What have I just read???

Some of the news is beyond belief now and I for one would be happy to see the death penalty dished out to these monsters.
I can't read much of what's written about these sub-humans, like little Arthur's murderers.
Unless there's a harsher deterrent instead of lolling in prison and having meals served regularly, it'll continue.

Interesting article in the Guardian today by Jonathan Freedland questioning why we don't seem to wan to accept that human beings can do such awful things to each other. We want to believe that we can prevent these things happening by either better safeguarding or by harsh punishment. Can we though? Or can evil never be eradicated?

Fully agree tickingbird.

Some people are beyond redemption or rehabilitation, in my opinion.
Very few, and who knows why?
Nature or nurture?
I'm clear in my mind what should happen to them.

Ilovecheese. I’d be interested to read that article. I think he’s right. As ‘normal’ people we can’t conceive of such evil but it is true that many people in the world are capable of despicable and abominable behaviour and I don’t believe we can eradicate it. We can try and it’s easy to say these people are mentally ill but I don’t believe they are, they’re just rotten to the core.

MissAdventure

Some people are beyond redemption or rehabilitation, in my opinion.
Very few, and who knows why?
Nature or nurture?
I'm clear in my mind what should happen to them.

This, absolutely. There are no depths to which some humans will not sink - and there are no excuses which can be made for such evil.

The Guardian article is on the "opinion " section of the Guardian website. There is no paywall, sorry I've not worked out how to do links.

Look what Hitler did to the jews and his political opponents, look at what the Miyanmar army are doing to the Rohingya, what ISIS did to the Yazidi. the list is endless.

Why is it so much worse when we hear of one person doing to another person, regardless of age, what groups of people do to groups of people, including children.

Evil and good are both inherent in human nature. This is why in Christianity, while Jesus Christ tried to lead people into good and loving ways, he had always to contend with the devil.

So why would any loving 'god' allow such evil to take place? This is a question which I have asked many, many times over the years, and to which no-one has ever been able to come up with a satisfactory answer. Did 'god' not make man in his own image, and if so, does that not mean 'god' is inherently evil too?

When Adam and Eve were made they were given free will to decide what to do and how to do it and take the consequences. Hence their ejection from paradise went they ate the apple they were told not to eat.

I have never believed that God interfered directly in peoples lives, all you can do is ask for his grace and wisdom to guide you in your decisions.

So many things people ask God to do act to disadvantage to other people. Whenever people pray to get a job, get to the right university and so on, it mean that if granted, someone else fails. If you believe in a loving God, he soon becomes a transactional God; if you help me pass this exam, I will give money to charity, never drink again or whatever.

Once God has given us free will, he has stepped back from interfering in our lives. It is just when things go people's way they thank god, and if it doesn't they abuse him. I think the best sign of his ultimate wisdom was his decision to step back and not get involved.

Monica. To that I would add the genocide in Rwanda - truly horrific. What horrors those people suffered and I don’t think the monster responsible for orchestrating it has been brought to book yet.

Blondiescot. I have a dear friend who has been brought up in a strong Catholic family and she doesn’t believe anyone is evil only the deeds they do are evil. She’s always been very idealistic but how can anyone carry out such vile, evil acts but themselves not be evil?

God has never promised perfection in this life. No where does it say in the Bible we will have this. It is only in the next life, should we choose it.

He could have made us all like perfect little robots. Following Him, but not knowing why. He didn’t. He gave us choice....and we have our lifetime on earth to make it. We either choose to follow Jesus....or not.

In the meantime, He doesn’t interfere. That’s why we pray. Satan is responsible for the bad things. The hard bit is getting people to believe it.

I too am a catholic and would love to believe that no one is inherently evil, but we know that people are born with psychopathic and socialpathic personalities that can sometimes lead to them to act in terrible ways because they have no empathy with other people. We know that if people are lumped into groups: jews, homosexuals, women, they can be seen to be 'other', sub-human, that under peer or mob pressure people will willingly to act in all kinds of violent ways. The genocide in Ruanda is a classic example of that.

