Who Decides Good and Evil?

[Daisy]

You are are looking at abstractions. Consider each actual situation. The individual people. Then is is easy to know what is good or evil.

Nope...we are talking about good and evil...

 

[craig]

Nope...we are talking about good and evil...

Good and evil only make sense when applied to what people do to other people. The only evil is what you do to someone else. The only good is what you do to someone else.

 

[Evilroddy]

Satan convinced Eve she could determine good and evil on her own without God's help.

“For God knows that when you eat from [the tree] your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” ~ the Serpent, Genesis 3:5

So Eve decided that the forbidden fruit was not forbidden. It was not bad for her; it was good for her. And she ate it. It tasted good, and it brought death, decay, insecurity, injustice, murder, and every imaginable evil into her world (Genesis 3).

Satan lied—she could not determine good from evil on her own.

Sadly, throughout history Satan has continued to deceive people with this lie.

He has convinced some people to create pagan gods to define good and evil. He convinced others to deny God and depend on their human intellect. And he's actively convincing modern ex-vangelicals to define good and evil in ways that make them popular with the world.

Romans 1:16-32 explains what happens when people decide good and evil on their own.

So let's remember this important truth: If every person on earth disagreed with God's commands, every person on earth would be wrong. Period.
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https://biblelovenotes.blogspot.com/2021/10/who-decides-good-and-evil.html

Elora:

I know I am going to regret asking this, but if humans were never to know the difference between good and evil, then how did your God expect them to tow his line? This is even more difficult to understand when the alleged spirit you call Satan was actually given the mission of tempting mortals into corruption by your God, to test their worthiness and to root out corruption, according to your holy scriptures. It's hard to not be corrupt if you cannot differentiate between good and evil. Eden was a Catch-22, a term ironically popularised globally by the author Joseph Heller.

There is another branch of Christians who believe the god you invoke was corrupt and that the spirit you name Satan was his lieutenant. They call your God of the Old Testament Rex Mundi and see him as the prime driver of evil because Rex Mundi was spiritually tainted by the material world. The God they worship is the untainted god of the spiritual world. The early Hebrew name for God's lieutenant of corruption came from the root word "s-t-n" and then it meant "something which opposes, obstructs, or acts as an adversary." Perhaps you have been beguiled by Rex Mundi or his lieutenant and serve the adversary yourself. I admit that this is unlikely however because this is all just superstition in my estimation. But perhaps you should ask a Cathar Perfect, just in case. Tempting, isn't it?

More likely the concepts of "good", "evil" and the concepts of gods/God were created personally by individual humans as moral goalposts in heirarchical bands/clans and by larger groups and later civilisations as ethical standards by which to control and organise the people within early societies to better behave cooperatively.

Now who created the gods/God? That's a question for the ages!

Cheers and be well.
Evilroddy - just another pesky obstacle in your mission and journey of faith.

 

[Daisy]

then how did your God expect them to tow his line?

Simple...man was created to rely on His Creator for direction...that privilege does not belong to us...

"I well know, O Jehovah, that man’s way does not belong to him.
It does not belong to man who is walking even to direct his step." Jeremiah 10:23

This is even more difficult to understand when the alleged spirit you call Satan was actually given the mission of tempting mortals into corruption by your God, to test their worthiness and to root out corruption, according to your holy scriptures.

Well, there's your problem, right there...Jehovah created a perfect angel who decided to rebel against God...Satan is God's enemy...

"and the enemy who sowed them is the Devil. The harvest is a conclusion of a system of things, and the reapers are angels." Matthew 13:39

As well as ours...

"Keep your senses, be watchful! Your adversary, the Devil, walks about like a roaring lion, seeking to devour someone." 1 Peter 5:8

As for the rest of your post, people believe lots of things...I choose to get my beliefs from God's Word...

Cheers and be well.
Evilroddy - just another pesky obstacle in your mission and journey of faith.

lol...you too, my always respectful fellow poster...

