The Problem with “Good vs. Evil” Thinking
Why Do We See Morality as Black & White?
We love the idea of clear-cut morality—good guys versus bad guys, heroes versus villains.
It makes life easier when we can label people as entirely good or entirely bad and move on.
But in real life? It’s not that simple.
Most people aren’t 100% good or evil.
They’re just people—making choices in complex situations.
Some choices are wise, some are reckless, some are selfish, and some are selfless. But rarely are they purely good or purely evil.
So how do we navigate morality when the lines aren’t so clear?
The Problem with “Good vs. Evil” Thinking
When we see morality as black and white, we:
❌ Judge people too quickly without understanding their full story.
❌ Refuse to change our minds because we believe we’re on the “right” side.
❌ Make morality about rules instead of reasoning.
We’ve all been guilty of this at some point. Maybe you’ve judged someone without knowing their situation.
Maybe you’ve felt certain that someone else was “wrong” just because they believed something different.
But the truth is, morality is rarely about absolute right and wrong—it’s about context, choices, and consequences.
What Actually Makes Something “Right” or “Wrong”?
We like to think morality is simple: Stealing is wrong. Lying is wrong. Helping others is good.
But is it really that simple?
🔹 If stealing is always wrong, what about someone stealing food to survive?
🔹 If lying is always wrong, is it wrong to lie to protect someone from harm?
🔹 If helping others is always good, what if it means enabling bad behavior?
Morality isn’t just about rules—it’s about reasoning. The right choice in one situation might be the wrong choice in another.
And that’s what makes it so damn complicated.
How My Perspective on Morality Changed
For those who know me, I raise money for the homeless each year around my birthday, in addition to direct giving year-round.
But I didn’t always think this way.
In my twenties, I was struggling to make ends meet—just like a lot of people fresh out of the military, without a college degree, or stuck in low-paying jobs.
And the truth is, back then, I didn’t have much sympathy for people experiencing homelessness.
Not because I didn’t care—but because I was so close to being homeless myself that the thought of helping them felt like I was closing the gap between us in the wrong direction.
If I gave, I’d have less. If I helped them, what if I became one of them?
It took time to realize I had it backward.
Being homeless doesn’t make someone “less than.”
A homeless human is no different than someone living in a mansion—it’s not about where you live or how you live, but the circumstances you’re in.
Now that I’m in a better place in life, I don’t want to widen the gap—I want to bridge it.
Not by pushing those without further away, but by bringing all of us closer together.
Because at the end of the day, the difference between those who have and those who don’t shouldn’t be a wall—it should be a bridge.
How Humanism Approaches Morality
Instead of seeing morality as a list of rigid rules, Humanism challenges us to:
✔️ Think critically about the impact of our actions.
✔️ Consider empathy, reasoning, and real-world consequences.
✔️ Recognize that moral dilemmas are often complex.
Being a good person isn’t about memorizing a rulebook. It’s about taking responsibility for our choices and always striving to do better.
Because morality isn’t just about right and wrong—it’s about how we treat each other.
Why This Matters More Than Ever
We live in a world that loves labels.
People are constantly choosing sides, pointing fingers, and deciding who’s “good” and who’s “bad.”
But real life doesn’t work like that.
People can change. Perspectives can evolve.
The best thing we can do is stay open, stay thoughtful, and stay willing to ask hard questions.
Stay curious. Stay human. And always, be kind.
Have you ever faced a moral dilemma that challenged what you thought was right or wrong?
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