A Unitarian Exploration of Good, Evil, and Our Potential for Transformation

 From a Unitarian perspective, evil is understood not as a personified supernatural entity like the Devil or Satan, but as a manifestation of human actions, decisions, and systemic issues that are contrary to promoting unity, love, and justice. The Devil or Satan, in this perspective, can be seen more as a metaphorical or mythological representation of these harmful elements, rather than a literal being.

Joseph Campbell, a renowned scholar in the field of comparative mythology, emphasized the role of myths and symbols in human understanding of the world. Campbell believed these stories and symbols serve to articulate our shared human experience. Applying this to the concept of the Devil or Satan, we might see this figure not as an actual source of evil, but as a symbol embodying the concept of evil within us and our societies.

Campbell's thoughts on the transformative power of myth align with the ideas of Carl Jung, the influential psychologist, who proposed the concept of the "Shadow" in his theory of the collective unconscious. For Jung, the Shadow represents the unknown, denied, or repressed parts of oneself. Translating this to the metaphor of the Devil or Satan, we can see it as symbolizing the "shadow" of humanity - our collective potential for harm, selfishness, violence, and other actions typically seen as evil.

As for modern philosophers, many argue that acknowledging the existence of evil - both within us and in society - is crucial for ethical growth and the creation of a better world. Philosopher Martha Nussbaum, for instance, argues for the significance of recognizing and navigating human emotions, including those that can lead to harmful actions, to foster a more empathetic society.

In essence, the concept of Evil, symbolized through figures like the Devil or Satan, serves as a profound tool for introspection and societal critique. Recognizing this "evil" isn't about acknowledging a supernatural antagonist, but about confronting our individual and collective potential for harmful actions. Only by acknowledging and wrestling with these aspects of our nature can we truly strive to overcome them, allowing for the creation of a more compassionate, just, and ultimately better world.

In the struggle against evil, as metaphorically symbolized by the Devil or Satan, we find not only the acknowledgment of our shared human flaws but also a call to action for each of us to be better and to create a better world. It is a recognition that the world's darkness cannot be dispelled by ignoring it, but by courageously confronting it with light, love, and justice. In this sense, the battle against evil is indeed a battle for a better world.

In the Unitarian perspective and others, the divine is often seen as encompassing attributes such as light, love, and justice. Therefore, actions embodying these qualities can be considered manifestations of divine goodness, or as I put it, the "Glory of God."

Kindness, charity, and love are not just virtuous acts; they are potent forces that counterbalance and dispel the presence of evil in the world. By expressing these qualities, we actively participate in making the world a better place, decreasing suffering, and promoting unity and peace.

This concept takes on a deeper significance when we perform these actions selflessly for the benefit of others. By extending our compassion and love beyond the boundaries of our individual selves, we participate in a profound cycle of reciprocity and interconnectedness that reinforces and multiplies the goodness in our shared world.

When people label a bearer of kindness as an "angel," it's more than just a compliment. It's an acknowledgment of that person channelling and embodying divine goodness — becoming a conduit for God's work on Earth.

In a world where evil, represented symbolically by figures such as the Devil or Satan, exists as a challenge to our better natures, every act of kindness, charity, and love serves as a counterforce. In this battle, each of us has the capacity to be a warrior for good, not through violence, but through love, kindness, and charity.

Every time we choose love over hate, kindness over cruelty, and charity over selfishness, we push back the darkness and shine a light that illuminates the path for others. In this sense, every person has the potential to be a beacon of divine goodness, transforming the world one act of kindness at a time.

Our battle against evil, therefore, becomes not just a personal struggle, but a shared journey towards a more compassionate, loving, and just world. It is in this shared struggle, this shared journey, that we find our highest purpose and our greatest hope for the world. This, indeed, is the embodiment of God's work on Earth.

We could acknowledge that while the essence of light, love, and justice is indeed often expressed through actions of kindness and charity, it's also true that there exist forces in the world that seem to resist or counteract these virtues. They might be seen metaphorically as "warriors of evil" or "paladins of evil."

These forces don't necessarily reside in any specific institution, such as bureaucracy or politics, but they can manifest in these areas due to the dynamics of power, influence, and ambition. As powerfully articulated in Howard Spring's novel "Fame Is The Spur", 'The paths of glory, it seemed to him, were more than ever likely to end in the grave, and that kind of glory was the most spurious of all things, the corrupter, the destroyer, the sickness.' This insight elucidates how even well-intentioned politicians can become servants of the very forces they once sought to resist, where the pursuit of glory can indeed corrupt and destroy the noblest of intentions

To label the Houses of Parliament, or any other institution, as the "seat of Satan" would perhaps oversimplify the nature of this problem. Instead, these places could be seen as battlefields, where forces of good and evil, light and darkness, vie for influence. It's in these very spaces, where policy, greed, and ego often clash, that the light of love, justice, and kindness indeed needs to shine its brightest.

But, it's important to remember that these "warriors of evil" are not intrinsically evil beings. They are individuals who, due to various influences and choices, have come to align themselves with actions and systems that can lead to harm and injustice. The fight against evil, then, is not a fight against individuals but against these harmful actions and systems.

In this ongoing struggle, every act of integrity, compassion, and courage helps to push back the shadows. Every politician who resists corruption, every bureaucrat who prioritizes the public good over personal gain, and every citizen who demands justice and accountability becomes a beacon of light in these figurative halls of power.

This perspective challenges us to see evil not as an inevitable or unchangeable force but as a call to action for each of us to manifest greater light, love, and justice in the world. As we strive to overcome the manifestations of evil in our societies, we contribute to the transformation of these so-called "seats of Satan" into true seats of service and justice. This battle against evil is not only for the betterment of our world, but it is also for the refinement and growth of our collective human spirit.

If we perceive Satan not as a literal entity but as a symbol of the potential within us to be swayed by ego, desire, and fear, it can be said that "Satan" exists within the human condition. This conceptual Satan could be seen as the voice that tempts us towards actions that harm others or ourselves, often whispered into the ears of our ego and desire.

Yet, despite this shadowy influence, we possess the power to turn towards the light, to embrace the call of kindness, justice, and love. We are agents of our own destiny, capable of discerning right from wrong, and ultimately responsible for the choices we make. The universe, in its grand mechanism of cause and effect, sees and responds to our actions.

The goal, then, is to strive towards the light in all our words and deeds, conscious that our actions have consequences, not just in the world around us, but in the state of our souls. As we navigate this world filled with both light and shadow, it's up to us to decide which force we feed with our actions.

In conclusion, let us reflect on these words by Unitarian minister Gordon B. McKeeman: "Religion is our human response to the dual reality of being alive and having to die... We are religious because we are alive, not because we fear death. We are religious because we have seen the spring flowers blossom in the warmth of the sun, not because we have seen them wilt and die in the frost.”

So, let us live fully, love deeply, act justly, and let the blossoming flowers of our actions be our gift to the world, knowing well that each act contributes to the grand tapestry of existence.