So, let's have a little talk about good and evil. Most people have a pretty good understanding of 'good' and 'evil', but let's more look at it from a theological standpoint. We'll start with Judaism and Christianity, then we can flip into Shinto a little bit.
From our understanding of Judaism, the entire point is to try to follow God's laws. That's the 10 Commandments, plus a bunch of other rules and such that has been laid out in the ancient past. It's fully understood that people make mistakes, but the goal is the attempt. That's what's important.
So what is good in Judaism? Well, pretty much the same thing as in Shinto. You should do good works. What are good works? Supporting your community (tribe), and those who come into your community (strangers). Hospitality, kindness, empathy. This is mentioned in passing in the Bible, not strictly as 'being good', since it's just kind of understood.
You see, the 10 Commandments aren't saying 'be good'. That's not the point.
It's 1) You have made a compact with God, and this is what he expects of you:
2) Here's some of the worst acts you can do to your community. Don't do that.
Again, being a good person is just understood. This was a reminder that there's some super serious stuff that you really shouldn't be doing. But there's no law saying 'be a good person' -- because it's presumed you're going to be. You're just expected to help your community (tribe) thrive.
So what's 'good' in the NT then?
Well, let's see.
Jesus says: “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone."
In the same breath he's telling you that if you truly want to follow him, you need to give away all that you have. This is where he brings up the camel through the eye of a needle bit.
But that's not being good.
He also says: “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments.”
So, twice he's telling his audience that nobody is actually "good" except God. This isn't to say everyone is evil (he never says that), but you can basically say 'God is without fault'. So what else does Jesus say?
Quite a bit, really. About community, about helping those around you, about showing empathy and compassion, about welcoming the stranger.
In other words, he's saying what's already expected of the people around him, reminding them that the community is important -- the people around you. You're expected to take care of them.
So. The Torah and the Bible says that you should be following the rules. Okay.
In the Torah, you're expected to help the community by doing good deeds.
In the Bible, Jesus is expecting you to help the community by doing good deeds.
"Faith without Works is dead."
You can say you're good all you want, but if you're not helping the community, you're not 'good'.
As an aside? That's pretty much Shinto as well. As far as 'good' is concerned, Judaism and Shinto see pretty much eye to eye.
Well, in Judaism, what is "evil" is anything God does not want. And by the very act of not wanting it, it is created - whether God wants it to exist or not. Because evil is the absence of God's desires.
In other words, God created evil by not wanting evil.
In Shinto, Izanami and Izanagi made all manner of things by accident. Just by their actions, were thousands upon thousands of kami made. As an extension of this, if you are aware of something, it exists.
So, what is evil? Literally, it is a non-entity, the opposite of God, being contrary to His laws, or directly opposing God.
So where does empathy come into this?
It doesn't. Because it's presumed you're doing good works. And "this" is not "that". Helping your community is the default state. It's just understood that this is what you do.
However... let's look at this a bit more.
The Egyptians were declared evil, because they inflicted slave labour on the Hebrews. The Amalekites attacked the Hebrews without just cause.
They're called 'evil'. The big reason?
"Welcome the stranger."
You help the community. Someone comes into your community, you help them. Remember, the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah is about hospitality. Because if you're a nomadic tribe, hospitality is your life's blood.
So, the Egyptians enslaved the Hebrews. That's a lack of empathy, an attack on the community. The Amalekites attacked the Hebrews who lagged behind as they travelled. Again, lack of empathy.
So, what is good?
There's no real law for 'goodness'.
Goodness is a state of being. It is to show empathy to those around you, to do good acts that help to bolster the community, to welcome the stranger and make them feel safe.
It's supposed to be the default state of existence, just 'understood'.
And pretty much every faith understands that, it doesn't need to be written down and codified into law -- it just is. The tweaks and twists that go with it are cultural tradition, unique to those cultures, but the essence remains the same.
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