What is the greatest evil?

[Tab.]

Because of Dante, some consider it betrayal. Because of Hebrew myth, some consider it pride. I say it is ignorance. This belief is founded largely on Hindu-Buddhist concepts, and my own personal disgust for ignorance.
As a central belief of Hinduism, this world is an illusion, Maya, in which we percieve 'reality' through our organs of sense. Yet, this is not real, this is not us. Maya is, as this world is, impermanent and fallible. Our bodies and senses are a mere vehicle for Atman, the divine source of self. The un-thinking, un-feeling, undying ego which survives the death of the body, the feelings, and the mind and continues to reincarnate until it has become self-aware.
Thus, the point of life is to become enlightened; realize Atman and reintegrate with it. No one can deny Atman, but as long as one pursues and is obsessed with illusion, physical life, physical desires, emotional desires, anything impermanent, they are choosing to ignore it (truth) in favor of falsity. Thus, ignorance creates selfishness (through the illusion that the self exists seperately from all other selfs - atman is brahman or individual soul is universal soul), and is the source of all evils and misguided actions. Aside from it causing negative effects, it is detrimental to oneself, as enlightenment is necessary to obtain Moksha and break free of the cycle of reincarnation (Samsara).
While this is, as said, purely Buddhist and Hindu, it too can be seen in Christianity and Judaism. Satan, the personification of evil, by definition means "the great deciever". Consider the definition of ignorance, then, as a state of acceptance or satisfaction with something that is false. Illusion. Deception. Satan is, then, the personification of ignorance, or acceptance of falsehood - the deciever.
So, even the Judeo-Christian tradition considers ignorance the highest of evils - albeit veiled by anthropomorphism (personification).

Theorize.

I'm personally looking forward especially to the contribution of one who, while drunk, quite markedly proclaimed that he was the greatest evil, and the definition therein.

[Flint the Dwarf]

I'm personally looking forward especially to the contribution of one who, while drunk, quite markedly proclaimed that he was the greatest evil, and the definition therein.

That wasn't me, was it?

My quite philosophical reply... later. ^_~

[Tab.]

Nah. I'd post the convo, but my version of deadaim doesn't log chats, and MaxXx is away atm.

[Farlo]

i think the greatest evil is jerry falwell

http://www.hfac.uh.edu/comm/media_libel ... alwell.jpg

sorry about the stretching, the mods can delete the pic if they want, but its funny

[MOD359: changed to link to avoid stretching forum]

[SS5_Majin_Bebi]

Hey Tab, you'ld get on great with me and my dad. We're in the whole awareness thing as well. If not for the religious semantics I *think* i can see in the whole thing, I'de probably be alot further along than I am.

The greatest evil IS ignorance. Refusal to learn will eventually spell the end of our species, unless we learn how to wake up and see through all our illusions. The information is right there, but we refuse it because its a relative unknown.

[Tab.]

Yeah, I'd rather not have the stretching in a thread where there's hopefully going to be some lengthy posts.

Or you could buy me a widescreen monitor.

[Tab.]

Hey Tab, you'ld get on great with me and my dad. We're in the whole awareness thing as well. If not for the religious semantics I *think* i can see in the whole thing, I'de probably be alot further along than I am.

The greatest evil IS ignorance. Refusal to learn will eventually spell the end of our species, unless we learn how to wake up and see through all our illusions. The information is right there, but we refuse it because its a relative unknown.

Yep.

Though I really wish my tiredness and english essay were more illusory right now.

[Flint the Dwarf]

I don't think ignorance is the greatest evil. But I don't have time to explain right now, I need to sleep.

However, I am glad I am aware and I do not want to be ignorant.

[Chaos Angel]

I don't think ignorance in and of itself is evil. We are all of us, at one point or another in our lives, ignorant. What I think is worse is willful ignorance, the deliberate tuning out of what does not fit into your preconceived ntions of truth. Shutting out all opinions that conflict with what you consider to be the truth in your own little head is, to me, worse than simply not knowing any better.

[Otohiko]

Pokemon and suggestibility.