Human beings do not have a dark side and there is no such thing as
evil. Although that may sound utterly absurd, I believe I can convince
you that this is so.
To begin with, the term “dark side” carries a decidely judgmental
spin. Dark means bad or evil.
For example, in our contemporary Western milleau, the most frequent use of
the term “dark side” is actually in association with the Star
Wars movies. Darth Vader was turned to the “dark side” and manifests
all the classic characteristics of “evil.” And, he’s really
smart. Just like the “devil” figure so common in a wide variety
of spiritual persuasions.
The concept of evil infers the existence of an organizing force, a kind of
massive conspiracy of “darkness” which sytematically works to
degrade and destroy processes of goodness and light. Problem is, this is
like saying that there is an order to the disorder, a purpose behind the
chaos.
The idea of evil is obsolete in the New Metaphysic. In cutting edge metaphysics,
God is pure love. And God is everything. Period.
Anything that appears evil is simply “disordered.” That’s
all. No attitude, no agenda, to the disorder. Just simple entropy, plain old
impersonal, mechanical chaos.
For the scientist, entropy is the universal tendency of organized systems of
energy and matter to automatically fall apart, erode, and disintegrate.
For the metaphysician, entropy is intentionally built into the universe to
keep it from becoming stagnant. This force is an important part of God creative
toolbox, something like an eraser. As lesser but nonetheless powerful creators
entropy is in our toolboxes too.
Think about it: Without some kind of force to stimulate disorganization, everthing
would swing too far to other end of the spectrum. Without entropy, everything
would become more and more ordered until the universe and various worlds
in it would steadily reach a state of perfect, crystalline order.
What would that be like? Not too exciting really. A world without entropy would
be a frozen, motionless, lifeless state of affairs in which nothing new could
ever again be created. A universe without entropy is a dead end universe.
All sentient creatures in this particular universe choose to be here knowing
full well in advance we will encounter a variety of entropic processes along
the way.
It cannot be stressed enough: Entropy is utterily impersonal. It is not “dark” or “evil” or “sinister.”
How do we explain the parts of our lives where highly destructive events and
people are experienced? Is it really a “side?”
Consider a plant. The seed of a plant contains exquisitely ordered information.
When the seed germinates this information begins to order the chaoticcally
and randomly arranged raw materials surrounding it. As this ordering process
progresses, tissues are formed and a viable living, reproducing organism
creates itself.
Molecules which are incorporated into the structure of the plant’s cells
become a part of the order. Molecules which remain outside the organism in
the air or soil, remain disordered.
So it is with our personal selves. The parts of us that are in a higher state
of love, and light and goodness are the parts we have ordered. Everything
else, just remains a part of the entropy-disordered universe around us. There
is no “darkness” to the disorder and thus no “dark side.”
We chose to be here in this place. And we wanted entropy, asked specifically
for entropy. Entropy, as it takes the form of hardship, disease, makes us
struggle. And struggle, like the energy required to work an exercise machine,
makes us stronger—in many highly desirable ways.
We want our exercise, we want our entropy very badly. Just as we go to a lot
of trouble to go to the gym and exercise so that we will have strong beautiful
bodies, we go to a lot of trouble to set up course work in the gym of life
which will deepen and beautify our souls. We are, all in all, a very highly
motivated group of souls that have congregated here.
Sure, we experience--as apparent parts of our self--confusion, depression,
anxiety, aggression and all sorts of other undesirable thought patterns.
But these kinds of entropic processes do not work together to make up an
organized “dark side.”
Nonetheless, the concept of a dark side can be useful. There is no such thing
as a zero either, but the concept of a symbol for nothing is quite practicle.
Therapists can use the concept of a dark side to accomplish very practical
therapeutic goals.
But I think we should give the old dark side a new name. Let the suggestions
begin!
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