I believe the first thing one must work out when defining evil is what the official definition of evil is according to none other than the most reliable source of all knowledge ‘Google’. Google defines evil as ‘profoundly immoral and wicked’ when used as an adjective or ‘profound immortality and wickedness, especially when regarded as a supernatural force’. While these definitions may satisfy some people, I find them a bit to vague, and basically a matter of replacing and rearranging some words.
I believe the root source of evil is not the supernatural however, although that is a theme in ‘The Shining’, nor is it mental disability, as is suggested in ‘In Cold Blood’. I don’t overly believe in the supernatural influencing our actions, yet I still here of numerous evil deeds and people every day, which leads to only one conclusion; it is to do with somebody’s circumstances. These people usually do not like these circumstances, which leads to them looking to other avenues to escape, often taking the easiest and most ‘evil’ path.
I believe that evil has however already been defined by many people, with the most famous being the 10 commandments.
You shall have no other gods before Me.
You shall not make idols.
You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain.
Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
Honor your father and your mother.
You shall not murder.
You shall not commit adultery.
You shall not steal.
You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
You shall not covet.
If you disobeyed these, you were classified as evil, and till this day the majority are still relevant.