In M. Scott Peck’s seminal work on evil, People of The Lie, The Hope for Healing Human Evil, he scientifically examines the presence of evil within the individual and society. In the book’s introduction, Dr. Peck explains how judgement is a necessary aspect of defining evil people.
“In labeling certain human beings as evil, I am making an obviously severely critical value judgement. My Lord said, “Judge not, that ye be not judged.” By this statement–so often quoted out of context–Jesus did not mean we should never judge our neighbor. For he went on to say, “Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye” (Matthew 7:1-5). What he meant was that we should judge others only with great care, and that such carefulness begins with self-judgement.
We cannot begin to hope to heal human evil until we are able to look it directly. It is not a pleasant sight….It is about our dark side, and in large part about the very darkest members of our human community–those I frankly judge to be evil” (p.10).
Although a professing Christian, Peck’s purpose is not to present a biblical study of evil. Rather, he proposes evil as a diagnosis of pathology for these people. His concept of evil clarifies the nature of malignant narcissism and offers a useful paradigm for understanding George Geftakys and other abusive leaders. Here are quotations from the book, organized under the main characteristics of the people Dr. Peck calls “evil”.
-
Refusal to acknowledge sin
-
Self-Image of perfection
-
Intolerance of criticism
-
Scapegoating
-
Disguise and pretense
-
Intellectual deviousness
-
Greed
-
Unsubmitted will
-
Coercion and control of others
-
Lack of empathy
-
Symbiotic relationship
-
Evil in families
Reblogged this on COINTELPRO 2014 & the Truth About Organized Stalking & 21st Century Torture.
LikeLiked by 1 person