Good, Evil and Suffering

Good, Evil and Suffering

The Big Picture

• The understanding of good and evil is a fundamental aspect of many religions.
• Different religions have varying teachings and perspectives on the origin, nature, and manifestation of good and evil.
• Likewise, these perspectives influence how followers respond to issues of morality, justice, punishment, and forgiveness.

Religious Views on Good and Evil

• Christianity teaches original sin concept, where all humans inherit a tendency towards evil from Adam and Eve.
• But Christianity also promotes the potential for good through the teachings of Jesus Christ.
• In Islam, humans have an innate sense of good (fitrah), and evil comes from humans’ selfish desires and satanic temptations.
• Buddhism explains good and evil in terms of wholesome and unwholesome actions respectively.

Religious Approaches to Crime and Punishment

• Religious teachings inform how followers perceive and respond to crime.
• Punishment serves to deter, reform, retaliate, and protect society.
• Christianity encourages forgiveness as a response to crime, while Islam often promotes a balance of justice and mercy.

Understanding Forgiveness in Religion

• Forgiveness is a key teaching in many religions.
• In Christianity, forgiveness is emphasised as a divine quality, essential for salvation.
• Islam also teaches that Allah is merciful and forgives those who genuinely repent.

Good, Evil, and Suffering

• Almost all religions attempt to explain the problem of evil and suffering and propose solutions.
• Christianity explains suffering as a result of human sin, and the solution is salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.
• Hinduism and Buddhism explain suffering in terms of karma and the cycle of rebirth.
• Many religions, including Judaism and Islam, propose that good and evil are part of God’s divine plan and test for humanity.