Humanity: Good vs Evil

How do you view humanity?
So you want to stir up a good debate eh? -- Toss out the question, "Are human beings essentially good or bad?" Consequently you will receive a wide variety of opinions to support either position (plus anecdotal evidence that comes with each view). An optimistic humanist will assert that people are essentially good. A cynical post-modernist will say that people act good at times, but it’s because they’re out to get something for themselves. Their goodness is essentially utilitarian, like when your neighbor unexpectedly becomes real friendly to you because he needs to borrow your rider mower.
Humans are no less baffling or mysterious than God Himself. Once King David was considering God, and he raised the question: What is man? This is a question worthy of our consideration. And, I find (among churches) one that is not often studied from a biblical viewpoint.
G.K. Chesterton gave this answer to the question. "Man is not a balloon going up into the sky [t...