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If you had to debate the question
Race, Religion & Politics / 1:28 PM - Tuesday November 03, 2009

if you had to debate the question

of whether or not people are innately good and taught to be evil, or whether people are innately evil and taught to be good, which argument would you pick and why?

Update: November 04, 2009.
thank you all for taking the time to think about this question and responding in kind. the answers were informative. it is nice to know that most people feel that the human race is ultimately a positive force. it also raises the question as to how to define evil.

- Asked by divadancer2, An Alternative Girl, Female, 46-55, Other Profession

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there is no just good and just evil. it all come down to perspective. what one person sees as good another may determine is evil and vice versa. a person's view of the world is limited to one sight and how he/she interprets it.

- Response by guy5432, A Couch Potato, Male, 29-35, New York, Who Cares?

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As a Christian who was taught to believe that we are all created in God's image. That being said, I believe that people would be inherently good, as God is. While there is evil in the world, in my humble opinion, is the exception to the norm and a learned behavior. This does however go against the Christian teaching of original sin.

Now the Jewish teachings of Adam and Eve is very different than my Christian one. A Judaism belief is that a person is born, not evil or good, but innocent. Being born into a world of evil and facing challenges of this world, helping them to grow as human beings.

The Muslims believe that all people are born into a naturally pure and sin-free state. That no person inherits original sin, nor is anyone held accountable for the sins of others.

Now as a mother, I would like to think that my children were born as innocents, sin-free and not little demon babies. All I can do, as their mother, is to set them on the right path. Teaching them to face life's challenges, choosing right from wrong and making a difference in this world for the better...

- Response by 1pghpafemale, A Sweet Sarah, Female, 36-45, Pittsburgh, Artist / Musician / Writer

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people are innately good, look a children they are not evil.

- Response by beanielou, A Thinker, Female, 29-35, Who Cares?

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People are innately selfish (some might call that evil) and are taught to be good.

- Response by chal08, A Rebel, Male, 26-28

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Well, one would probably call looking out for just ones slef as being evil, so I would guess that people naturally look out for themsleves and then are taught to be good due to the laws of civil society.

- Response by juandontbeg, An Intellectual Guy, Male, 29-35, Charlotte, Self-Employed

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Good, taught to be evil (or rather taught not to have empathy for others).

- Response by xerxes, An Intellectual Guy, Male, 36-45, Washington, DC, Lawyer

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we're innately evil, but fight it to make the world work. just think about what u would do if there were no rules. u wouldnt go help everyone. youd be stealing, having sex with whoever you wanted, etc... i rest my case.

- Response by foonlord, A Creative, Male, 26-28, San Francisco, Internet / New Media

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I would take the position that neither of those assertions is supported by the evidence.

- Response by lyon, An Intellectual Guy, Male, 36-45, Boston, Self-Employed

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