Myself, I have encountered Evil on a different plane--the plane of indifference. The police officer who violates one's civil liberties because he can, and because he just doesn't give a damn.
Bullies who prey on the smaller and weaker for no better reason than it amuses them.
Teachers who look the other way because they'd rather not deal with the parents.
Evil comes into this world in many forms. Forms of violence. Forms of destruction. Forms of apathy.
But, I think evil feels different. That is how a twisted, psychopath feels. Or a sociopath...one who acted out of his heart. Evil, I think, feels different because it isn’t human. Have you read M. Scott Peck’s book ‘People of the Lie’?
I wish that I had only visualized this memory of yours. Those feelings you described is something that I've experienced since childhood. I don't know exactly why I get these feelings or what causes me to experience them as often as I have in my 47 years of life. I've often wondered how many others go through this as well. Is this the only time you've experienced this echo of evil?
It was the only time. I even, about 7 years ago, returned to the site the reverend had taken me to back in 2000, it was really grown up but getting there in the Jeep was not a problem. What I discovered was that the house, as well as the shed, had both burned down. I have no idea if it was intentionally done or not.
I even stood on the exact spot among the remains of the shed of my earlier visit, with no sensations at all other than a feeling of profound sadness.
I said a prayer for both the victims that died there, and the old reverend, who had brought me there.
These experiences have been a curse and a blessing throughout my life. I've been thankful for these, for lack of a better word, connections. Some of these feelings would've never happened without these experiences and I believe it's given me strong empathy in difficult times. Then there's the visceral, heart stopping times that I pray will eventually fade. Either way, important lessons are learned.
Have you spoken with a preacher or theologian about it?
I think that would be a good idea to put it in its proper "context."
Some of us are more "gifted" than others at picking up these things, and such "gifts" if that is what we want to call them have a purpose.
Once, when I was doing some business in Columbia, I was moving through a crowd, and I got a whiff of that smell of evil from the shed, very slight, just a hint of it, and there is no doubt that the smell was evil, because I had this panicky "terror" for just a second, but then it faded and I did not detect it again.
I did not mistake some other smell or combination of smells for it, for I also had that taste! Once you have "tasted" evil, you will never mistake something else for it.
Yes, I know of that "taste" and the "smell" of evil as well. All of my sensations are triggered with these experiences. I haven't found a trust worthy person to talk with as of yet. In part because I haven't lived in one area long enough to establish myself within a given community; military lifestyle being what it is. The other part is where I currently live which I pray will be resolved in the near future. I've wondered about online communities, but I honestly wouldn't know where to begin looking, and if I could trust them. I can easily discuss my experiences with others but putting this in the hands of another, to find out the "why", is much more difficult. If you have any suggestions or advice, I would gladly listen. My Grandmother always told me that advice can come from where you least expect it. She also had these same experiences and never understood why. Maybe I won't know until my soul moves on, and if that's the case then so be it, but it doesn't mean that I'll stop looking in the meantime.
Your Grandmother was similarly "gifted" as well as being very very smart. Finding a deeply spiritual religious man (or woman) used to not be so hard, I would ask a local military preacher for a recommendation of someone to talk to about an "issue" that both you and your Grandmother "shared." The fact that both of you had these experiences should clue them in that this is something deserving attention of the most qualified person available.
I have always been surprised by the quality of feedback, guidance, or just plain advice I have received from members of the clergy. And often this "understanding" was not from the most experienced members of the church, but from some of the least. It is like there was a "guidance" from above that maybe "assisted" them in getting me to a place I could not find on my own.
If you are interested, I could relate a story about a young girl named Mindy, who died way too young and how a young preacher helped me resolve her death, and life.
I would absolutely love to hear Mindy's story. I have a strong feeling that it may be like my own experiences with helping someone who was taken before they had the chance to grow into womanhood. Sharing our individual stories is what helps us to grow closer within society. I believe this is part of the troublesome issues of our cultures; not enough sharing and understanding of individual experiences.
Lee, I wish you would watch Hitler's "rant" at the end, it is brilliantly done and conveys that feeling of Evil very well. And, at least for me, it wraps up successfully at the end, when he finishes and "looks into the fire".
There is something you can "get" here, without watching the whole movie, which is rather well done.
It is a true story, and yes, I am glad the preacher shared that experience with me, I feel it helped me understand something that was troubling me, understand that it was in a way "beyond the evil that men do" as are other things, such as genocide, the Holocaust, Holodomor, Killing Fields, and such.
He took me there after several days of discussion on Evil, and the murder of 145 million souls by Communism in the 20th century.
Fascinating.
Myself, I have encountered Evil on a different plane--the plane of indifference. The police officer who violates one's civil liberties because he can, and because he just doesn't give a damn.
Bullies who prey on the smaller and weaker for no better reason than it amuses them.
Teachers who look the other way because they'd rather not deal with the parents.
Evil comes into this world in many forms. Forms of violence. Forms of destruction. Forms of apathy.
Many forms. Yet all Evil.
Absolutely correct in every respect in my opinion.
It exists all around us, almost like an ether, probing, penetrating, corrupting, influencing.
