This post is about moral evil and follows the previous post about natural evil.

Moral evil is the result of an agent who has the capability to create harm, pain and suffering. We are all familiar with the pain, physical and/or emotional that others may have caused us.  On a larger scale we know of the many dictators who caused unbelievable suffering and death to millions. Probably most of these dictators did not believe that there was a God taking note of what havoc they were creating.

Both atheists and theists can agree that moral evil exists but differ in their belief on what causes it. Both see our human condition and all the problems that can be caused by wrong thinking. Education and counselling ,of course, is available that can hopefully lessen harm to self and to others. However, there is one major difference between the belief systems of atheism and theism.

The problem with the atheistic perspective, about moral evil, is that it does not allow for incorporeal existence of any kind. No Supreme Being, no evil spiritual beings or benevolent ones. Those who hold this belief have not gone to where the evidence is. This evidence was clearly laid out in a previous post or two. Just as it is impossible to prove that God does not exist, so it is impossible to prove that incorporeal beings do not exist. Those holding to atheism need to do the research and go where the evidence leads. Avoiding information that is available is hardly scientific.

One reliable source of information about the beginning of moral evil is given in the Christian scriptures. Much has been said about Adam and Eve and the error they made in the Garden of Eden, but to understand the source of moral evil one needs to go back in time, presumably before their appearance.

Lucifer, later called Satan, was created the most beautiful and powerful angel. This resulted in arrogance and to his downfall as quoted below.

“You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to the heavens. I will raise my throne to above the stars of God….”(Isaiah 14:13).

“How you have fallen from heaven, morning star of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth”. (Isaiah 14:12).

According to Revelation 12:9 there was a war in heaven, “And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil and Satan, which deceives the whole world, he was cast out to the earth and his angels were cast out with him”.

Now that Satan and his angel followers were turfed out of heaven and have access to our earth, what is their goal? Jesus as quoted in John 10:10, said, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy”. Further the scriptures say, “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8)

It would seem, based on scripture, that certainly some moral evil is due to the influence of the evil one and his evil followers. One need only observe current events to see that something evil is transpiring caused by what Jesus explained, as quoted in John 10:10 above.

Jesus in John 10:10 is also quoted as saying, “I have come that they may have life and that they may have it more abundantly “. This Jesus can do because of his death on the cross and his resurrection.

In the Lords Prayer there is a portion that says, “deliver us from evil”. Some translations say, “deliver us from the evil one”.

God can forgive us and deliver us if we ask him to! Do research and follow where the evidence takes you.