MikeLigalig.com

The conflict between good and evil is one of the precepts of the Zoroastrian faith, first enshrined by Zarathustra over 3000 years ago. It is also one of the most common conventional themes in literature, and is sometimes considered to be a universal part of the human condition. There are several variations on this conflict, one being the battle between individuals or ideologies, with one side Good, the other Evil. Another variation is the inner struggle in characters (and by extension, humans in reality) between good and evil. Conrad defined all humans as having an "inner evil" or Heart of Darkness in his novella of the same name.

Linkback: https://tubagbohol.mikeligalig.com/index.php?topic=71615.0

Jewish and Christian literature

Writers from the earliest times have thematized the conflict between good and evil, understood, of course, in religious terms. In the Old Testament, Yahweh asks the prophet Jeremiah: "The heart is devious above all else; it is perverse—who can understand it?" (Jeremiah 17:9, NRSV). Compare also the Book of Job.

In addition to explicating classical myth and stories to reveal a hidden conflict between good and evil in them, they wrote into their own texts different versions of the conflict. The basic forms may be described as the apocalyptic, in which the writer describes real, social events (whether historical or imagined) as manifestations of the eternal conflict between God and Satan, good and evil — a struggle that, if controlled in the end by God's omnipotence, was nevertheless of deep importance for humans. In a different way, Christian writers could focus on the internal struggle to find or maintain belief. This literature is exemplified by the Psychomachia of Prudentius, whose title continues to signify great psychological turmoil, and supremely by Augustine of Hippo's Confessions, the model for countless later psychological biographies. Special mention might also be made of the Consolation of Philosophy of Boethius, a work that combines Platonic, Christian, and Stoic thought on the nature of suffering.

Linkback: https://tubagbohol.mikeligalig.com/index.php?topic=71615.0

Perspective

The most outgoing prospect of the plight between good and evil. The villain normally sees himself as doing the just thing, or he can also see himself as doing something that, in the end, will only satisfy himself. While one person sees himself doing right another will most assuredly say that whomever is doing wrong, and human nature will usually oppose it.

Good is a thing which will not hurt anyone but evil does it. --Wiki

Linkback: https://tubagbohol.mikeligalig.com/index.php?topic=71615.0

On another level the Cosmic Battle may sometimes be depicted occurring literally on a scale that encompasses the entire Universe or all of creation. This would be the case with certain Creation Myths which often talk about the Universe or World coming into being after a titanic struggle between two opposing god like characters, one representing the good and the other representing perhaps chaos or evil. Out of this battle fought at the beginning of time, the whole of creation comes into being. So Myths are tales full of Adversaries, Adversity, Conflict and Opposing Forces; in this way they are expressing the Universal Spiritual notion of the Cosmic Battle between Good and Evil.

If we examine some of the spiritual ideas contained in the World's Religions then we can gain insights into the Nature of the Cosmic Battle and its purpose. This theme of a contest between two diametrically opposed forces or aspects of our being is found in the writings of just about all the great Faith Traditions of this planet.

Linkback: https://tubagbohol.mikeligalig.com/index.php?topic=71615.0

We gain an insight into the meaning and purpose of the Cosmic Battle when we examine some ideas which became incorporated into Christianity. People are generally familiar with the word Satan which is usually understood as the being who embodies pure Evil. Satan is actually a Hebrew word which means Adversary and didn't start off with the connotations that it would later acquire. Satan was translated into the Greek word for adversary, 'Diabolos' from which the word Devil was derived. In Islam again we find a similar term the Shaitan, which roughly means and is translated as 'The one who rebels.' So corresponding to the earlier discussion on the Cosmic Battle, again we have this theme of adversaries and opposition.

A clue to understanding the nature of the Cosmic Battle comes from examining the mythic character called Lucifer. The tale of Lucifer is of a fallen Angel, indeed the greatest of Angels, who was cast down from Heaven to become a figure of Evil. The reason for this varies according to different versions of the Myth. One interpretation is that he is cast down because of his pride. In another version he is thrown out of heaven for refusing to submit to God's creation man. The exact details of his demotion are less relevant to us than the meaning of his name which gives us an interesting perspective on the Cosmic Battle. For Lucifer means 'Bringer of Light'. That is the Prince of Darkness is also bringer of the New Dawn.

Linkback: https://tubagbohol.mikeligalig.com/index.php?topic=71615.0

Linkback: https://tubagbohol.mikeligalig.com/index.php?topic=71615.0