Secularism.

How do your beliefs differ from pantheism? And, if you are a pantheist, can you really call yourself a Christian, given that Christianity rejects pantheism?

I fear you misunderstand

I do not say the world is evil therefore there is no god

I say the world is evil and filled with exceptionally nasty things therefore your god, IF he exists, which he might although I doubt it, is unworthy of my worship.

I also fear I misunderstood your point regarding confession. I admit it is a good thing to not keep stuff bottled up, but the last person I would consider a recipient of any such confession would be a man or woman of the cloth, least of all a catholic one, the Catholic Church having made such a money spinner out of indulgences.

I recall that when my fathers best mate from school finished digging up Fred Wests garden, he did two things. First, he handed in his notice and then he called dad. Dad came round my place and took away every bottle of the amontillado casked single barrel Oban scotch I’d bought a few years prior to that and the two spent all weekend drinking it. I have a few such ‘confessors’ on speed dial myself but no divine being is involved.

John, im saying that people who are evil are also God, there is no distinction, on a path to something better or worse. Confession, apart from atonement, is keeping yourself grounded, in touch with yourself. At the start of the catholic mass there is a prayer, i think its called the I confess, that it repeats its my fault my fault my fault.

The bible repeats over and over, that we , humans, are a part of God, with a godlike ability to create or destroy, and that ability is far far beyond what we think it is. We just dont know it.

It does throw up a depressing thought, that in the life to come, here or in the spirit, that the eternal war between good and evil is eternal, and that this world is deciding whos side your on. Thats not the bible thats me. That humans who are evil cannot be totally controlled and be limited, because they, and we are eternal.

In science, eternity seems to exist. So, the existence of evil has an explanation, and maybe we should be grateful its not worse. Maybe it is in other spheres. Like Mr Putin, you cant do that and expect God, or higher beings to be impressed, and greet you in heaven with a cup of tea and a Rich tea.

Near death experiencers report the existence of hell. I read a book published in the 18 century, outlining life after death in a mathematical way with tables.

The important thing is that death in the spirit does indeed exist. If a soul continues in evil ways, stretching into the far distance of time, absent of self reflection conscience etc, then it will die.

Not in an easy way, like humans, but in a way that encompasses millenia slowly, and is dreadful in its presentation, and is horrific. As below, so above. Im referring to the Universe, and all thats in it. Fred West etc, i dont want to downplay your fathers best mates experience, but, Fred Wests are ten a penny, ive read casenotes of inmates in Rampton special hospital, bad people are everywhere, many well disguised.

This world is evil, no doubt about it, with many creative ways of performing such, no argument at all.

I understand that when discussing spiritual matters, some people feel so uncomfortable that they have to divert away from the discussion ASAP.
Treating that considered post by piglet in that way was just damn rude.

I see there is a bit of crossover with the "God" thread and this one, so I'll have a look at that one, too.

One interesting thing about good and evil is that we do not appear to be able to reproduce (replace) them using reason alone.

I think you are engaging in a bit of conflation. The English word still has a bundle of meanings including best, fixed, fit, ready and completed. Looking at the etymology of evil may be a better bet.

Re Aristotle, you can recognise what was driving at even if it can't be put into logic or maths