Some Christians may believe that psychologically, some people seem more evil than others. They may believe that some people are simply born evil, or that the way people have lived their lives may lead them to become evil. Today, Christians, like many, may see evil as a psychological phenomenon. They may believe that evil is created by the psychological forces in the world which shape our character, such as our parenting and schooling.
Some Christians believe that evil in the world is caused by the devil, known as Satan. They believe that Satan is the enemy of God, who rules in hell and tries to force humanity to turn away from the path of Goodness God sets for us. According to early Christian teachings, the Devil was created good, but was jealous of God and so decided to fight against him instead of follow his teachings. Therefore, these Christians would see evil as an unpleasantness sent by the Devil to lure them away from the Christian teachings. In the creation story in Genesis, Adam and Eve were tempted into doing wrong by a serpent, and some Christians believe this to be the devil in disguise. In the book of Job, the devil causes much suffering, to turn him against God, but Job doesn’t give up faith. Jesus is also shown in the Bible to be tempted by the devil:
“And he said to him, I will give you all their authority and splendour…….so if you worship me, it will be all yours. Jesus answered, It is written; worship the lord your God and serve him only.” (Luke 4:8)
Here, however, Jesus is determined stand by his faith, and many Christians would use this to prove that no matter how strong the devil’s forces, they can always be overcome. Christians who interpret this story as factual would therefore believe in the Devils attempts to promote evil in the world. Traditionally, the devil is portrayed as red, with horns and a forked tail. Christians who accept the stories about the Devil may believe that whenever suffering occurs, or people choose to do wrong, it is because of the power of the devil, causing tragedy and encouraging others to commit evil sins. These Christians believe that when people are tempted by the devil, they are not in their right mind when they commit such wrongs.
Most conservative Christian churches teach the beliefs that originated in the 1st century CE- that Satan is powerfully evil, and a fallen angel who is dedicated to the destruction of everyone’s lives. He is described as a supernatural being who "walketh about, seeking whom he may devour”. Christians following these teachings would agree with the existence of the devil in everyday lives. They believe therefore that the devil engages in a worldwide "spiritual warfare," and is a continual threat to all, able to dwell within people.
Liberal Christians usually view Satan as a principle or concept of evil, and not a spiritual being. They accept that Jesus and his disciples believed in Satan as the presence of a living body, and that the gospel writers recorded rituals to drive away dwelling demons, but they view these beliefs as a result of the less advanced scientific level of knowledge at the time.
Not all Christians believe that the Devil is real. Some Christians say that the Bible’s description of the Devil is merely a poetic way of explaining how people feel pulled in different directions, and why they are often tempted to do things, even if they know they are wrong. Many Christians who do not believe that the story of the Devil is technically true, believe that evil is merely the idea of the absence of something good.
Some Christians also believe that evil is the result of Adam and Eve. They believe that as Adam and Eve were the first people to rebel against God, this is where evil began, and so they introduced evil and suffering into the world. They believe that God did create a perfect world for Adam and Eve, but they spoilt this by their thoughtless actions. This is shown when Eve took forbidden fruit from the tree in the Garden of Eden: “When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it.” (Genesis 3:16). This, therefore, marks the very start of greed and evil actions in the bible, and so Christians who believe its stories are likely to believe that this is where, and perhaps how evil began.
Christians may also say that although God is allowing the force of evil to exist, he wants people to act according to the rules he sets us. They would believe that everything comes down to the day God judges them, and so whatever evil there is, they should continue to live the way God wants them to live.
Other Christians may accept that we will never fully understand why God is allowing such terrible things to happen. They say evil and suffering are a mystery; that perhaps the existence of these is something only God can understand, and maybe we will finally understand on our own walk with God.
Although Christian views on evil do depend largely on the personal beliefs of individuals, all Christians unite in believing that no matter what happens, God does care about people during evil and suffering. Jesus, the Son of God, suffered on the cross, and bore the depths of all evil. Therefore, Christians understand that God knows what suffering is like and shares our pain. All Christians suffer as a result of evil, and as a result of this, they feel closer to God and recognise such dependence on him: “Even if I go through the darkness, I will not be afraid, Lord, for you are with me” psalm 23.4
Christians who accept the bible’s teachings understand that by sharing his universe’s suffering, God made redemption possible and made it possible for all of the wrongs of the world to eventually be made right.