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Let’s begin with St. Augustine of Hippo’s thoughts on the nature of evil. This great saint discusses two types of evil: apparent evil and true evil. Though I am far from a theological expert, it’s my experience that we typically call these secondary evil and primary evil, respectively, today.
Secondary evil encompasses the evil that men do — that is the corruption and conflicts against the moral law which occurs among human beings. Primary evil refers to the choice, based on free will, of a number of angels (created spirits) to focus their attentions and appreciations on themselves rather than choosing to maintain the perfection of knowledge and love given to them by God. Humans also made this free choice; thus, this fundamental sin of pride caused the fall of man.
Deliver us from evil
One of my favorite examples of the difference between primary and secondary evil comes from the 2014 movie, Deliver Us from Evil. Based on the true life experiences of Ralph Sarchie, a New York cop, the storyline includes an exorcist, Father Mendoza, who discusses the two types of evil with Sarchie.
Being a NYPD cop, Sarchie confirms that he has witnessed plenty of evil. Mendoza tells him that this is secondary evil: those evil deeds perpetrated by man and that it’s clear he (meaning Sarchie) hasn’t witnessed primary evil. which is pure malevolence.
Mendoza explains that human evil always occurs with mixed motives — a mixture, perhaps, of good intentions stained by evil means of achieving the good goal. Primary evil has no capability of such a rationale. The movie covers a demonic possession and exorcism of a man who kidnapped Sarchie’s wife and child. And, while true and explicit demonic possession is rare, we see examples of secondary evil all around us from the mundane, shoplifting a candy bar, to premeditated murder. Whatever your level of faith, or lack thereof, it’s a thrilling movie to watch.
What evil influences those orchestrating our current troubles?
On several occasions, other Substackers and I have discussed the oppressive edicts thrust upon us, not only by our own leaders, but by unelected so-called elites of the WEF, UN, WHO, NIH, and the alphabet list goes on.
Another evil seems to swirl around and inside of many of these people. Sure, there are those who are simply going along for the grifting opportunities, which open up when they promote and enforce all of the draconian plans given from ‘on high.’ But, there are also others who must know that the gene therapy injections are killing and seriously maiming untold numbers of people — untold because much of the data is obfuscated, manipulated, or simply deleted.
It seems that the people at the highest levels of governments and organizations, such as the WEF, et al, are driven by something more, something that cannot be explained by secondary evil. What is it? Is it primary evil? Are they truly in league with malevolent spiritual beings? Obviously, I don’t know the answer with any certainty, but I can’t think of another explanation. Let me know your thoughts on this. Whether you believe in the Fall of Man, or not, there is something more going on than simply the ‘evil that men do’.
Great article thankyou!
The free will debate has always had me baffled because it is not a debate in my opinion.
My premise is that people are fated to the illusion free will or fated to not having the illusion of free will. Here ends the non existent debate. Crikey, I sound like a stupid scientist.
That doesn't make anyone any better or worse than anyone else but it does give me some empathy for people chained by inertia, or acting poorly or immorally out of hurt or hopelessness.
Hell...I am guilty of such spiritual poverty.
In antiquity matter itself was held as the source of evil. (105)
The Neoplatonic thesis is that we are souls fallen into a body, and that we must escape this evil body through flight to the pure immaterial world. (112)
Manicheans held that the good God is not omnipotent. There exists also “an eternal, autonomous and evil material substance”. (105) Neither God nor the devil can get the upper hand. (262) And we are divided and have within us “two originally distinct substances”. (184)
Not so Augustine.
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1100951619?ean=9780521589529