Allie Ward

Tomatillo22, may the horn be with you.

It is also with me.

Also, thank you to sponsors of the show who make it possible for us to donate to a cause that Theologist chooses each week.

Okay, critical ponorology.

So ponorology comes from the Greek word for evil, and you will understand why the critical is in there in a minute.

We fudged it a little bit, but ever since I saw the word ponorology on this big ologies list as the study of evil, I have wanted to explore the topic so much.

So let's talk about the origins of evil, different cultural approaches to the notion, who uses the word evil to mean what if your toddler is evil?

vampires, angry mobs seeking vigilante justice, news personalities saying unhinged things.

When you are a subject and when you are an object, why should you be nicer to your coffee table?

And if evil exists, and who says so?

With scholar, author, professor, gem of a person, and we'll just say critical ponorologist, Dr. Kenneth McKendrick.

What's the difference between someone who studies evil and a ponirologist?

And now you've been teaching courses in evil for almost two decades, right?

Well, okay, some semantics for you.

So is it more of a question of like, is evil really a thing?

Side note.

So for a past Spooktober episode, we have a two-parter on vampires with Professor Dr. Jeff Holden, as well as a teratology episode on monsters and pop culture with Dr. W. Scott Poole.

And we have a 2024 episode on genocide, which may be of interest.

Well, is vengeance considered evil?

And where's the line between vengeance and justice?