The Nature of Evil: A Social Disease or the Result of Original Sin?

Yesterday at coffee after Mass I was talking to someone about a difficult situation and asked if she was familiar with the book, People of the Lie by M. Scott Peck published in 1983. I read it years ago and decided to reread it which I've started. The first chapter, about a man who made a pact with the devil, got me thinking about the nature of evil. Christians have no difficulty recognizing the source of evil. While the secular world often wants to reduce it to environmental issues, bad parenting, trauma, psychological factors, etc. Christians go back to the source in the Garden of Evil when Adam and Eve freely chose to rebel against God and say "Yes!" to the devil. 

Sunday Meditation: Never Be Discouraged at the State of the World or the Church!

Let us rejoice during this Christmas season and never ever lose hope!

Take courage and hear these words of advice from Dom Benedict Baur, German theologian and spiritual writer:

God does indeed give Satan and evil men a certain power over the Church and her virtuous children. The evil they inflict on the Church is taken into account in the plans of God's providence. Godless men and their leader, Satan are made to serve the ends of almighty God. We are at all times under the powerful protection of God, even though it may appear that we have been delivered into the hands of our enemies.

Here's what's really happening. Wake up. Or have the life choked out of you by Satan.

And the Flood of Evil Continues Unabated

The only thing that stops God sending another Flood is that the first one was useless. - Nicolas Chamfort

Os Guinness - A realistic view of evil