Francis Berger
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Evil Wants You To Obsess Over It

11/2/2020

7 Comments

 
This post basically began as a note-to-self, but I have decided to publish here in the hope that it might also benefit others. 
 
The following excerpt from Nikolai Berdyaev's Freedom and the Spirit (bold added) provides a pertinent warning about the dangers of obsessing over evil, which, I confess, I occasionally do.

"Evil must be unmasked if it is to be defeated, for ignorance or denial of evil weakens our resistance to it. Man must learn how to 'try the spirits', for he is often in the grips of devils who appear as angels of light. But there is also another danger, that of a too exclusive concentration upon evil, which consists in seeing it everywhere, and which by an exaggeration of its power and attraction amounts to a continuous obsession with it. Man is thus plunged into an atmosphere of suspicion and mistrust. He has more faith in the power of Satan than in that of God; he believes more in Antichrist than in Christ Himself. Thus a most pernicious spiritual tendency is set in motion which spells destruction for all positive and creative life. Evil has its effect upon man not only when he denies its existence, but also when he exaggerates its significance." 
7 Comments
Andrew
11/3/2020 02:32:54

I do this too. A lot of the internet is like that. God isn't very visible, but the evil is really obvious.

Maybe the whole world is really like this, where if you reject the evil (instead of joining) it appears all pervasive.

Reply
Francis Berger
11/3/2020 11:22:44

@ Andrew - You've touched on an important point. If you have chosen to side with God, evil does become pervasively obvious, but we cannot allow this awareness to degenerate into obsession (which is one of the tricks evil likes to play).

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bruce charlton
11/3/2020 11:49:10

Thinking too much on evil is certainly a bad thing; although it is perhaps not as bad (nor as common) as denying the objective reality of evil, or acccepting value inversions where evil intent is understood as good (and vice versa) - which seem to be the first-line, primary intentions of modern evil.

Reply
Francis Berger
11/3/2020 11:56:26

@ Bruce - Yes, very true. That's what B suggests with his 'try the spirits' expression above - when devils are seen as angels of light. Awareness is of evil is crucial - obsession is detrimental.

Reply
Francis Berger
11/3/2020 11:58:13

@ Bruce - Overall, I feel B aimed this passage at people who have chosen to side with God rather than those who have chosen to side with evil (those who have succumbed to what you have listed in your comment).

a kullervo
11/3/2020 20:00:29

Faith is a reliable compass; the occasional flicker from the needle is the proof it is working and not stuck in a position due to lack of use.

Thank you, Mr. Berger, for all the priceless work and inspiration.

Reply
Ferenc Berger
11/3/2020 20:10:50

@ a kullervo - Thanks for the comments.

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