re: Do You Believe Evil Exist?

Biblically, the character Satan is not co-equal with God. While he has influence over some things and events in the world, whatever Satan is, his power is limited by God, mitigated by God, ultimately destroyed by God. The devil is alternately referred to as “the accuser, the deceiver, serpent, father of lies” and such.

What we see in the movies is mostly a construct of images derived from Milton’s “Paradise Lost” epic poem magnified and sensationalized for popular consumption.

Mostly acts of evil and godless rebellion are rooted in the mundane and are not nearly so supernaturally driven as fueled by the darkness of pride and ignorance of God - even self-willed rebellion against God.

Yin-Yang (good/evil) duality is derived from Eastern religious traditions such as Zoroastrianism, later co-opted into aspects of Hindu and Buddhist beliefs. Later it wormed its way into some Judeo-Christian thinking. But was never at the core of Judeo-Christian theology.

But looking at acts of horrific consequence, great or small, we may ask if Biblically, and in real time, does evil exist objectively? Yes, in absence of God it does - as surely as darkness exists absent of light.

However, light one match or candle in the darkness, shine one flashlight, where then is the darkness? Lurking in the shadowy corners maybe? But essentially gone.