 

[phoenix2020]

Satan convinced Eve she could determine good and evil on her own without God's help.

“For God knows that when you eat from [the tree] your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” ~ the Serpent, Genesis 3:5

So Eve decided that the forbidden fruit was not forbidden. It was not bad for her; it was good for her. And she ate it. It tasted good, and it brought death, decay, insecurity, injustice, murder, and every imaginable evil into her world (Genesis 3).

Satan lied—she could not determine good from evil on her own.

Sadly, throughout history Satan has continued to deceive people with this lie.

He has convinced some people to create pagan gods to define good and evil. He convinced others to deny God and depend on their human intellect. And he's actively convincing modern ex-vangelicals to define good and evil in ways that make them popular with the world.

Romans 1:16-32 explains what happens when people decide good and evil on their own.

So let's remember this important truth: If every person on earth disagreed with God's commands, every person on earth would be wrong. Period.
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https://biblelovenotes.blogspot.com/2021/10/who-decides-good-and-evil.html

To answer your question, those who claim to have sole authority as to what is good or evil, and those who follow them, are Evil.

Everybody else retains the possibility to be Good.

What's the next question? So far we've only gotten the easy ones from you. Please give us something more challenging... if you're not aware, third-rate evangelism is a form of sloth, Sloth is a Sin, and I'm concerned that your post, at face value and by this metric, is deeply sinful. That said, it's your soul, and my buddy Jesus and I are totally cool with you doing what you gotta do!

 

[Airyaman]

So, what is wrong with Communism? What is wrong with Atheism? What is wrong with Socialism?

For the people living (or lived) under communism or socialism, who is to say? Others simply make judgements of these systems based on their own learned set of "values".

Atheism is nothing more than non-belief in any deities. That is it. Outside of that one commonality, there is nothing in atheism that guides how one views "evil" or "good" other than their social values learned from those around them.

 

[Airyaman]

???

 

[weaver2]

So Eve decided that the forbidden fruit was not forbidden. It was not bad for her; it was good for her. And she ate it. It tasted good, and it brought death, decay, insecurity, injustice, murder, and every imaginable evil into her world (Genesis 3). Satan lied—she could not determine good from evil on her own.

Satan did not lie. Mankind can tell good from evil perfectly well. The problem is that mankind doesn't want to stop doing the evil that is bringing in wealth or giving them pleasure. And that misogynistic little Eve smear tale the Israelites cooked up to furthur justify their denigration of women as inferior and unclean is evil.

 

[Dragonfly]

???

It's a weak meme that insinuates the "end of time".
Midnight is the "end of time", and according to some lovely religious folks we're coming to the end. Just seconds away.

 

[tosca1]

Satan convinced Eve she could determine good and evil on her own without God's help.

“For God knows that when you eat from [the tree] your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” ~ the Serpent, Genesis 3:5

So Eve decided that the forbidden fruit was not forbidden. It was not bad for her; it was good for her. And she ate it. It tasted good, and it brought death, decay, insecurity, injustice, murder, and every imaginable evil into her world (Genesis 3).

Satan lied—she could not determine good from evil on her own.

Sadly, throughout history Satan has continued to deceive people with this lie.

He has convinced some people to create pagan gods to define good and evil. He convinced others to deny God and depend on their human intellect. And he's actively convincing modern ex-vangelicals to define good and evil in ways that make them popular with the world.

Romans 1:16-32 explains what happens when people decide good and evil on their own.

So let's remember this important truth: If every person on earth disagreed with God's commands, every person on earth would be wrong. Period.
------------------------
https://biblelovenotes.blogspot.com/2021/10/who-decides-good-and-evil.html

Satan had successfully managed to convince some Christians that Jesus Christ is not God (a trickery to idolatry), and that no fearsome place called hell awaits sinners for eternal torment (a trickery to carry on! Nothing to fear)........................

