In the fifth and penultimate episode of National Geographic's "The Story of God," award-winning actor Morgan Freeman seeks to understand why evil exists in the world.
Freeman says to be able to do so, people must figure out where evil comes from, according to The Christian Post. "For Christianity, it could be the devil himself, or is evil something that comes from inside us?" he asks.
The actor grew up in Mississippi, and he recalls that his first encounter with evil was in the form of racism at a Greyhound bus station. Back then, white and black people were segregated and he was forced to enter through a door specifically designated for "coloured" people. Freeman admits that he was actually confused by the separation.
"As a kid, when you're confronted with an evil like racism your first reaction is confusion. Why does this exist? Where does it come from? If you believe we live in a world under divine control, why should evil exist at all?" he asks.
Freeman's search for answers took him to Egypt, India, New Zealand, and all across the United States. He even came face-to-face with a serial rapist and murderer, who told him that he did not feel sorry for the crimes he committed. In his defence, the rapist explained that he simply acted on an impulse that he was unable to control.
While in the tombs of Luxor, Egypt, Freeman began to think that the root of good and evil stemmed from people's desire to enter Heaven.
Christians of today should study ancient Egyptians and their belief that the god Osiris determines their eligibility to enter Heaven by judging the state of their hearts, says Freeman.
The episode, which was shown on Sunday, ended with a scene showing people being baptised in a river.
"People sin but those sins can be washed away," Freeman says.
"We need to know evil because it drives us to do good—the ability to express kindness, mercy, [and] forgiveness."
