You wrote:
Are aggressive plants "evil?" I'm not sure ... they're just doing what they're genetically programmed to do
My question here, I guess what I really meant to ask is this ...
If creature A does something that it is genetically programmed to do which leads to creature A treating creature B in a way that creature A itself would not like to be treated then is that the definition of evil behaviour on the part of creature A? (If so, note that this definition of evil would not be connected to any particular religion).
You wrote:
If "love" means to "act with the intent to do what is right and good for the object," then even with people I do not like I can see that my actions can be in the form of what is good for them or what is not good for them.
If it helps you then great, but unfortunately I think that this is a cop out. Take the example of a parent and child. The parent can do all the right things for the child, every action of the parent can be good for the child, best schools, best food, attention, money etc. But that child will damn well know if that parent really loves them or not.
When I'm told to love my neighbour, and I don't like my neighbour, the only way I believe that I can is to let go of my inner judgement of my neighbour, and to trust in God. Can I do it? I don't know but I'm trying.
You asked:
Why is it we do things to ourselves we know are not right and not good?
It is my firm opinion that the imperative to breed makes us do things that are in direct conflict with our own best interests. These actions are not good for us as individuals, whether they are good for anyone or anything else is another question !
Related ... I snigger at the line in The Simpsons when Homer is on death row and two priests come to visit him for last rites, and they get into a fight. The Catholic priest says to the regular Simpsons priest ... "Oh why don't you go home and sleep with your wife !!"
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