tribal” instincts.
IMHO, the Westernized civilizations of this day and age - which was built upon Judeo/Christian values - takes the broad view that all human life is equally precious. This is not a new doctrine; the Great Commandment has always been to love God absolutely and our neighbor unconditionally (paraphrased) – but until very recent times, the “tribal” instinct was so great that even Christians wanted to pick and choose who would be their “neighbor” (to be loved) and who would be sub-human (to be destroyed).
When I think of "recent times", I think of the '90s concept of total cultural diversity as a fundamental value. Where does that come from? I thought that was a combination of a last-gasp tactic by the postmodern Left to save collectivism by making moral judgement itself seem evil, and a generational reaction to the Jim Crow era by idealistic baby boomers carrying around their ideological hammer so treasured from their youth & looking for more nails.
Thankfully, the telecommunications age has made the world quite small and it is very easy to identify the groups who still hold that ancient “tribal” worldview, e.g. Islamic fundamentalists. I suspect that mankind – left to its own wisdom, without the light of Christ’s teachings – would still be dominated by such “tribal” instincts.
Of course, one could make the argument that with a global marketplace & free trade, it becomes that much more expensive to declare someone "the other". I wonder if that has something to do with it, too? That could explain the rash of pretentious commercials for global corporations back in the late '90s, where some native tribesman intones some profoundly mystical-sounding platitude to the camera & we're supposed to be moved.
Boy, that was sooo September 10th! And yet in the long run I'm still an optimist, because Western-style civilization is, objectively speaking, so much better than the alternatives that are yet standing out there. It's just a question of how long a run one has too look to... :-)
I suspect the same, Alamo-Girl. The evolution of human consciousness began radically to change with the Incarnation, as Christ's message of love and hope was spread throughout the world. Or so it seems to me.