Evil is a state of mind that rejects God. It is not something where God excluded Himself. It is an act of will, free will, whether it be demonic or human.
Indeed. That it is. But how is it different from absence of light, if you recall that in order to create that absence a barrier to light must be erected?
We agree that Satan is "very real, tangible and substantial", and not mere absence of good. We should nevertheless steer clear of the manichean duality which would place evil/Satan on the same ontological level as good/God.
It is a not a mere absence of light. I think Kolo made that point clear.
We should nevertheless steer clear of the manichean duality which would place evil/Satan on the same ontological level as good/God
I don't think anyone was trying to do such a thing on this Forum as far as I can tell. Evil is a product of free will and is, ironically, a proof that free will does exist (and is a gift from God). For, if God controls our will, then it is not free, and man cannot be evil.
The truth is that we can reject God, but that this temporal and earthly "triumph" is an illusion, because we intrinsically know that everything material is corruptible and will succumb to time by dying and decaying.
Evil exists only by our will and the will of fallen angels, and not but the will of God.