Why do human beings do more evil things than good?
I think that genes coming from wild animals are responsible for, you know that instinct to attack and to kill in order to eat and survive. What do you think about it?
37 Answers
Why do human beings do more evil things than good?
That's a question based on a very inaccurate opinion on human beings, to begin with. If that were the case, there wouldn't be real communities at all, let alone virtual ones such as this site. We would have auto-destructed by now! Please, if you only go by what they portray in the news, you need to get out to talk and meet real people that surround you. If you do that, you'll soon realize human beings do more good than evil in general.
An interesting question would be, why do the news outlets and the media in general mostly portray the human beings as evil? Just follow the money, and you'll realize the answer. 
"Wild" animals don't dream up atrocities to commit. They simply kill for survival - instinct. You can't say this about our human species. If we were truly made in God's image, than he/she must be a very deadly creature. If some of us are simply mistakes, then how can God even exist since it is said that God is omnipotent. I doubt religion can ever explain this malady that exists, but the unincumbered mind will definitely recognize that the ability to become evil exists in all of us. It's the individual who makes the choice to "be or not to be."
I wouldn't necessarily say that we do more evil than bad. It's just that bad deeds are what get the most attention in the news since they are the most sickening events. And people like to be spectators to 'bad' incidents. Just think of a car crash. Traffic gets even slower than it would have because everyone looks to see what happened out of curiosity.("Rubbernecking")
I've actually done some reading that has dealt with this subject. The truth is that we all have the potential to become what we call 'evil'. Most of us do not act on this because we have been trained by our societal constructs not to do anything that our societal constructs view as misdeeds. This is why some societies see actions as completely acceptable while other societal constructs view their acts as simply attrocious. So, if it were possible to completely remove society, the theory is that these values instilled in us would quicky devolve and most people would become beasts unless they were innately kindhearted.. Scary thought, but I believe this theory has some truth in it. 
You can thank the book Lord of the Flies for that one. (There are other books that agree with this theory, but this is the most prominent one that I can think of.)
Some of the people that do evil deeds do not fit into this theory, however. They seem to not fit into the typical human persona. While they have been raised in normal conditions, they seem to do almost everything human kind seems to veer away from (the most referenced person being Hitler, of course). These have been referenced as 'monsters', and even though they may be in human form, they are much more evil than the average human. This, I believe, is a factor of a complete absense of feeling and compassion for others. In my opinion, this trait is what makes any animal, including humans, what they are.
So, in sum, I would say that the evil nature of humans is in a rare set of individuals, and when it does appear, it becomes even more enhanced than the fighting instincts of animals because these evil humans kill for the sake of what is unimportant, while animals kill to survive. Most humans are good, though.
THAT WAS LONG!
There's a lot of good in the world, but people and the media seem to have this fixation on the bad. That is because the forbidden is what stimulates our senses most. But don't we get this rush of endorphins when we do a good deed also? How we see good and evil has a lot to do with culture. Different people in different parts of the planet have different tendencies. The less media, the less evil. There's is a balance of Yin-Yan without which the world wouldn't be. If the dark side were to predominate the world would be destroyed (changed) into a semi-conscious state. What all religions are trying to do is tilt the balance towards the light so that we can transcend our present state and reach our next step of evolution. (spiritual evolution)
Just watch the news, wars, murders, suffering... I'm shocked about was happening in my country.
Indeed, Bill, hardly a surprise that we're in the place we are now.
Broadly speaking, the reason that humans do evil rather than good is that we're fallen people living in a fallen world which for the time being is largely under the rule of Satan.
The solution for the world is already on the way. Christ will come back and punish the evil, reward the good, and put an end to suffering on Earth.
The solution to the individual is to accept the sacrifice that Christ made when He came in the past. He who was fully God, and fully man came to die and take the penalty of our sins that we might have life for eternity. Thanks to Him, we need only come to Him and accept the gift of eternal life, and He will give us His Holy Spirit who will give us power to do good instead of evil and glorify God's name.
Until Christ comes back, this is a time of testing. This fallen world we live in is only here for an instant. A drop in the ocean of eternity. Why is evil allowed to persist (for now)? For the glory of God our Creator, that we may be saved and bring Him glory even in this time of darkness.
What evil things? Please tell me what evil things?
