Neither.
Every person has the same potential for "good" as they do for "bad".
Really? Even the ones who are born without the ability to discern the difference?
Study sociopaths. They have no conscience so I think the odds are stacked against people like that.
What about the abused, the sexually abused, the ones with no chance at any role models. Those souls have obstacles that are not just met with some pat answer.
Some have no potential at all. Some were born with no chance. NONE.
Not all of us have the ability to even know what right is.
I pray you never are placed it that type of position. I'm sure you are safe by now, but many never make it and do not have the luxury of a healthy brain.
Even those situations you give as examples, have equal potential for "good" or "bad".
EG: Sociopaths.
Lack of empathy/sympathy to others does not mean you are going to go on a killing spree.
When it comes down to it, we all decide whether or not we will follow society's idea of "good" or "bad".
There were children of wealthy parents in the 1970's and 1980's who went to Lebanon, in order to kill people just for the "fun" of it.
These kids were not abused ... they were bored.
I could use killing someone as an example, if people prefer that.
Even the Ten Commandments of the Bible don't forbid killing another person ... they forbid murder.
In fact, the Bible actually tells people when they are *supposed* to kill someone.
My point is that you can't judge a potential for "good" or "bad", unless you define exactly what constitutes those ideals.
Yep.
The only protection for the child, is if the child says "no".
But they don't have "statutory rape", because they don't have an "age of consent".
If that is "why we have religion" ... then why do most of them teach that their religion is the ONLY way? And encourage followers to disrespect others, even to the point of killing them? And even oppress (women) within the religion?
Sorry. It just seems to me that religion is more about giving people an excuse to disrespect others who are different.