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Can Education Cure Evil?

Can Education Cure Evil?

Last updated on: August 29, 2025 at 10:18 am by Roger E. Olson

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Can Education Cure Evil? 2025-08-29T10:18:44-05:00 Roger E. Olson

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

A long time ago, most people in the world believed there is a power of evil in the world that tempts or even causes people to do evil things. There were believed to be degrees of this—from outright possession by evil powers to occasional giving in to temptation by evil forces, beings or powers.

At least from the New Testament onward, Christians have believed very strongly in an evil being called variously “Satan” and “the Devil” and his mignons, fallen angels, demons. The best modern theological treatment is I Believe in Satan’s Downfall by English theologian Michael Green. Of course, numerous books have been written about the subject including two by Greg Boyd (including Satan and the Problem of Evil).

Modernity gave rise to an alternative explanation of evil: It is the result of ignorance and the “drag” of our (humans’) animal nature (lack of complete evolution). Liberal theologians attributed evil to the failure of people to allow the “spirit” to conquer “nature.”

Especially secular movers and shakers of modern, Western culture and society have often (not universally) found the cure for evil in education. No doubt good education can help, but the case study of Germany in the 1930s and 1940s argues against education as a panacea for evil.

Now, in light of the epidemic of mass shootings, not only in America but especially here, many secular researchers and commentators are looking at mental illness as the cause of most evil. That’s not a new idea but one that is finding new traction. No doubt mental illness does contribute to and sometimes cause evils such as murder.

Another often appealed to cause or background basis for evil is poverty. However, numerous very evil acts have been committed by wealthy and privileged people. Then, when that happens, many secular people attribute the evil acts to abuse in childhood that distorted the evil doers’ personalities.

There is, then, no consensus about evil’s sources or causes. No doubt all the theories have some explanatory power. There does not seem to be any one overriding factor, however, that gives rise to evils such as school shootings.

One factor (not cause) that is rarely mentioned is maleness. Almost all murders, especially mass ones, are done by males. More study of that fact should be carried out. What inclines males to be more violent toward innocent people? I have read whole scholarly and scientific books that report on studies of testosterone and the results have been inconclusive. High levels of testosterone do not necessarily result in more aggression or violent behavior. Testosterone does, however, in general, make a person more prone to aggression. But there is no direct correlation between testosterone and violence toward innocent people such as children.

America faces a great problem with the pandemic of school shootings. They seem to represent a special, higher level of violence than is ordinary. Why do so many young males commit these horrible acts not only in schools but also in churches and movie theaters and elsewhere? Who is actually studying this question and coming up with any answers?

This blog is for the expression of Christian opinions. What do Christians think about evil? What ought Christians think about evil? We have long been taught that sin is the source of all evil; it all began with the fall of humanity away from God and into sin (defection from God, selfishness, pride, etc.). But why do some humans commit such absolutely heinous acts as killing children?

Does Satan have anything to do with it? A recent mass shooter who killed two school children and wounded many others wrote a “manifesto” before doing it and seemed to indicate an overwhelming desire to do it. A seemingly irresistible urge. Where does that come from? Can science explain such? If so, who is doing the research and how and what are the results, however tentative. Yes, we are told such horrible events arise from mental illness, but then why feel so much outrage about it? Horror, yes, but why outrage at the killer? What if he or she could not help it?

The relatively easy availability of guns is not the answer to evil. There have always been guns. When I was growing up in America in the 1950s and 1960s almost every school kid I knew had a rifle. I had one. There were very few if any mass school shootings. Yes, I believe restricting access to guns is part of a solution, but easy access to guns doesn’t seem to explain what is happening.

One possible answer I have read about, not taken seriously by modern, Western psychologists, so far as I know, is a phenomenon well-known in some countries called “berserking” or “amok.” The phrases “running amok” and “going berserk” are often heard, but they are not clinical explanations although perhaps they should be. The phenomenon is where somebody, usually a young man, suddenly and without clear reason starts attacking people and even killing them. This phenomenon is well-known in some countries such as Malaysia and Indonesia. Many sociologists have considered it a culture-bound phenomenon, but what if American culture has now begun to experience it—in this particular form?

Ultimately, Christians believe Satan is behind all evil even though, in most cases, Satan does not directly cause people to do evil. But, according to traditional Christian theology, Satan and/or his demons influences people and occasionally (maybe more often than we think) actually possesses them such that they carry out is bidding.

That all sounds mythological to non-Christians, but psychologist M. Scott Peck wrote at least two books supporting that explanation (in some cases of evil).

My point is simply that we are now, in America, experiencing an outbreak of evil beyond what we knew in the past—an epidemic of young men (very few women) suddenly killing children, targeting them for no particular known reason other than a desire to do it. What desire? Obviously because it is the worst thing the killers can think of.

Without in any way detracting from scientific research into the reasons why people do this, Christians will think that Satan has something to do with it. No, Satan doesn’t make a person not so inclined do such things. But might Satan influence people to do such things? Might Ockham’s Razor not be entirely correct? Might some events have more than one cause? Christians have always thought so and most still do think so.

In the meantime, though, parents and teachers and others need to keep a close eye on boys (and a few girls) who torture and kill animals for fun. I knew a few kids who did that when I was in junior high school. I stayed as far away from them as possible. I probably should have reported them to someone. But at that time, I doubt anything would have been done about it. Also, adults need to keep a very close eye on any boy (or girl) who threatens violence against anyone. And kids should be encouraged to report any kid who they know who has threatened violence. Parents need to read their kid’s diaries and journals and social media communications. And they need to make sure their kids do not have access to weapons of mass murder. (.22 rifles are rarely if ever used in such mass killings and many kids have them for target practice and “plinking” as I did.)

As a Christian theologian, I want fellow Christians to continue to “see” Satan’s “hand” in evil acts while at the same time encouraging scientific research and adult supervision and other potential means toward reducing these horrible incidents that have now become almost daily occurrences in America.

*Note: If you choose to comment, make sure your comment is relatively brief (no more than 100 words), on topic, addressed to me, civil and respectful (not hostile or argumentative), and devoid of pictures or links.*

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