...........................and therefore, had made some of us blind to the evil act of disobedience.


By insisting to spread satanic teachings and mislead others................................. don't we contradict and disobey the Words of God?


We can't keep using Eve as an example of disobedience - like as if disobedience has happened only in that garden - when we've got examples right in our current environment.
All kinds of disobedience!


The disobedience of Adam and Eve has gotten us into this mess.
But we've been given hope - in CHRIST!
So, never mind that sin of Adam and Eve. No need to keep raking it up!
We've been redeemed!


Worry about our CURRENT DISOBEDIENCE!
Because.....there won't be any future Messiah coming to die for us again!


Let's help one another - and try not to blow this hope we've got.

 

[tosca1]

Satan convinced Eve she could determine good and evil on her own without God's help.

“For God knows that when you eat from [the tree] your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” ~ the Serpent, Genesis 3:5

So Eve decided that the forbidden fruit was not forbidden. It was not bad for her; it was good for her. And she ate it. It tasted good, and it brought death, decay, insecurity, injustice, murder, and every imaginable evil into her world (Genesis 3).

Satan lied—she could not determine good from evil on her own.

Sadly, throughout history Satan has continued to deceive people with this lie.

He has convinced some people to create pagan gods to define good and evil. He convinced others to deny God and depend on their human intellect. And he's actively convincing modern ex-vangelicals to define good and evil in ways that make them popular with the world.

Romans 1:16-32 explains what happens when people decide good and evil on their own.

So let's remember this important truth: If every person on earth disagreed with God's commands, every person on earth would be wrong. Period.
------------------------
https://biblelovenotes.blogspot.com/2021/10/who-decides-good-and-evil.html

We're supposed to learn from it, like we're supposed to learn from all the disobedience done by God's chosen people - thus, isn't that why we were given the history in the Old Testament?
To know where God is coming from. TO UNDERSTAND what is required from us! To UNDERSTAND OUR GOD!

So - why aren't we learning from it?
What's the point of study if we don't apply what we've learned?

 

[tosca1]

double posting.

 

[Gordy327]

So, what is wrong with Communism?

People like to own stuff.

What is wrong with Atheism?

Nothing.

What is wrong with Socialism?

People don't like to give their stuff to other people.

 

[tosca1]

People like to own stuff.

Nothing.

People don't like to give their stuff to other people.

EH?

People like to own stuff. Period. That's not exclusive to Communism!

And what's wrong with Socialism?
Lol - they TAKE YOURS to give it away to others!
It also feeds on covetousness and envy.

Both Communism and Socialism, do away with God.

 

[Gordy327]

EH?

People like to own stuff. Period. That's not exclusive to Communism!

Communism limits that opportunity. Thats whats wrong with it. Apparently you did not glean that from my reply.

Lol - they TAKE YOURS to give it away to others!
It also feeds on covetousness and envy.

That is what I implied in my reply.

Both Communism and Socialism, do away with God.

So? Not seeing a problem there. That might be the one thing they get right.

 

[OrphanSlug]

"Good and evil," or right and wrong, have always been human constructs. The concept of these things predates monotheism.

 

[Daisy]

???

Because it works so well, right?

 

[Dragonfly]

Because it works so well, right?

How well was it working 1000 years ago?

 

[ataraxia]

Satan convinced Eve she could determine good and evil on her own without God's help.

“For God knows that when you eat from [the tree] your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” ~ the Serpent, Genesis 3:5

So Eve decided that the forbidden fruit was not forbidden. It was not bad for her; it was good for her. And she ate it. It tasted good, and it brought death, decay, insecurity, injustice, murder, and every imaginable evil into her world (Genesis 3).

Satan lied—she could not determine good from evil on her own.

Sadly, throughout history Satan has continued to deceive people with this lie.

He has convinced some people to create pagan gods to define good and evil. He convinced others to deny God and depend on their human intellect. And he's actively convincing modern ex-vangelicals to define good and evil in ways that make them popular with the world.

