Question for mono-theists. Can God Be Evil?

[SSanf]

This is for mono-theists because ploytheists would have to ask which God.

[David19]

I'm not monotheist, but if it's ok, I'd like to give my opinion, I believe any god has the ability and potential to do either "good" or "evil". That there's no such thing as anything "pure good" or "pure evil", etc.

It's a similar view in Judaism, with YHWH telling the Jews 'I create the light and create darkness, I the lord do all these things'. Not sure how it's seen in Christianity or Islam, though.

[Toby Stimpson]

I come from a religion that doesnt see duality of god or eveil, only stability and chaos.

the Hindu monotheistic view is that God is a single all... and so aspects of him could be evil or good...but that evil and good are worldly constructs. That ultimatly the question of if God is good or evil, or can be evil doesnt matter.

Evil as a philosophical idea doesnt exist... evil is all percieved based on our own built up morals and ideas. Whether or not God causes natural disasters and death is irrelevant because our perception of what is natural or unnatural is skewed in the way of Humanity.

[Trithemius]

I think the labeling of a god as "good" or "evil" is completely dependent on one's personal morals and point of view.

Christianity is a good example here. Today's Christians will tell you that God is kind, loving, and forgiving. This is the same God that in the Old Testament ordered the Israelites to wipe out sixty entire cities, killing every man, woman, and child, so they could occupy their "promised land." This is the same God who committed worldwide genocide by flooding the planet, drowning everyone but a handpicked few, all because people weren't doing what he told them to do. This is the same God who ordered the Israelites to kidnap and rape virgin girls to make them their wives. Murder, child abuse, slavery, pillaging - all are ordered by the God Christians claim is loving. They see him as a wonderful, flawless god who can do no wrong, and many of them will go to endless lengths to justify these atrocities.

Would others look at this god's actions and see him in the same positive light Christians do? Most likely not. It all depends on personal viewpoint.

[Glory]

In my opinion? Based on my own beliefs?

No.

Nor can a single God-like entity be "good". "Good and "evil" are purely human, extremely subjective ideas. If there was one God, I'd like to think he/she/it would rise above such judgement.

Of course, one can argue that the purpose of a God is to be all Good, and teach us how to be Good. But I'm not subscribing to that anytime soon.

[Squiddy]

I think the labeling of a god as "good" or "evil" is completely dependent on one's personal morals and point of view.

Christianity is a good example here. Today's Christians will tell you that God is kind, loving, and forgiving. This is the same God that in the Old Testament ordered the Israelites to wipe out sixty entire cities, killing every man, woman, and child, so they could occupy their "promised land." This is the same God who committed worldwide genocide by flooding the planet, drowning everyone but a handpicked few, all because people weren't doing what he told them to do. This is the same God who ordered the Israelites to kidnap and rape virgin girls to make them their wives. Murder, child abuse, slavery, pillaging - all are ordered by the God Christians claim is loving. They see him as a wonderful, flawless god who can do no wrong, and many of them will go to endless lengths to justify these atrocities.

Would others look at this god's actions and see him in the same positive light Christians do? Most likely not. It all depends on personal viewpoint.

IMO, I think most Christians tend to ignore the God of the old testament, or at least gloss over his atrocities. BibleGod was nothing but a horrific mass murderer. Is that evil? Yep.