American Psychologist M. Scott Peck wrote a groundbreaking book in 1983, People of the Lie. In it, he makes the then startling claim that some people are really evil. Not sick in some sad, drug treatable way, but really, really evil.
Yes, they take pleasure in wickedness and are characterized by deceit. They lie about themselves, inventing falsehood to cover up their failings, all to bolster their delusional self-image.
They will blame anyone but themselves for their errors, their failings, and lash out against those they perceive as weak, easy targets, taking pleasure in the exercise of their power. All the while blaming their faults on scapegoat victims.
Perhaps you've seen it, someone in the wrong screaming at you in demonic rage as you call out their malfeasance? They think, in their lying, enraged deceit that the sheer fury and serpentine force of their attack will deflect notice away from their evil.
These people are driven by consistent, thoroughgoing narcissism and deliberately, knowingly choose wickedness over good. In the end they believe the lie and live, even here on earth, in Hell. You can see it in their eyes.
Peck detailed this and far more in his '83 book, arriving at the startling conclusion that some people were actually possessed by Satan or lesser demons.
And now?
LSP
That was nearly 40 years ago. The world is so much more enlightened, so much more progressive, so much more illuminated (the Illuminati can take a bow) now than it was then. If Christ came again and started casting out demons inside the Washington DC Beltway, it might change things. Most of the Podestas and the Clintons, etc. have invited demons to dwell inside of them to try and gain power (for a season). It's short sighted but it's what they do. The demons let Hillary down. JEB! just mixed himself another Singapore Sling because he and his demon have been losers all of his elite life.
ReplyDeleteForty years ago, nobody would have thought that lawmakers would have cheered at their votes that would make killing full term infants legal. See, they weren't very progressive back then. Forty years ago, people wouldn't think that murdering babies for fun and profit would become a national pastime. What was wrong with them? Clearly a shortage of demons back then, but we didn't think so at the time.
"People of the Lie" is a great book. Horrifying, but great- of perhaps more importance than "The Road less Traveled". IIRC, Peck was one of the people the Army tasked with finding out why My Lai happened. He was definitely not one of the happyface self-help writers.
ReplyDeleteThe problem we face is that amoral sociopaths willing to do anything, are difficult to defeat using normal means. And they gravitate toward power as the drug it is.
I can think of at least four people I know, or knew, that are evil.
ReplyDeleteI think it's worse now. Narcissism is prevalent. Our whole society is social media driven and influencers (whatever the f88k that means) are taking over the minds of the innocent with the lure of materialistic, vacuous, brain-destroying evil. The competition to be better or achieve is not a sporting healthy thing anymore, or of a team nature, but about ugly, false and banal things that are now somehow important. But they're not. But nobody cares. It makes me sick. The sociopath will become something to aspire to. Idols already are.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, on a different note or bouquet, it's National Drink Wine Day which helps cure many stresses. Cheers!
LL said: " The demons let Hillary down. "
ReplyDeleteDid she ask for her soul back?
I read the Road Less Traveled, but have not read People of the Lie (or if I did, it was not assigned a brain cell of its own.) I seem to recall that I found substance in the Road Less Traveled that was helpful.
ReplyDeleteAs far as Mai Lai, Dr. Peck and the army should have read The Crowd: A Study of the Popular Mind by Gustave Le Bon (1841-1931) and saved themselves a lot of time and money.
So many of the people who Peck describes as "evil" are now categorized under a barrage of psychoanalytical terms - with many of the disorders overlapping. Other than conditions that are of an organic nature, his claims that truly evil people cannot be changed - at least I think that's what he has stated, would not be true. He considered himself a Christian, and a Christian should value the virtue of Hope and the power of God.
When you have whole groups of people (the libtards) who turn their back on God it leaves a vacuum to be filled. The devil is all too willing to fill that vacuum and will. I do not know one single present day SJW liberal of my personal acquaintance who has a belief in God - the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Not one. The closest any of them come is to be "spiritual, but not religious" - whatever the hell that means.
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) has mushroomed to over 400 disorders - mainly in order to "code" for insurance purposes. I wonder how many of those people diagnosed with a disorder Peck would call "evil." And I wonder how many of those people would benefit from a dose of the Holy Spirit. Perhaps a copy of Prayer Can Change Your Life by William R. Parker and Elaine St. Johns added to a disturbed person's therapy might be helpful.
How many of our current crop of politicians are actually evil is up for debate. They are insulated and surrounded by their own kind who support, encourage, and validate their thinking. You will become like the people you associate with which is why our mothers always told us to hang with good people. Mom was right.
LL, I have to agree. JEB!'s demon is obviously low energy and not very successful, evidence if you like, for the hierarchy of Hell. Then there's the baby killers.
ReplyDeleteCarthage was destroyed for a reason and as the Good Book says, "As ye sow so shall ye reap."
"The problem we face is that amoral sociopaths willing to do anything, are difficult to defeat using normal means. And they gravitate toward power as the drug it is."
ReplyDeleteWell said, Raven, and we appear to have a surfeit of that right about now. Do you remember the flies that used to settle on Obama's and Hillary's face?
They're definitely out there, WSF. Sometimes you see it in church and that's always disturbing, to put it mildly.
ReplyDeleteEd, we have to wonder. She obviously displeased her infernal rulers in some way.
ReplyDeleteShe certainly was, Adrienne. And how many of our politicians and big money power brokers are ritual occultists? Serious question, I think we'd be surprised at the answer. Or not.
ReplyDeleteJust for fun, if you've got a strong stomach, research Marina Abramovic and the people she hangs out with.
Juliette, I totally agree and thanks for the reminder. I'm off to buy some wine!
ReplyDelete