Evil or Ignorance?

There is no such thing as evil, only ignorance.

Irina Tweedie

Brother Teasdale gives us this valuable background and explanation of this statement in these words: “Calling our enemies evil is always easier than looking at the root cause of heir actions.

Irina Tweedie, author of Daughter of Fire, presents us with an Eastern understanding of evil and sin. The philosophies of the East reject the notion of an ontological evil;

that there is a source of evil, or that persons actually embrace evil for themselves or willingly become instruments of this ugly reality, no matter what form it takes. Properly speaking, no person, no matter how depraved, chooses evil for its own sake.

When a person decides on an evil action or course, it is because they see some good in it for themselves. The problem is that their choice is saturated by their own ignorance: of the nature of good itself, of the necessity not to harm others, and of how their actions ultimately harm not only their enemies but themselves. Evil is so conceived is always a matter of ignorance.”

When the concept of evil was first presented to me as a child, it was a clear duality of good vs. evil; and even to the point of using a Dante/Miltonian worldview, so we can include a Devil in the whole cause and effect!

Much later, as I furthered my studies towards understanding symbolism, projection, and other insights within depth psychology, the opposite emphasis became more attractive. The “New Age” philosophy was accused of dismissing evil for a more “Pollyanna ” outlook on life!

Such optimism, or better yet, such personal responsibility for one’s own reality stood in defiant opposition too much of what Christian dogma, duality and division, and mainline theological conclusions wanted to reinforce.

In seminary, the topic of evil was not really discussed in any comprehensive way, and theology itself wrapped itself up protectively within the enigma of Theodicy. Overall, evil, if it were talked about, was gingerly discussed and obtusely referenced as being an awkward topic for any religiously liberal or progressive approach to religion to include in any serious way. We, who were the more progressive clergy, were “rescued” by making evil a psychological dimension or motivation for self-serving behavior…

While the motivations and desires of the ego can be used to cover much of the discussion, it is important to look at the ontological question. It is one of the principal areas of contrast between Eastern religious thought and Western religious dogma and teachings.

My own Christian perspectives were largely informed by my earlier Buddhist studies, and later in my more in depth, through my investigations into Greek and Russian Orthodox teachings vs. Roman or Western Catholic theological ideas. From them, I came to agree more with the Eastern viewpoint that it was ignorance over evil; that ignorance and/or arrogance were the source of much of the nefarious, greedy, self-serving, and cruel actions in our world; and that here was no Deity pulling those strings or creating the havoc in our lives through His capricious whims!

As I see it, these twin human flaws of ignorance and arrogance create much of the mischief and contributed much of the despair, indignities, and injustices we find in our world today.

The solutions to this is less about prayer-unless prayer is considered to be divinely inspired attitude adjustment making us more compassionate, caring etc..

The emphasis needs to center itself on spiritual transformation and ethical empowerment when we own or realize that God (however you define that word… Source of Righteousness, etc.) gave we humans the ability and the responsibility to deal with the evils we have within us; and the ability to recognize and lessen those toxic beliefs that are reinforced within our community and national groups.

There is a quote from St. Theresa of Avila that connects this more vividly. She exclaimed that [our eyes are how God sees us, our hands are how God touches and heals us…]