What is considered the root of evil?
Asked by: Prof. Erick Purdy IV | Last update: February 7, 2026Score: 4.5/5 (54 votes)
There's no single agreed-upon "root of evil," but common contenders include selfishness/ego/pride, ignorance, lack of empathy, envy, and the "love of money" (as stated in 1 Timothy 6:10, meaning greed/inordinate desire, not money itself). Different philosophies point to various sources, from turning away from God (Christianity) to societal factors like conflict or unmet needs (psychology/sociology).
What is considered the root of all evil?
There's no single, universally agreed-upon root cause of evil, but common perspectives point to greed/love of money (1 Timothy 6:10), selfish desires like envy, hatred, and delusion (Buddhism), the absence of good/perfection (Maimonides), human free will leading to choices against good, disobedience, or a corrupted human heart after the Fall. Different philosophies and religions offer various explanations, often focusing on internal human failings or external conditions.
What are some roots of evil?
The roots of evil: social conditions, culture, personality, and basic human needs.
What is the root of all evil according to the Bible?
Ver. 10. 'For the love of money is the root of all evil; which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. ' Two things he mentions, and that which to them might seem the more weighty he places last, their many sorrows.
What is the source of all evil?
The Source of All Evil, known primarily as the Source, is the title given to the most powerful demon and ruler of the Underworld. The Source itself is an essence of pure evil, which possesses and merges with a new host each time it is vanquished.
Is Money the Root of All Evil? | Alan Watts Lecture
What are the three main forms of evil?
Thomas Aquinas, the 13th-century Dominican theologian, and in the Theodicy (1710), by the German philosopher and mathematician Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz. According to Leibniz, there are three forms of evil in the world: moral, physical, and metaphysical.
What are the main causes of evil?
Ultimately, there is no one specific cause or reason to explain why a person takes part in evil acts. The idea of evil is a complex one that involves many different components including an individual's brain chemistry, personality, and social circumstances.
Why does God not stop all evil?
As we navigate the complexities of life in a fallen world, may we always remember that our God is both good and all-powerful. He allows suffering and evil not because He is unable or unwilling to stop it, but because through it, He displays the full spectrum of His glory – especially the glory of His grace.
How does Isaiah 45:7 explain evil?
Isaiah 45:7, in some English translations, reads: “I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.” The Hebrew word that is translated “evil,” or ra, can indeed mean moral evil such as in Genesis 2:9, “the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree ...
What does Isaiah 43-19 really mean?
Isaiah 43:19 means God promises to bring new hope and provision in seemingly impossible situations, making a way through wilderness and rivers in the desert, urging people to look past past troubles and recognize His transformative work that's already beginning. It's a message of restoration, a call to spiritual awareness, and a promise of God's unfailing ability to create new paths and bring life where there appears to be none.
What is the strongest word for evil?
Stronger words than "evil" depend on the nuance, with top choices including heinous, diabolical, nefarious, atrocious, and malevolent, conveying intense wickedness, cruelty, or pure malice, often implying a deliberate, profound moral corruption beyond simple badness.
What are the three evils of the body?
Buddhist concept of 'Three evils'
(1) These are the three evils of the body, mouth, and mind, which are killing, stealing, and lust, and also loose speech, and others. (1) Quietude of body is meant by not performing these with the body; quietude of mind is meant by not committing these with the mind.
What makes a person truly evil?
Evil, as a concept, is usually defined as profoundly immoral behavior, and it is related to acts that cause unnecessary pain and suffering to others. In many Abrahamic religions, demons are considered to be evil beings and are contrasted with angels, who are their good contemporaries.
What are the three roots of evil?
Quick Reference. (Skt.; Pāli, akusala-mūla). Collective name for the three roots of evil, being the three unwholesome mental states of greed (rāga), hatred (dveṣa), and delusion (moha). All negative states of consciousness are seen as ultimately grounded in one or more of these three.
What does Matthew 17:20 really mean?
Even with that amount of faith, Jesus says, they will be able to tell a mountain to move and it will do so. With even a sliver of faith in His power and authority, nothing will be impossible for them. This is an important and powerful lesson for the disciples.
What is the source of evil according to the Bible?
Theologians have historically classified the sources of evil with the triad: the World, the Flesh, and the Devil. “The World” refers to the culture of a society whose values and structures are at odds with the ways of God (1 John 2:15-17). Fallen people build fallen cultures, societies, and institutions.
How does God deliver you from evil?
So when Jesus prayed, “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil,” he clarified in John 17: “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.” God delivers me and you from evil by saturating us with the word, and we ought to join him in it.
Who is Psalm 45 talking about?
Lewis says that Psalm 45 meant one thing before Jesus came to the earth, but another after his coming. Verses three through nine are now applied to Jesus Christ, the King of Kings. The psalm's second part is now seen to be about his bride, the Church.
What is the abomination that leads to desolation?
The abomination of desolation, or the abomination that causes desolation, is a phrase used by the prophet Daniel in the Old Testament. It refers to false or insincere worship that actually dishonors God instead of acknowledging His sovereignty.
Why doesn't God just erase evil?
God's patience, His long-suffering, and His mercy motivate Him to wait — He does not want anyone to perish. We can be confident that God will destroy evil in His own time. Until that day, we must do good, obey Him, and tell everyone the Good News of the Gospel!
What did Stephen Hawking say about God?
Stephen Hawking stated that science offers better explanations for the universe's origins than religion, concluding there is no God or divine creator, and that the universe arose spontaneously from nothing according to physical laws, not divine will, seeing no need for a higher power to set things in motion. While initially suggesting God might have set the laws, he later clarified he was an atheist, believing the simplest explanation is no God and that humans invented God to explain the unexplainable, which science now addresses.
What does 2 Timothy 2.13 mean?
2 Timothy 2:13, "If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself," means that while believers' faith can waver, God's character is constant and His promises are secure because His faithfulness is inherent to who He is, not dependent on human consistency. It's a powerful assurance that even when we struggle, God's unchanging nature guarantees He won't abandon His covenant, but it also underscores that He remains faithful to His righteous standards, meaning He will judge persistent unfaithfulness.
What are the traits of an evil person?
Below are key characteristics and behaviors often associated with a person displaying “evil” tendencies, though it's important to approach each situation with discernment.
- Extreme Manipulativeness. ...
- A Lack of Empathy. ...
- Pathological Lying. ...
- An Obsession With Control. ...
- They Use Charm as a Weapon. ...
- Sadistic Enjoyment of Pain.
Why does God let evil happen?
Evil always and ever serves the ultimate best interest of God Himself. It is God in His goodness and in His sovereignty who has ordained the final conquest over evil and its riddance from His universe. In this redemption we find our rest and our joy—and until that time, we live in a fallen world.
What is the real root of all evil?
There's no single, universally agreed-upon root cause of evil, but common perspectives point to greed/love of money (1 Timothy 6:10), selfish desires like envy, hatred, and delusion (Buddhism), the absence of good/perfection (Maimonides), human free will leading to choices against good, disobedience, or a corrupted human heart after the Fall. Different philosophies and religions offer various explanations, often focusing on internal human failings or external conditions.