What is evil? Plato argued that evil is simply the absence of good that everyone desires. The duality theory claims that evil cannot exist without good, and that good cannot exist without evil, as they are the exact opposite states. In certain religious traditions, evil is personified as Satan, the leader of the falling angels and the ultimate adversary of God and humanity. What is this malicious force that temps human souls and causes so much harm and suffering?

Evil exists in a realm where souls choose to turn away from conscience, acting out solely to obtain pleasure or to intentionally cause harm. These malicious acts not only destruct the perpetrator, but they also injure all those around him. In a religious context, evil is consciously choosing to conduct sinful acts while turning away from grace of the Divine.

Human spirits are innately aware of their desires for “good”. When one acts against his or her conscience, internal dialogs of distress surface. Many choose to pay attention to these “internal dialogs” and change their course of actions for the better. Unfortunately, some chooses to disregard the warning signs of danger and continuously take on the path of self-destruction as well as the devastation of others.

What are the reasons that lead to one’s choice in conducting evil acts? Pain is an undeniable factor. Pain is an inevitable aspect of human journey. Pain can also be constructive, as in the process of dealing with our pain, we engage in the positive development of human psyche. Unfortunately, many souls shy away from the necessary anguish of human experiences. They actively seek for short-term pleasure and intensely avoid pain. When one runs away from pain, from facing life openly, actions of evil set in. A good example is the devastating effects of addictions as we often observe where one disregards the welfare of oneself and others in pursuing self-gratification.

Regardless of the cause, one has the choice and the responsibility over his or her actions. The beauty of human existence is the freedom of choice. However, this gift also bears immense responsibility and consequences. One of the greatest challenges of the human psyche is to select between good and evil, the force of growth or the force of destruction. Human existence is filled with challenges and constant decisions. In choosing every step of our path, we determine the future revolution of our soul.