Perhaps the EVIL the old preacher showed me was Demonic, even Satanic?
I have thought about it many times, was it more concentrated, beastly, non-human, so many questions.
Great post. I visualized it as I read.
Thank you.
I'm not convinced that Hitler was "evil".
Much of what I thought I knew has turned out to be lies by the victorious, with allied crimes, whitewashed out of the history books.
I do believe that Stalin and the Bolsheviks were evil, given that their body count allegedly dwarves all but Chairman Mao's.
Well, I’m convinced that anyone who seeks to eliminate an entire race of people, the Jews, is evil.
That doesn’t make him any less, or more evil than Stalin, or Mao, or Joe Biden, or for that matter George Bush, take your pick.
Well spun. Really. I felt it.
But, I think evil feels different. That is how a twisted, psychopath feels. Or a sociopath...one who acted out of his heart. Evil, I think, feels different because it isn’t human. Have you read M. Scott Peck’s book ‘People of the Lie’?
I have not but thank you for the recommendation.
I wish that I had only visualized this memory of yours. Those feelings you described is something that I've experienced since childhood. I don't know exactly why I get these feelings or what causes me to experience them as often as I have in my 47 years of life. I've often wondered how many others go through this as well. Is this the only time you've experienced this echo of evil?
It was the only time. I even, about 7 years ago, returned to the site the reverend had taken me to back in 2000, it was really grown up but getting there in the Jeep was not a problem. What I discovered was that the house, as well as the shed, had both burned down. I have no idea if it was intentionally done or not.
I even stood on the exact spot among the remains of the shed of my earlier visit, with no sensations at all other than a feeling of profound sadness.
I said a prayer for both the victims that died there, and the old reverend, who had brought me there.
These experiences have been a curse and a blessing throughout my life. I've been thankful for these, for lack of a better word, connections. Some of these feelings would've never happened without these experiences and I believe it's given me strong empathy in difficult times. Then there's the visceral, heart stopping times that I pray will eventually fade. Either way, important lessons are learned.
Have you spoken with a preacher or theologian about it?
I think that would be a good idea to put it in its proper "context."
Some of us are more "gifted" than others at picking up these things, and such "gifts" if that is what we want to call them have a purpose.
Once, when I was doing some business in Columbia, I was moving through a crowd, and I got a whiff of that smell of evil from the shed, very slight, just a hint of it, and there is no doubt that the smell was evil, because I had this panicky "terror" for just a second, but then it faded and I did not detect it again.
I did not mistake some other smell or combination of smells for it, for I also had that taste! Once you have "tasted" evil, you will never mistake something else for it.
Yes, I know of that "taste" and the "smell" of evil as well. All of my sensations are triggered with these experiences. I haven't found a trust worthy person to talk with as of yet. In part because I haven't lived in one area long enough to establish myself within a given community; military lifestyle being what it is. The other part is where I currently live which I pray will be resolved in the near future. I've wondered about online communities, but I honestly wouldn't know where to begin looking, and if I could trust them. I can easily discuss my experiences with others but putting this in the hands of another, to find out the "why", is much more difficult. If you have any suggestions or advice, I would gladly listen. My Grandmother always told me that advice can come from where you least expect it. She also had these same experiences and never understood why. Maybe I won't know until my soul moves on, and if that's the case then so be it, but it doesn't mean that I'll stop looking in the meantime.
Your Grandmother was similarly "gifted" as well as being very very smart. Finding a deeply spiritual religious man (or woman) used to not be so hard, I would ask a local military preacher for a recommendation of someone to talk to about an "issue" that both you and your Grandmother "shared." The fact that both of you had these experiences should clue them in that this is something deserving attention of the most qualified person available.
I have always been surprised by the quality of feedback, guidance, or just plain advice I have received from members of the clergy. And often this "understanding" was not from the most experienced members of the church, but from some of the least. It is like there was a "guidance" from above that maybe "assisted" them in getting me to a place I could not find on my own.
If you are interested, I could relate a story about a young girl named Mindy, who died way too young and how a young preacher helped me resolve her death, and life.
I would absolutely love to hear Mindy's story. I have a strong feeling that it may be like my own experiences with helping someone who was taken before they had the chance to grow into womanhood. Sharing our individual stories is what helps us to grow closer within society. I believe this is part of the troublesome issues of our cultures; not enough sharing and understanding of individual experiences.
Well of course I can't just watch the last scene lol, but otherwise praise for your storytelling
Lee, I wish you would watch Hitler's "rant" at the end, it is brilliantly done and conveys that feeling of Evil very well. And, at least for me, it wraps up successfully at the end, when he finishes and "looks into the fire".
There is something you can "get" here, without watching the whole movie, which is rather well done.
Is your post a true story? If so, are you glad for it or do you feel it should not have been done?
It is a true story, and yes, I am glad the preacher shared that experience with me, I feel it helped me understand something that was troubling me, understand that it was in a way "beyond the evil that men do" as are other things, such as genocide, the Holocaust, Holodomor, Killing Fields, and such.
He took me there after several days of discussion on Evil, and the murder of 145 million souls by Communism in the 20th century.