Understanding Evil: Examining Its Nature & Ways to Combat It - Essay Sample

Introduction

Evil refers to the absence of good and in most cases, considered to be profound wickedness or immorality(Kekes, 2019). In some circumstances, people believe that evil is used to represent supernatural forces that they assume or believe to exist(Koster, 2010). These supernatural forces are said to bring suffering or harm to those faced by them. The primary purpose of this research is to give an opinion on what evil is and ways through which evil can be combated.

Is your time best spent reading someone else’s essay? Get a 100% original essay FROM A CERTIFIED WRITER!

Save 25%

In my own opinion, evil can be defined from various points. These include the general view of evil as well as how religion views evil. In the general view, evil refers to the absence of good and in most cases seen as the cause of wickedness or immorality in the society. On the other hand, most religions view evil as attitudes, actions or even thoughts that are deemed to be contrary or against the will of God. Doing what is against the teachings of God is seen as evil, and most people condemn it as they believe that it can cause great suffering to mankind. Evil may also be referred to by others as supernatural beings or demons that affect how mankind relates to God or perform their daily activities.

How to Combat Evil

Evil can be combated or fought by different means. Different people use different strategies to defeat what they see as evil. Some evil may be combated through general approach, while some are through personal means. The following are some of the ways to fight evil.

Spiritual Warfare

Evil can be combated by engaging in spiritual battles where evil is fought. Most religions believe that if one puts God first, everything is possible. Therefore, putting trust in God ensures that he guides us and protects us against any evil that may be at our disposal (Crosswalk, 2010). Actions such as reading the bible as well as involving in prayers are an essential aspect that is crucial in ensuring that all evil is combated. When we engage ourselves in these actions, evil has no place, and it is defeated easily as all doors are closed.

Disregard Evil

This is a unique way of combating evil as one disregards evil such as temptation, anger and hatred and concentrates on the positive things (Koster, 2010). This method mainly emphasizes on ensuring that we mainly focus on the best things in life and avoid what is wrong or disregard evil that is present in our day to day life.

Having an Authentic Source of Source Concerning Facts of Evils

Many evils that occur in our day to day lives involve actions that are either related to crimes or other forms of abuses, and it is, therefore, our sole responsibility to ensure that we provide hard facts that ensure that these evils are stopped (Kekes, 2019). Proper knowledge on the facts of the various evils ensures that the evils are well dealt with and adequate strategies to deal with them made.

Striving to Do the Right Thing Always

This can be a very good way of combating evil as we understand that we are responsible for our actions and therefore should ensure that we do what is right at all times. As such, it would be very easy to combat evil because everyone pays for their mistakes or evils.

By Being Good Role Models or Leaders

Evil can be combated if people did goods deeds to others. This would ensure that people inspire others who do evil acts and by this ensure that they change their minds. If people show others the way to follow, then others will follow and abandon their old traits which were bad.

Walking Away

Evil such as fights, theft, war or even rape can be combated by actions such as walking away from the evil and ensuring that one keeps away from the evil(Koster, 2010). This is good as it ensures that people avoid involving themselves in actions that they deem bad or evil in society. Walking away ensures that people avoid temptations in engaging themselves in actions such as drugs or other evil activities that are in society.

Education

Education is a vital tool in ensuring that we combat evil. When people are well educated, they are able to make right decisions based on their knowledge, and they can make informed decisions (Neiman, 2019). Education enables that we teach children what is right and evil in society because we can shape them at an early age and lead them on the right path.

Setting Moral Standards in Society

Moral standards in the society help us set the guidelines that are to be followed by people and therefore limits have to be reached. Moral standards in the community can help in combating evil as people are required to act in specific ways which are respectable by everyone in the society (Neiman, 2019). Therefore morals can act as rules which are to be applied by everyone or otherwise they are punished, and this is very crucial in combating evil.

Conclusion

It is evident that evil describes the absence of good and often called immorality or wickedness. Therefore this evil includes actions such as war, theft, rapes and other actions in the society. They can be combated by means such as proper education, disregarding the evil, setting moral standards, spiritual warfare as well as striving to do the right things always.

References

Crosswalk. (2010, August 10). Fight Evil through Spiritual Warfare. Retrieved from https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/women/fight-evil-through-spiritual-warfare-11636178.html

Kekes, J. (2019). How Should We Respond to Evil? Hard Questions, 127-155. doi:10.1093/oso/9780190919986.003.0006

Koster, E. (2010). The Power and Limits of Stories: On the Questions "How to Cope with Evil?" and "How to Avoid Evil?". Coping with Evil in Religion and Culture. doi:10.1163/9789401205375_015

Neiman, S. (2019). What Happened to Evil? Evil, 358-382. doi:10.1093/oso/9780199915453.003.0021