book review: 'Evil, a Primer: A history of a bad idea from Beelzebub to Bin Laden'
William Hart. New York, New York. MJF Books Publishing. 2004
I looked up the word primer and found that it means an introductory book on a subject, so I guess in the loosest interpretation you might consider Mr. Hart's book a primer. If one is looking for a answer to what evil is than you will be sorely disappointed. In the book we are drug through the tired philosophical and religious explanations of what evil is only to be reminded in the closing chapter, 'evil, in the end, cannot be romanticized, trivialized, laughed off or argued away.'[p.176] Mostly the author leaves us with two thoughts about evil. First that evil is a ready tool of escapism for those who don't want to face basic human instincts to hurt each other; second, there is a long cultural/religious habit of treating woman as second class citizens because through scriptural interpretations by fundamentalists, and mythologists, they are basically considered to be evil; both concepts inherently evil in themselves. I just didn't think the book was worth the time it took to read it, but then perhaps I was searching for something the author never intended to supply - an answer to what is evil? It is certainly more than 'the absence of good,' for evil exits in spite of, in company with, good. But if you read the reviews from amazon.com you'll find that they disagree with my assessment - such is the eye of the reader!
William Hart. New York, New York. MJF Books Publishing. 2004
I looked up the word primer and found that it means an introductory book on a subject, so I guess in the loosest interpretation you might consider Mr. Hart's book a primer. If one is looking for a answer to what evil is than you will be sorely disappointed. In the book we are drug through the tired philosophical and religious explanations of what evil is only to be reminded in the closing chapter, 'evil, in the end, cannot be romanticized, trivialized, laughed off or argued away.'[p.176] Mostly the author leaves us with two thoughts about evil. First that evil is a ready tool of escapism for those who don't want to face basic human instincts to hurt each other; second, there is a long cultural/religious habit of treating woman as second class citizens because through scriptural interpretations by fundamentalists, and mythologists, they are basically considered to be evil; both concepts inherently evil in themselves. I just didn't think the book was worth the time it took to read it, but then perhaps I was searching for something the author never intended to supply - an answer to what is evil? It is certainly more than 'the absence of good,' for evil exits in spite of, in company with, good. But if you read the reviews from amazon.com you'll find that they disagree with my assessment - such is the eye of the reader!
I see evil's intent as death, total destruction, nothingness...
ReplyDeleteHave you read Roger Shattuck, FORBIDDEN KNOWLEDGE: FROM PROMETHEUS TO PORNOGRAPHY, or Martin Burber, "GOOD AND EVIL, or Andrew Delbanco, THE DEATH OF SATAN: HOW AMERICA HAVE LOST THE SENSE OF EVIL... I still need to read Alvin Plantinga's GOD, FREEDOM and EVIL
Sage....
ReplyDeleteI haven't read any of these but they do look interesting.
Of course, the problem is not the existence of Evil, but the refusal of Man to admit its existence. Easy enough to do, when you realize Evil is essentially anything which is in opposition to God's Plan for the World and Mankind.
ReplyDeleteCheers.
Sherm....
ReplyDeleteThat's a good thought and I agree, [but since I'm in this deep philosophical mood right now] I'm wondering if evil doesn't go a step beyond just being in opposition to God's plan? Is there a line we can cross that progresses from bad to evil?
Actually, my feeling is that that there cannot be a spectrum with God/Good at one end and Satan/Evil at the other. The idea of a Hierarchy of Sin, for example, is a Man-made fiction, designed to help us feel better in spite of the Holy Spirit's conviction of Sin. See, e.g. statements/thoughts like, "Well, I may have just cheated on my spouse, but at least I've never murdered anyone." Dare I say, that way lies madness and destruction.
ReplyDeleteCheers.