Are people inherently good or evil? Options

[Badman]

I think it is time for a fresh topic here: Are people naturally good, evil, or some combination of the two? It could also be phrased are people altruistic or are we naturally selfish?


or

[thefunkyredcaboose]

I think people can choose whether to be good or evil, but socialization plays a huge part. Sometimes you have to buck all of your influences in order to be a good person.

I also think that religions or philosophies that teach that people are inherently evil (original sin) go a long way towards making the world a shitty place. That's an awful way to approach humanity, even if it does seem that humanity sucks in many instances.

And cats... screw cats.

[Badman]

I also think that religions or philosophies that teach that people are inherently evil (original sin) go a long way towards making the world a shitty place. That's an awful way to approach humanity, even if it does seem that humanity sucks in many instances.

Soooo correct. I worry that if I take the stance that people are inherently evil that I will play a part in making the world a much worse place. "You are the world" so says the MJ song and if you are evil the world is evil. Man, I'd like to have a drink with you funky