Entropy vs. Evil

by Michael Abrams, M.D.

Human beings do not have a dark side. Although that may sound utterly absurd, I believe I can convince you that this is so.

To begin with, the term "dark side" carries a decidedly judgmental spin. Dark means bad or evil.

For example, in our contemporary Western milieu, the most frequent use of the term "dark side" is actually in association with the Star Wars movies. Darth Vader turned to the "dark side" and manifested all the classic characteristics of "evil." And, he's really smart, just like the "devil" figure so common in a wide variety of spiritual persuasions.

The concept of evil infers the existence of an organizing force, a kind of massive conspiracy of "darkness" which systematically works to degrade and destroy processes of goodness and light. The problem is, this is like saying that there is an order to the disorder, a purpose behind the chaos.

The idea of evil is obsolete in the New Metaphysic. In cutting edge metaphysics, God is pure love. And God is everything. Period.

Anything that appears evil is simply "disordered." That's all. No attitude, no agenda, to the disorder. Just simple entropy, plain old impersonal, mechanical chaos.
For a scientist, entropy is the universal tendency of organized systems of energy and matter to automatically fall apart, erode and disintegrate.

For the metaphysician, entropy is intentionally built into the universe to keep it from becoming stagnant. This force is an important part of God's creative toolbox, something like an eraser. As lesser but nonetheless powerful creators, entropy is in our toolboxes too.

Think about it. Without some kind of force to stimulate disorganization, everything would swing too far to the other end of the spectrum. Without entropy, everything would become more and more ordered until the universe and various worlds in it would steadily reach a state of perfect, crystalline order.

What would that be like? Not too exciting really. A world without entropy would be a frozen, motionless, lifeless state of affairs in which nothing new could ever again be created. A universe without entropy is a deadend universe.

All sentient creatures in this particular universe choose to be here knowing full well in advance we will encounter a variety of entropic processes along the way.

It cannot be stressed enough: Entropy is utterly impersonal. It is not "dark" or "evil" or "sinister."

How do we explain the parts of our lives where highly destructive events and people are experienced? Is it really a "side?"

Consider a plant. The seed of a plant contains exquisitely ordered information. When the seed germinates, this information begins to order the chaotically and randomly arranged raw materials surrounding it. As this ordering process progresses, tissues are formed and a viable living, reproducing organism creates itself.

Molecules which are incorporated into the structure of the plant's cells become a part of the order. Molecules which remain outside the organism in the air or soil, remain disordered.

So it is with our personal selves. The parts of us that are in a higher state of love, light and goodness are the parts we have ordered. Everything else just remains a part of the entropy-disordered universe around us. There is no "darkness" to the disorder and thus no "dark side."

We chose to be here in this place. And we wanted entropy, asked specifically for it. Entropy, as it takes the form of hardship or disease, makes us struggle. Struggle, like the energy required to work an exercise machine, makes us stronger-in many highly desirable ways.

We want our exercise. We want our entropy very badly. Just as we go to a lot of trouble to go to the gym and exercise so that we will have strong, beautiful bodies, we go to a lot of trouble to set up course work in the gym of life which will deepen and beautify our souls. We are, all in all, a very highly-motivated group of souls who have congregated here.

Sure we experience - as apparent parts of ourselves - confusion, depression, anxiety, aggression and all sorts of other undesirable thought patterns. But these kinds of entropic processes do not work together to make up a "side."

Nonetheless, the concept of a dark side can be useful. There is no such thing as a zero either, but the concept of a symbol for nothing is quite practical. But I think we should give the old dark side a new name. Let the suggestions begin!

Dr. Michael Abrams lives in Boulder, CO. He is the author of The Evolution Angel and The Twelve Conditions of a Miracle. As a dynamic speaker, he conducts popular workshops world-wide based on his books and on Somatic Visualization. For more info on Dr. Abrams and his work, visit www.evolutionangel.com.

2/1/04