Are Some People Evil or Are Some Institutions Evil?
Animals: Tradition - Philosophy - Religion Article from All-Creatures.org

FROM

Stephen Kaufman, M.D., Christian Vegetarian Association (CVA)

Are Some People Evil or Are Some Institutions Evil?

While corporations are regarding as “persons” according to U.S. law, in truth institutions have no personality. They are human creations and, as such, any “personality” they might project reflects human decisions. The impetus for any good or harm that institutions do derives from humans. Why might institutions cause harm?

It often seems that institutions act to preserve themselves, but what this really means is that those people who determine institutional policies desire to preserve those institutions. Often, these people gain status and benefit financially from the institutions they protect. However, many people who receive little or no material benefit from institutions voluntarily contribute money or even their risk their lives defending those institutions.

Next essay, I will consider why this might happen. Perhaps by exploring this question we might gain some insight into “Original Sin,” which evidently is what John the Baptist described as the “sin of the world” (John 1:29).


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