A thought on Evolution

[Lara]

I don't believe God created the world, nor do I believe we all started as a single celled organism, frankly I don't know how we began, because there is no proof to anything, it is all just theory. Evil comes from the workings of our own minds, we all have evil thoughts, most of us just don't act upon them. That is why people enjoy reading and watching horror so much, it exercises that part of the mind. What do you consider to be the grey areas of society Stan? Isn't every society, every country, every nation full of grey areas? There are no absolutes in this life, nothing is clear. And atrocities are not just a modern dilemma, people have committed such acts upon other living beings for as long as anyone can fathom.

[the ring]

to relate anything, however, by implication, to the industrial genocide of world war II undermines everything that was unique about it----and it is slowly becoming more and more trivialized. the survivors of the holocaust have almost all died off, the term itself has become something of a cliche. we aren't simply perpetuating the same atrocities committed by our ancestors. we've dropped atomic bombs and developed nuclear missiles. the terror is out there, it is real, not just thoughts in a person's mind.

[Lara]

Hey Ring,
Was your last post a response to my post? Now you have me confused. I didn't say anything about WWII and I didn't imply that atrocities were only in the mind. I said that most people don't act on their thoughts, and how does a thread on evolution jump to WWII? I was simply giving what Stan asked for, thoughts on evolution and other ideas in his post. I think WWII is not to be trivialized in any way. If you have more to say on this particular subject, maybe we should move it to general chat.

Cheers,
Lara

[the ring]

Originally posted by Lara
Evil comes from the workings of our own minds, we all have evil thoughts, most of us just don't act upon them. [. . .] And atrocities are not just a modern dilemma, people have committed such acts upon other living beings for as long as anyone can fathom.

I couldn't disagree more.

[the ring]

atrocities like the persian wars and the crusades pale in comparison to the bolshevik revolution, the holocaust, both atomic impacts and the nuclear arms race.

[Lara]

Ring, I have no control over how you or anyone interprets and perceives anything I say. If offense is taken, my apologies.

Are you thinking that I'm thinking evil is just imagined? That's not what I'm saying. I'm saying that the horrible things that happen in the world are created by human beings, hence, it comes from the mind. Our own little brains think up these crazy things and some people, like Hitler, take these thoughts and create them into real atrocities. So I don't know if we're just totally misunderstanding each other, however, if you wish to strongly disagree with what I say, by all means, you have a right to.

Cheers,
Lara

[atiguhya padma]

Earthquakes, hurricanes, volcanic eruptions etc don't come from human minds. They might come from the mind of God though.

[Isagel]

Originally posted by Lara
Evil comes from the workings of our own minds, we all have evil thoughts, most of us just don't act upon them.
---

And atrocities are not just a modern dilemma, people have committed such acts upon other living beings for as long as anyone can fathom.

I agree with you. Reminds me of a qoute from Conrad " The belief in a source of supernatural evil is not necessary. Man alone is quite capable of every wickedness". I diagree with the Ring when he says that comparing the Holocaust with old cruelty is making it smaller. I think that it is important that we compare the cruelty in the nazi era and the way they stop looking at jews (and homosexuals, or communists, Jehovas witnesses, criminals or anybody that did not fit the regim) as human beings with our own tendency to do the same. If we understand this process - how we start to perceive people as things and not humans- we might prevent a new holocaust. If we can find the connection between the history and today perhaps we might find a cure, a liberation.


And sorry , I guess this has nothing to do with evolution. Could not help myself.

[Lara]

Getting off topic, but I can't help myself either. Well said Isagel. It seems societies way of thinking rarely changes. Apparently, just a little over a century ago, Oscar Wilde had a homosexual affair and was convicted for indecency and went to prison for two years. Maybe people don't go to prison now, but such convictions still exist.

You are right Atiguhya, I was only thinking of the harm people do unto others with my statement, however, at the risk of delving into religion with you :-), I don't believe those come from God, and if anyone does, that is their choice to do so and I respect that choice.

[atiguhya padma]

These natural disasters are 'designed' into the very structure of Earth. If there is a designer, then they are a by-product of that design.

[Lara]

That's an interesting view Atiguhya.

[atiguhya padma]

Thank you, Lara

[atiguhya padma]

On behalf of the view, that is

It is an interesting question, as to what claim we can ever make on our thoughts. I mean where do they come from? How do we get them? and why on earth do we think they 'belong' to us? And where do they go to?

Have you ever tried to track a thought?

[Lara]

Now you're making my head spin. That's where my thoughts go, in a whirlwind in my brain. And sometimes, because I like to write I get some of those thoughts on paper, just sometimes. Your questions have given me something to ponder.

[Stanislaw]

Sorry to interpose...

In respone to the grey areas question, I mean most people.
All people do some bad stuff and some good stuff in their life, Iwas using grey because it is a mix of blakc and white, symbolic of good and evil, no one today is 100% evil, nor is anyone 100% good, so ther is a kind of grey area, a mass of people who are neither, neutral if you wish, some just lean more to one side than the other or jump back and forth.

And autrocities in modern era, was a poor choice of words, I agree, however, I am trying to formulate a solution, no proof for or against except opinion. Grey, I guess that is what life is.