THE MISPERCEPTION OF EVIL

 

#1:  Context Brings Understanding

There are certain species of insects and snakes whose females consume their mates, when they have no more use for them; alpha male lions and alpha female meercats often kill and eat the cubs and pups of rivals; chimpanzees have been known to cannibalize members of opposing families; and even dolphins have been observed going on murderous rampages, killing other marine life - not for food - but purely for sport. If any human engaged in these acts, society would label those individuals “evil.” But even though we share 99% of our DNA with chimpanzees, we behold their gruesome behavior as just another day in the Darwinian jungle. Of course, none of these animals are evil. In their struggle for survival, they simply lack the capacity for human morality. For many different reasons, some of our fellow humans also struggle with morality while behaving like animals. Out of touch with their deeper self, they can’t yet see their own capacity to grow and experience life at higher levels. These people are, in a sense, spiritual children at an early stage of development. But not even their most horrific behavior can erase the dormant love and limitlessness potential inherent within them.

The implication that no one is inherently evil is a big leap. But consider the notion that evil doesn’t actually exist. Just as darkness and coldness don’t exist on their own because they’re defined by an absence of light and heat, evil doesn’t exist on its own because it’s also defined by an absence of something - love and truth.

#2:  Understanding Eclipses Experience

These spiritual and philosophical musings about evil do not negate or ignore, for example, the emotional cataclysm experienced by the family of someone who was sex trafficked or murdered. Typically, for them, not seeing their loved one’s murderer as evil is a bridge way too far. And without a colossal shift in how they understand life and death, that bridge remains unreachable. However, despite extremely difficult life circumstances, there are 2 underlying truths of reality that remain unchanged. At first, these truths may be difficult to hear; but with a willingness to perceive beyond the limits of the mind, these 2 truths become comforting: 1) There’s a nearly incomprehensible but purposeful orchestration in what we perceive as tragedy, and that orchestration centers around - not our brief physical lives - but around our growth as eternal souls… and 2) Most are unaware that we’ve all signed up for our own challenges… and that we’re all unwitting participants in each other’s difficulties for the purpose of achieving higher consciousness and greater love. These 2 truths reflect an elegantly simple system that’s also mind-blowingly complex. We start out as unconscious creators of our experience; but we’re given endless opportunities to become conscious creators. Yes, it’s hard along the way. Yes, it’s painful. But yes, it’s worth it, because despite how many lifetimes it takes, we’re all evolving toward an existence of unfathomable joy where negativity simply doesn’t exist. And with regard to a world of perceived good and evil, some souls are just further along on that evolution than others.

#3:  Reality Is Bigger Than You Think

Looking around at our world, it’s clear that we’ve got a long way to go before we can call ourselves an evolved society. And it’s not helpful to do or say nothing in the face of unevolved behavior. There’s a need to participate, and there’s certainly still a need for police officers, judges, corrections officers, and those in the military. From our cultural childhood, we can’t skip adolescence on our way to adulthood. We can, however, aspire to become more by being the change we wish to see. Notice, though, how motivation to change is diminished when we buy into the limiting perspective that reality is random and impersonal. Reality is much bigger than those small concepts, and the depth of its intelligently-designed truth is hiding in plain sight.

From the highest perspective, the joy of human evolution wouldn’t be possible without the concept of evil, simply because there would be nowhere from which to evolve. The dark consequences of evil choices serve as guideposts that encourage us to make loving choices. The bright consequences of loving choices serve as beacons that lead us to prosperity and happiness. Without the bitter cold, there would be no experience of comforting warmth. Without the ominous darkness, there would be no perception of beautiful light. The awe-inspiring night sky is made possible because of a backdrop of darkness. Observe the darkness as evil and confusion; observe the stars as love and truth. Only then will you see that both are part of the same spectacular tapestry.

 

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