Romans 1:16-32 explains what happens when people decide good and evil on their own.

So let's remember this important truth: If every person on earth disagreed with God's commands, every person on earth would be wrong. Period.
------------------------
https://biblelovenotes.blogspot.com/2021/10/who-decides-good-and-evil.html

We learn from consequences, not divine revelation.

For example, many people used to quote scripture to prove why it was wrong to let women vote, or work, or even drive. They told us there would be ""death, decay, insecurity, injustice, murder, and every imaginable evil". But we did it anyway, and the consequences have been OK.

We are now experimenting with giving gay people some rights and freedoms. Will there be "death, decay, insecurity, injustice, murder, and every imaginable evil"? I don't see how, but maybe. If so, we will stop. We will have learned a lesson. But if not- then hey, what's the problem?

If gays get more rights and they find even more social acceptance, then I'm sure religious people will find a way to "correctly interpret" their scripture so they can say that's what it was saying all along anyway. They are very clever and imaginative in "correctly interpreting" their scripture to have it coming out saying a wide range of things.

 

[pinqy]

Jesus did...

"You are from your father the Devil, and you wish to do the desires of your father. That one was a murderer when he began, and he did not stand fast in the truth, because truth is not in him. When he speaks the lie, he speaks according to his own disposition, because he is a liar and the father of the lie." John 8:44

No mention of Satan being the serpent. No mention of Eve. It is not possible to interpret that verse as meaning Satan was the serpent unless you already assume that Satan was the serpent. So, no.

So did John...

“And he seized the dragon, the original serpent, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years.” Revelation 20:2

This one is interesting. You’ve quoted it before, so I did a little research. In every other translation besides the New World Translation, that I looked at, the word used is “ancient,” not “original.” And not just English translations, but in every other language I could translate myself: the Vulgate, and in French, German, Spanish, Italian, Russian, Serbian, Dutch, Icelandic, it was always “ancient.” So either the NWT is the only one that translated it correctly, or the translators chose to tweak it just a little to make the serpent/Satan connection.

Plus, the dragon in Rev 20 is the same as in Rev 12, where the physical description is not a serpent.

 

[Daisy]

No mention of Satan being the serpent.

Who told the 1st lie recorded in the Bible? The serpent...

 

[tosca1]

No mention of Satan being the serpent. No mention of Eve. It is not possible to interpret that verse as meaning Satan was the serpent unless you already assume that Satan was the serpent. So, no.

Serpents don't talk.
The serpent was used by Satan.
The serpent was cursed because it went along with Satan.



Genesis 3
14 So the Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this,

“Cursed are you above all livestock
and all wild animals!
You will crawl on your belly
and you will eat dust
all the days of your life.

15 And I will put enmity
between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and hers;
he will crush your head,
and you will strike his heel.”



That last verse - that is also the first Messianic prophecy in the Bible.



Actually, the serpent could've been Satan himself, based on this verse from the Book of REVELATION.


Revelation 12:9
And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.

 

[tosca1]

Plus, the dragon in Rev 20 is the same as in Rev 12, where the physical description is not a serpent.

It is.
What "physical description," could describe it better than identifying exactly what it is? SERPENT!
What could be better than that?


Revelation 20

The Thousand Years​

20 Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pit[a] and a great chain.
2 And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years,


Which ancient serpent could've been THAT serpent - or, any other ancient seroent for that matter - which is relevant to the subject?
The one who caused the fall of mankind - of course!

 

[tosca1]

"Good and evil," or right and wrong, have always been human constructs.

Good that you recognize that!
That's what it also means for having been created in the image of God.

The instinct for right and wrong, is in us.

 

[OrphanSlug]

Good that you recognize that!
That's what it also means for having been created in the image of God.

The instinct for right and wrong, is in us.

What I said does not mean what you think it does, your efforts to misrepresent it or weaponize it for some other reason is noted as your attempt to lie about it.