E is for Evil, or Lack there of

E is for Evil, or Lack there of - Pagan Blog Project - Week 9

                When we hear the word evil, we are often reminded of red horned imps or the vile antagonistic characters of literature or popular movies. Quite often, these characters lack any real substance of even a personality beyond that nebulous description – evil. These characters are fueled by broad motives like ruling or destroying the world or amassing copious amounts of wealth or power. I often ponder just to what extent Christians believe in the concept of Satan. Do they truly believe there is a being out there vying for their downfall, leading them toward their misdeeds, and pitting them against God?

                I think many of us pagans and witches do not believe in an ultimate evil, or the concept of a being that encompasses all that is wrong in the world. We do not seek to blame our shortcomings on an imaginary puppet master, but instead take personal responsibility for all that we do. We may give thanks for our blessings, or mourn our misfortunes. We may applaud the joyous outcome of our hard work, or curse our failures, but we realize that these things are our own.

When I look at the gods and guides that I follow, I find only nature. Bast is a protector, a fearsome lioness. Her cubs are well versed in the tenderness and security of her love, but I wouldn't want to be on the receiving end of those claws. Phoenix burns with pure passion and will, but his flame can be dangerous. My gods are not shining epitomes of purity, nor are they devilish miscreants set on a path of destruction. There is both good and bad in the cycles and systems of life. A rainstorm can make a crop thrive, but a tsunami can destroy a home or even take lives. Fire can do the same, but we can also celebrate the flame for its warmth and cheer on a cold winter night. While these situations can yield good tidings, they can also be destructive. A rabbit may die in the fangs of the wolf, but the wolf is rewarded with life. But Lily, you say, what of senseless death? To what purpose does murder serve? Why do people lie and cheat and steal?

                I’m not sure there is a purpose, but there is most certainly a reason behind it, and I refuse to pin that reason upon a vague term like evil, or a cowardly concept like Satan. Looking at a more recent tragic event, the Sandy Hook School shooting - I have heard countless people labeling Adam Lanza as evil and condemning him to hell. My heart goes out to the families most certainly, but I simply cannot agree with the clamoring masses. His actions were atrocious and sickening, but when I think about the man behind the actions, or anyone who has committed a similar crime, all I can muster beyond sorrow for the senselessness of the crime is simple pity. People are not monsters, but the product of their environment and experiences. But Lily, you chime in again, what of this free will thing you mentioned earlier? What about taking responsibility for your own actions? People suffering from mental illnesses, biologically, psychologically, or environmentally derived, sometimes lack the ability to reason. That’s not to say that every person suffering from depression or bi-polar disorder has the capacity to commit heinous crimes, but there are some disorders which can vastly skew a person’s reasoning and ability to problem solve.

                I came across a story some time ago, about a 40 year old man who’d been a public school teacher. He’d never displayed any deviant qualities, but quite suddenly became obsessed with child pornography. His urges became progressively worse until he was sent to rehabilitation after “making advances toward his stepdaughter”. The behavior persisted, even in the hospital. The rehabilitation failed, and a day before his prison sentencing, he showed up at a hospital claiming he was unable to control himself. It turns out that the man had an egg sized tumor in his brain that was pressed “against the prefrontal lobe…, the area responsible for self-restraint.” After the tumor was removed, his personality reverted to its normal state. A year later, the man began to show the same troubling signs, had another MRI, and found that the tumor had begun to regrow. Again, they removed the tumor, and again, he returned to his old self.

I just couldn't help myself! >.>

While I’m certain this is not the cause in every case, it does make one reconsider the knee-jerk reaction of auto-labeling someone as evil. My awareness of this and other mental illnesses has greatly changed my opinion of people and their actions. We find abnormalities in nature – cancer, disease, and various conditions. I can provide no solid answer as to why these things occur, but I simply cannot attribute it to some form of ultimate evil.