Think about what the media has given us in the last 60 years. In the early days everything was fun and innocent, morals prevailed. Violence was assumed in the early days, you never saw blood or bullet holes in bodies, and the act dying seemed so real. Real suspense and drama is what was played out. If you are young, search the internet for early programming you will be quite entertained by what was available, and the networks shutdown at midnight with the national anthem. Today ??? wow, violence in the networks, news, movies. Bodies torn apart in 1080 HD. Hollywood has become experts in desensitizing humanity, we are no longer repulsed by the images we see. Imagine the world, all of humanity, looking at TV maybe 10 hours a day seeing only what they want you too see. The Twilight Zone ?. It took decades to develope the control apparatus, but it is working. I realized not everyone is consumed by TV but, the masses are and it is not a good influence on society.
tamalmalamar wrote:
If you do that, you'll soon realize human beings do more good than evil in general.
samdie wrote:
Utter nonsense.
You dismiss one persons opinion as utter nonsense and then offer your own. I'm wondering if that could be utter nonsense as well?
samdie wrote:
However, I also believe that the human race is quite capable of destroying its own environment (rendering it uninhabitable for humans).
I do not believe that the human race is nearly capable enough of destroying its own environment. One fart from a volcano can surpass whatever quantity of contaminants humans can pour into the atmosphere, or that gigantic heating element out there can have a cycle of hiccups that can instantly alter the climate, something we've been trying to do for centuries.
There. I've offered my utter nonsense. 
In the beginning God made man perfect and then man choose to do evil by breaking the one commandment God told them not to break. Since this moment man fell from the estate God created him in and lost communion with God. This was all man's fault, not God's, and man has to face the consequences for it. Man is now so evil that if it were not for the common grace of God, no one could be together for 5 minutes without killing each other.
Jer 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?
For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person." (Mark 7:21-23)
as it is written: "None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one." (Romans 3:10-12)
Gen 6:5 The LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
This goes on, but you get the point.
No profound thinker in the world has ever thought that man was, by nature, good.
This is why we so despertly need a Savior. Jesus Christ
This is an interesting topic.
I would like to prove those wrong who say that these kind of conversations always get out of line on any forum.
This is a friendly site and I think we can all be civilized.
" Do humans do more evil than good ?" In my humble opinion they must on balance do more good , otherwise we would have wiped each other out of existence.
I think we are trying hard....but I agree with Ray here, I think there is a lot of evil going on, but most of the people must be good.
I only just gave back a diving computer, a fortune, I found in Cabo. I feel proud of myself as on the same trip my very good sunglasses disappeared. 
The girl who had lost the computer was crying of joy. 
Oh morbo, I must question your statement , you are assuming that it is correct. You should turn it into a question . " Do humans do more evil than good ?"
In my humble opinion they must on balance do more good , otherwise we would have wiped each other out of existence. Buddha said that inside each sentient being there is a "Buddha nature" I believe this to be true, if you are willing to look for goodness then you will find it . The "Christian Scientists" believe that if you accept evil and think and talk of it then it will arise , maybe they are right , if so then think only of good and then good will arise. 
The question of "Why do human beings do more evil things than good?" is like asking "Why do people have long hair?"
If people have long hair, does that mean that barbers do not exist? No it means that the people have chosen to not go to the barber to get their hair cut.
People are born with sin; innately evil. If people choose to do evil it is because they do not know God, not because God does not exist or that God Himself is evil. The heart of those people are hard and cannot hear the Will of God.
I could quote scripture after scripture about this, but in the end it comes down knowing, loving, and having an intimate relationship with God and Jesus. Worship Him because He loves you beyond comprehension, not because His title is Lord.
When you know God, the Holy Spirit, which is a gift from God, pours into you and protects you from evil. Whether you believe it or not, there is a battle going on for your soul. Guess who benefits from you not believeing it though?
2 Corinthians 5:17 "Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come."
Accepting Christ Jesus into your life is the first step. All of your sins are forgiven and He will make you new. But your heart will still be hard....God will soften your heart over time through His Word in the bible, prayer, and obeying God through the Holy Spirit.
God and Jesus Chist bless you and keep you always.
Edit: I apologize for any language that was deemed unfit for the forum, though I do still believe my statements are fair ones.
