Seeing Evil
For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. – Romans 7:19 (KJV)
At times throughout history, some have given evil softer names. Mistaken. Maladjusted. Mentally ill. Misguided. Benighted. Under-educated. Even ignorant. These soft words don’t do justice to evil’s impact. In the current moment, they collapse under the weight of the flood of unnecessary suffering. “So much cardboard,” say signs at demonstrations, “so little room.”
The ancient concept of the “evil eye” has been mentioned in movies, many well-known literary works, and pop culture. It has a great pedigree. It works better if you don’t “believe” in it than if you do.
Today, “First World” innocence has started getting over our enlightenment. We are glimpsing our own evil eyes—eyes that misrepresent reality.
Many languages have words for evil eye: mauvais oeil in French, böse Blick in German, ayin hasad (eye of envy) in Arabic, mal de ojo in Spanish, or droch-shuil in Gaelic.
People have tools against the evil eye. Masks, spitting, rituals, blue beads, amulets, charms, spells, potions, and garlic are variously employed. Others consult a shaman. Some avoid the use of the term shaman and favor something more administrative or agricultural, like minister or pastor. Neither conveys the spiritual depth of shaman, but then some people do not believe in evil.
A change is in order. We could head towards that second naiveté described by French shaman Paul Ricoeur. He taught the “First World” to see beyond innocence to both evil and good.
Prayer
Let us lose our innocence, again, O God. Take away the evil of our unseeing eyes. Cast us not away from your presence. Restore unto us the joy of your salvation and grant us your peace. Amen.

Donna Schaper is an interim Pastor at the United Church of Gainesville, Florida, and author, most recently of Remove the Pews—first from your theology, then from your building.