What exactly is evil? At first glance, the answer seems simple: evil is the opposite of good. But not everything that is bad or terrible is also morally evil. People’s perceptions of what is good, bad, or evil are constantly changing. And often, evil begins on a small scale—when people deliberately harm others or prioritize their own interests over those of others. But how can we prevent something bad from turning into something evil?
Scientist Harald Lesch and theologian Thomas Schwartz discuss evil in the Bible and the “theodicy question”: If God is good and all-powerful, why is there suffering and evil in the world? What role does individual freedom play in this? Together, Lesch and Schwartz analyze the responsibility each individual bears. For evil does not begin only with war, violence, or crime. Paying attention, speaking out, making one’s own judgments, and taking responsibility can prevent boundaries from being pushed further and further.
