|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jan 24, 2010 9:41 am
|
|
|
|
Here's the premise: someone ponders on why the world sucks so much, then another person 'helpfully' responds, "there has to be a balance of good and evil in the world! Without darkness, there can be no light!"
Many people seem to take it for granted that a "balance between dark and light" is synonymous with a "balance between good and evil," and that it's some kind of cosmic force to be maintained.
What I want to know is, did this philosophy actually exist before Star Wars or the New Age movement and their concept a balance between good and evil?
I know of two 'balance between light and dark' philosophies. One is Yin/Yang, which has nothing to do with good and evil. The other is the Jewish concept of Yetzer Hatov/Yetzer Hara, which essentially refers to spiritual desire and carnal desire. As one Rabbi put it, "without Yetzer Hara, no-one would get married or build a house." With too much Yetzer Hatov, one might become so focused on the spiritual that they would no longer be able to function and contribute as a member of society, and may even commit suicide.
"Evil" therefore, is not an asset to be balanced, but rather the result of imbalance.
Now, are there actually any old (pre Star Wars/New-Age) philosophies that speak of a real, bona fide balance between good and evil, or is this just a flanderized, fluffy version of philosophies speaking of balance between 'light' and 'dark' qualities?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jan 24, 2010 10:33 am
|
|
|
|
Yanueh What I want to know is, did this philosophy actually exist before Star Wars or the New Age movement and their concept a balance between good and evil? ninja
See also Isa 45:7.
Quote: I know of two 'balance between light and dark' philosophies. One is Yin/Yang, which has nothing to do with good and evil. To say that is a bit off. In so much that one can conceptualize things in terms of Yin and Yang, one can also apply these understandings to other traditions.
Quote: "Evil" therefore, is not an asset to be balanced, but rather the result of imbalance. This isn't universally true, even within Judaism. See the above passage from the Tanakh.
And the answer to your question is yes. Though each cultural tradition likely has an opinion as to the nature of evil that doesn't always translate well.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jan 24, 2010 10:58 am
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jan 24, 2010 11:44 am
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jan 24, 2010 12:03 pm
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jan 24, 2010 12:16 pm
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jan 24, 2010 12:20 pm
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jan 24, 2010 12:38 pm
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jan 24, 2010 12:46 pm
|
|
|
|
Yanueh Quote: They understood that such power can be used for good and evil. Exactly. What I'm referring to is an apparent oversimplification of these types of philosophies wherein creation/destruction, light/dark, etc. seem to be conflated with good/evil, whereas originally such things seem to have been treated as neutral in and of themselves, rather than inherent forces of good and evil.
Well...it depends on what you're talking about. In the case of Set, he can be both. Magical power too can be used for both and is neutral. Apep, though, is inherently evil as a personification of darkness and chaos. And as an evil being he must be fought against daily, lest he destroy everything.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jan 24, 2010 2:27 pm
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jan 24, 2010 3:19 pm
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jan 24, 2010 4:01 pm
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jan 24, 2010 4:48 pm
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jan 24, 2010 11:45 pm
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|