Sorry I'm late to the party, but here's my $0.02:
I don't believe in evil, or good for that matter. Not in a universal sense, any way. I think there is order, and there is chaos. Some people, some beings, some places, and some things are so full of chaotic energy, so far out of balance with the "order" of our universe/reality, that they cannot co-exist without conflict, thus causing pain/fear/discomfort as the order in those who
do play nice with this reality comes into contact with that chaotic energy. Discussing it with MrsV, she told me I was just substituting "evil" for "chaos", but I disagree, since "evil", by definition (as we saw above, thanks CD
) does not lend itself to a positive outcome. Chaos, in the right amounts, causes change and growth without destroying the natural order of the universe.
We define something that 'out of whack' as evil because it is such an anathema to our 'self', to our mind/body/spirit. This, of course, doesn't mean I don't think we shouldn't curtail/stop/protect against these forces, just that calling them 'evil' or 'pure evil' is mis-labeling it.
MrsV's take, which I'm posting since she's asleep at the moment
:
Without a penultimate "good", there is no "evil." The universal definition of "evil" cannot exist in a pantheistic worldview, unless a single God/Godess or pantheon is given complete precedence over the moral compass of humankind. Unless that is done, conflict will inevitably result between two competing worldviews on what, exactly constitutes good and evil.