The Problem of Evil

## Details

This discussion will be hosted and moderated by Ceit Hustedde (Longtime Member of Buddytree)

Here are a few important points.

• The discussion questions are viewable online, so we will save paper by not printing them out.

Here are the video and discussion questions for this event:
https://www.buddytree.org/hangout/RxIeIIgjvR

There is a topic Good and Evil, but this is another step deeper into one side of it. Here are the videos and discussion questions for this hangout:
An introduction https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9AzNEG1GB-k (10:03)

JRR Tolkien and Evil https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BjE94hbxjLI (10:53)

Evil human nature https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-lLwQ_F8ko (4:08)

Have we all become evil? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVl5kMXz1vA (33:50)

The famous banality of evil https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4la6DkldJyc (3:46)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LjAESuTW-U (8:20)

One woman stands against evil https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCjUeNOGhgQ (17:39)

Reaction to "The Lucifer Effect" [Philip Zimbardo] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-4DwOauRGI (21:49) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJ3WlWM0lGc (Pt 2) (24:25)

A little reading, if you like https://onlysky.media/alee/tolkien-never-solved-the-problem-of-evil/

1. Does evil really exist? Could it just be an unavoidable conflict of needs?

2. If you think evil does exist, how do you define it? Are there people who are truly evil?

3. Do you think you could avoid committing evil? How can you be sure?

4. What should we do, as a society, with those who commit evil acts? Are they at the same level as those who commit "normal" crimes, or should there be a separate authority to deal with them?

5. Is there an essence or spirit of evil that exists outside of the material world, or is the experience of evil dependent on consciousness/observation?

6. Are only humans evil? Why (not)?

Please remember to watch at least a few videos before you arrive since we’ll be discussing them when we begin. Once the hangout begins, everyone will introduce each other and then take turns asking the provided questions in order to keep the discussion on topic. Hangouts typically last 90 minutes, and once the hangout is over you will have the opportunity to add people to your buddytree to organize private hangouts and develop friendships. As always, these hangouts provide the opportunity for a thoughtful, respectful and engaging discussion in a safe space where disrespectful behavior is not tolerated.