Discussion»Questions»Human Behavior» Some think the love of money is the root of all evil. Others believe it is religion that religion is the root of all evil. Whatcha think?
Rosie, I think SELF-INTEREST is the root of evil. You mention money and religion, both valid points.
Money is a powerful tool for the advancement of self interest, its not hard to see why a lust for lucre can drive the evil necessary to attain more of it.
Religion, in my view, creates a landscape for the nurturing of evil. By insisting on the perpetuation of dated, often unattainable standards, under the umbrella of arcane ideals, unfathomable evil has been done or advocated in the name of this or that belief, absent rationale that we might require in any other human endeavors.
I believe these and other sources of evil (how about mental illness?) can be usually traced back to some form of my initial assertion.
Self-interest. You mean ME FIRST folks? Okay. You seem to equate standards with being religious. I don't. I think morality is something apart from religion. Right and wrong does not rely on a belief in a supernatural being. It exists apart in my opinion. If a deity says "Thou Shalt Murder Torture babies" d'ya think the worshipper would take that to heart and do so? I don't think so. But I'm gonna ask the question because I know what I think and I'd like to know what others think. I think evil is only promulgated KNOWINGLY/PURPOSELY. If someone is mentally ill he/she may have done evil but cannot be responsible. I'm gonna ask. T hank you for your reply Don B.
Don Barzini 