Deep down, are humans basically good?
This question was asked in the July 2024 Signs Magazine, and sparked considerable discussion.

What do you think, concerning this world view?

When you get together with a group of people isn't the natural response of most everyone to be nice and agreeable? So what do we need saving from? everyone is a good person deep down, we just need to cultivate and encourage the good, and bring out the natural deep tendencies of the heart. Morality is seen as an intrinsic part of human nature based on understanding and a concern for others. Moral values are not some ultimate conditions dictated by some powerful being, but rather human consensus based on methods of science and free inquiry and progressive development.
With progressive cultivation of these good inner drives and advancements mankind has the means to solve the problems that confront us all.

The author of the article in the July 2024 Signs Magazine, recounted his families experience in the Netherlands during WWII.



The story reveals that selfishness, not goodness lies in the depths of human hearts.
The theory that deep down humans are naturally good, of course is in contradiction to the Bible.

Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
Selfishness is what lies in the deepest levels of human beings, Selfishness, self perseverance, self exaltation. Self can be nice and loving if it brings satisfaction and elevates self, but if self feels neglected or imposed upon, self will fight against all that threatens their idea of what self wants.

It's interesting that some of the great rebellion stories have that same idea
{the idea of inherent goodness, thus no need for God) at their root.

Lucifer, while still in heaven, initiating the first rebellion:


Note the same thing in a big rebellion while the Israelites were in the wilderness:


The problem is-- when created beings turn against God's authority they are subjecting themselves to the authority of the cruelest of masters, from which only God can save them.

Deep down humans are basically a horror and nothing but filthy rags able and willing to commit the most atrocious monstrosities. It is only from fear and greed that makes the surface come across as agreeable. Either that or a continual connection to One who removes those horrors.

There are those who have inherited such damage and corruption and are deep into sin and its destruction, but there are still many good and faithful men and women who seek after God who have the fruits of the Holy Spirit.

Without God's intervention and placing a certain "enmity" against evil in us, mankind, deep down, is basically evil.
Immediately after Adam and Eve fell into sin, God declared, "I will put enmity between thee (Satan) and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; Gen. 3:15. Mankind would be given a means by which to reject evil.

?The carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.? [Romans 8:7.]

It's the Holy Spirit that works to convict
John 16:8 And when he (the Comforter, the Holy Spirit) is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:

While it is true people are born with different tendencies and dispositions, and with different sin weaknesses and different passions and strengths, (not all are born violent, not all are born with alcohol syndrome, etc. but all are born selfish) and without the Holy Spirit's work upon the human heart and mind, all are basically evil at the very core of their being. This is something that can be changed only by the grace of God accepted into the life.

It's only through the power of God, through the Holy Spirit, that a person can pass from the position of a rebel, a child of sin, a follower of Satan, to the position of freedom from sin in Christ Jesus, not because of an inherent goodness, or basic internal source of righteousness, but because Christ both pardoned, and His Holy Spirit leads and transforms him into all righteousness through Jesus Christ our Savior from sin.

The Holy Spirit strives to awaken and work with all people. It's not just members of a certain group or denomination that may be yielding to the Holy Spirit's influence and living lives that reflect godly traits.

Also people can sear their conscience and drive away the Holy Spirit. To the degree this is done, the God given restraint against evil is removed, and only evil remains and evil manifests itself in every aspect of their lives. Evil takes control. Selfishness is at the very core of evil, and can actually produce some good acts, but the motive is self, how it will best serve self.

When the Holy Spirit is withdrawn from the earth, only those anchored in Christ will have the Holy Spirit's protection and sustaining power of godliness. (Sealed by God's Spirit) Then the true nature of the human nature, without the Holy Spirit will be fully demonstrated. Evil will reach terrible heights.