well, who is to say what "emotional health" is in that case? i mean, really, that would then fall into the realm of individual belief systems, religion and other sources of various ideology and dogma. There is no one truth (except that one ).

and one should beware of one's own filters, etc when looking at how your own beliefs, new, old, healthy or not, are received. If i take offense to someone speaking of cancer as not being evil - is that unhealthy of me? Is it unhealthy of the person speaking? No.. not in either case. It would be a matter of individual difference and experience - and beliefs. True, it is generally accepted that intent is required for evil, but in the end - says who? There isn't any rule book and i can decide to believe that walnuts are the spawn of the devil if i so choose. i haven't taken offense to the remark about cancer, but i could if i were inclined because it has killed loved ones and i myself have had several tumors. i could easily see it as evil... personally it would be meant more as in it's a tool of evil energy. But that isn't something i would think or say.

i don't happen to think it's really emotionally any healthier to think one way versus the other in some regards. They are just different ways. What limits the degree of health is the ability to know when your own beliefs will cause needless pain in others and knowing to keep your thoughts to yourself, and also then too, the degree of tolerance of the beliefs of others. THOSE make a person healthier in my own belief system, not what thoughts you hold about specific ideologies.

There are lots of places one is not able to speak one's belief's, that is true. But then, there are lots of places where people are trying to live in kinder and gentler ways as well. Remember... i've said it before, a new ideology on your part doesn't necessarily mean it is truth or healthier, it's just your current blueprint. Same with my own.

i don't think many people are truly evil, but some are. i don't personally buy into the escapist or absolution theories of an abuser being a good person who happened to have been abused themselves. i do happen to believe that people who abuse have evil elements even if they aren't always evil all the way through. i would be very deeply pained by someone telling me otherwise, especially in the case of my own abusers... and mostly, honestly, because i see nothing for them to gain in the saying of that other than to further their own sense of "correctness." Would i tell them they can't believe that? No.. but i'd ask them to find someplace else to go say it and be prepared to hear my own adult view which is just as healthy, real and valid. That's the trick, right?

and especially in a place such as this, where people tend to have arrived because of all manner of personal pain... no one comes to receive new dogma. It isn't the place to debate who is good or bad. Debate those things on philosophy or ethics sites. People have a right to their views, it doesn't mean i have a right to make everyone be subject to MY views. i happen to know people i believe are evil all the way through... you can feel it roll off of them in a toxic energy. i am ok with people who don't believe in evil or good, just live your life by it. Living your life by your beliefs is more effective that spouting them anyways.

to ask a question a different way then... it is true and sad that people can't always speak their beliefs without fear... but one should also ask what is one's motivation in the desire to speak the belief in the first place? Is it larger theories to create or shift dogma? If yes, then that belongs in a specific arena. If it is being targeted at individuals then what is the motivation?

is the motivation as healthy as the new perspective? and in the end, it's ALL persective.

you say you believe no one is evil. Ok, i say fair enough. It doesn't affect me so i see no reason to object. Now, if you were to say that to a person who is struggling to come to terms with abuse i would still feel you have the right to believe it, but i would strongly object to the choice of venue to state it. And again, the question should be what would be the motivation in stating it?

beware of ideology, often becomes faith... and that does NOT denote anything religious, it simply means that you accept your own perspective as THE one and ONLY perspective and see others as inferior somehow and in need of "correcting." That isn't healthier... it's as back assward as any other ideology.

letting go of the concepts of good and evil fit very well with certain life perspectives, and for some people it can be freeing or as you say, growing up... but it doesn't mean that it is the correct or healthier or even more adult view. It's just A view that now happens to be your view... make sense?

if your motivations are simply to express your new perspectives openly, and you do so with care not to have those cut down others for whatever they happen to believe in... i say fill your boots.

Note: this sounded a little more... idk... miffed than i intended. i'm not at all miffed, just sharing.

peace out