Even if you do separate the doer from the deed. they must still do reparation for those deeds, even if it means a life in prison.

DiscoDancer1975
"In the meantime, He doesn’t interfere. That’s why we pray. Satan is responsible for the bad things. The hard bit is getting people to believe it."

Oh please, so he can just sit there and wash his hands of all the evil and blame 'satan'? How convenient.
I just cannot for the life of me comprehend how anyone can see such horrendous, evil acts and yet still believe in some supposedly all-loving 'god' - and I'm talking about all so-called gods of whatever religion.
And please don't tell me it's all for some supposed higher purpose after we all kick the bucket. Allowing innocent children to suffer horrendous pain and torment is just evil, pure and simple. A loving 'god' could stop that...hence why no-one has been able to answer my question, and never will.

Simply there is no such thing as a loving god, but the concept is used by people, both sides of the altar rail to justify unreasonable demands.

Ok then...so people are quite happy to go on believing in some mythical omnipotent being who allows horrendous evil and atrocities to take place.

Blondiescot

DiscoDancer1975
"In the meantime, He doesn’t interfere. That’s why we pray. Satan is responsible for the bad things. The hard bit is getting people to believe it."

Oh please, so he can just sit there and wash his hands of all the evil and blame 'satan'? How convenient.
I just cannot for the life of me comprehend how anyone can see such horrendous, evil acts and yet still believe in some supposedly all-loving 'god' - and I'm talking about all so-called gods of whatever religion.
And please don't tell me it's all for some supposed higher purpose after we all kick the bucket. Allowing innocent children to suffer horrendous pain and torment is just evil, pure and simple. A loving 'god' could stop that...hence why no-one has been able to answer my question, and never will.

I know it’s hard to grasp. You’re in the camp of many more than I am. It took me until I was 35. The picture is so much bigger than what we see. It’s only because of God....that we’re able to recognise evil.

Sorry I can’t put it better than that, not in words anyway.

People who commit these acts are inherently evil. At the other end of the scale are those who are inherently good and kind. We don't hear of them so much.
I just feel that people follow their own path. Some become monsters, others carers.
Nothing to do with God if you are a believer.

DiscoDancer1975

Blondiescot

DiscoDancer1975
"In the meantime, He doesn’t interfere. That’s why we pray. Satan is responsible for the bad things. The hard bit is getting people to believe it."

Oh please, so he can just sit there and wash his hands of all the evil and blame 'satan'? How convenient.
I just cannot for the life of me comprehend how anyone can see such horrendous, evil acts and yet still believe in some supposedly all-loving 'god' - and I'm talking about all so-called gods of whatever religion.
And please don't tell me it's all for some supposed higher purpose after we all kick the bucket. Allowing innocent children to suffer horrendous pain and torment is just evil, pure and simple. A loving 'god' could stop that...hence why no-one has been able to answer my question, and never will.

I know it’s hard to grasp. You’re in the camp of many more than I am. It took me until I was 35. The picture is so much bigger than what we see. It’s only because of God....that we’re able to recognise evil.

Sorry I can’t put it better than that, not in words anyway.

You don't need to. I was dragged along to church by my grandmother for many years, read my bible etc etc. As soon as I was old enough to start asking questions, which never got satisfactory answers, I saw through it all.

Some people are beyond redemption or rehabilitation, in my opinion.
Very few, and who knows why?
Nature or nurture?
I'm clear in my mind what should happen to them.

Me too.

Some people are inherently evil. Why do some feel they have to do it in the name of a god, God’s will etc? Probably means their conscience is clear as they see it! Human kind baffles me which is why I look after those I love and who love me first and foremost. Innocent people who are abused and killed, of any age, deserve justice, any kind.

It is a depressing thought though isn't it, that try as we might, either by education or by harsh punishment, nothing we do can prevent evil acts.

Link to the Jonathan Freedland article
www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/dec/31/ghislaine-maxwell-case-question-why-human-wickedness?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

Thank you for the link.