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The Essence and Power of Evil

The horrendous events of September 11 confront us with a reality even more disturbing than our apparent vulnerability to terrorist attacks. They require us to reexamine our entire understanding of the nature of reality.

In the face of unimaginable catastrophe there has been much talk about tragedy, human suffering, heroism, cowardice, patriotism, and resisting hatred, all of which are true as far as they go.

But events now confront us with realities so enormous that little can be said, and our culture’s ultimate failure is that it actively works against the ability to understand such things. As most Westerners view reality, there is no reason why such things should happen. Thus, it seems that those who perpetrate such acts have simply made certain mistakes of understanding, reinforced by excessive emotion. Terrorism, we are told, solves nothing. The terrorists’ grievances are understandable, but they have chosen the wrong methods.

For some people, the whole episode revolves around technical problems—better security systems, the necessity henceforth to be more vigilant, in ways other peoples simply take for granted. For others, the solution is retaliation against the terrorists, followed by diplomatic efforts to “get to the root of the problem.” What these have in common is the assumption that what we face is containable and comprehensible within the categories of understanding that our culture permits.

People turn to religion at such moments, but even the most devout realize the limits of the comfort that the faith provides for bereaved people. Christianity offers no “answer” to the questions, no coherent resolution of all perplexities. Rather, it speaks of the “mystery of iniquity.” The common religious responses are not wrong—comfort for the bereaved, the promise of resurrection, a righteous desire for justice, love of enemies. But none of these explain “why.” Rather, our faith opens us to the eternal and cosmic perspective.

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