Opinions on Satan

[Jesusiskewl]

The title says it all.

 

[IanCG]

Which one?

 

[jayem]

A fictional character. Who is portrayed by Milton as sort of a tragic hero in Paradise Lost. And is much more appealing than God the Father, or The Son of God.

"Here at least
we shall be free; the Almighty hath not built
Here for his envy, will not drive us hence:
Here we may reign secure, and in my choice
to reign is worth ambition though in Hell:
Better to reign in Hell, than serve in Heaven..."

 

[HeathenWarrior]

The embodiment of the fallen/darker side of our nature. Does not exist in the literal sense. Though I just use the word "Devil", as Satan means "to oppose". So many people can be "Satan" to another.

 

[CrashTestPoster]

Why?

 

[Grannie Annie]

I just think he's...bad, bad, bad the baddest man in the whole darn town !!

 

[Shemjaza]

Most descriptions I've read of Satan seem to show him having very weird motivations and very large blind spots.

If he is the enemy of God why does he play into his hands by running along to his time table and picking fights he can't win... if Christians can just read the bible and state that the devil will wage a war on heaven and lose, why wouldn't Satan try something else? Also why does he torture God's enemies in Hell, why not reward them?

 

[Mystman]

Random idea: he gives teens a way to rebel while still remaining Christians. A kid who becomes a Muslim might be lost to the Christian faith forever. A kid who styles himself as satanist is still a believer in the Christian religion, and will probably drop the "being evil is awesome" thing later in life.

Even people who style themselves as satanists while believing nothing of it, give the Christian religion legitimacy. All the kids with "666" in their forum names (not on here, naturally...) tell Christians and non-Christians that a (badly interpreted) number from the Bible is important.

 

[Eudaimonist]

Satan: A lawyer hired by God.


eudaimonia,

Mark

 

[IanCG]

Wouldn't it be interesting if Satan was a heroic figure, and God was the evil one, but since God won, he wrote the history of their fight and gave Satan a bad rep?

 

[Eudaimonist]

Wouldn't it be interesting if Satan was a heroic figure, and God was the evil one, but since God won, he wrote the history of their fight and gave Satan a bad rep?

That's why I like the version of Prometheus where he is a heroic figure, and he stands up to Zeus, the tyrant.


eudaimonia,

Mark

 

[Golden Yak]

Never heard his side of things.

 

[Beechwell]

If I am not mistaken, in Judaism Satan is more of a servant of God, the divine seducer sent to the humans to test their faith. Interesting how he got a role as an almost equal adversary of God in Christianity. I'm guessing that some elements of the Zoroastrian dualism found its way into Christianity.

By the way: At what time in the biblical timeline did Satans revolt happen? While Adam and Even dwelt in Eden, or even before the creation of the world?

 

[dysert]

By the way: At what time in the biblical timeline did Satans revolt happen? While Adam and Even dwelt in Eden, or even before the creation of the world?

The Bible seems to indicate that Satan (as with all the angels) were created near the "beginning" of everything and that they existed well before God created Eden etc. See: Job 4:17-19; 38:4-7; Psa. 148:1-6; Isa. 14:12-15; Ezek. 28:12-19; Col. 1:16

 

[Paradoxum]

Satan: The personification of temptation.

It is psychological easier to fight against an enemy than ones own desires. If we are to have an enemy, it is the cold harshness of the universe that surrounds us and is part of us.

 

[TheyCallMeDave]

The title says it all.

Hello. First off, opinions of men are not whats important on this vital issue . What counts is a standard thats higher than and beyond Man...that being, the Word of God and what IT has to say .

So when we consider that , we see that Satan is a very real Being which occupies some of the same powers that God does , yet not in totality. Satan is God biggest Foe and has plauged humanity since the beginning of time with our first parents. He has always been responsible, ultmately, for working diligently to get people far from God by offering alluring compromises and to maintain total autonomy whereby the Person puts SELF above all else. He is very slick in his operation, and has even infiltrated many churches who consider themselves 'christian' yet are oozing with heretical teachings ...some which even demote the very character of God, the sufficiency of Christs FINISHED atonement , and fool people into believing that THEY can offer up human alledged good works, deeds, etc... toward their own salvation cause. Satan also works in all socio-economic circles including Government ..in fact, there are no boundaries that prevent him from having a vital affect on people and nations. He is a power far beyond our grasp, yet limited in many ways...unlike God is.

Until this earthly life is over, people are like Pawns on a Chessboard usually not resisting Satans attacks ... and the only sure way of defeating him is to stay close to 'The King' who is God our saviour, sustainer, strength, protector, and wisdom. The end of the game ends in a 'checkmate' so its very important to play the game well and to finish strong ...otherwise if we let our guard down, we will become casualities in this Chess Game of life .

We walk in the power of Christ daily, learning how to come against Satanic attacks by implenting the Armour of GOd for battle. This Armour also comes with a first aid kit just in case you forget to hold up your shield to stop a fiery arrow from coming in. Our heart and mind need to be protected and we must always be on guard.

 

[Ken-1122]

As an atheist, of course i don't believe in Satan but according to a person often discribed as a Satan worshipper, they don't actual worship satan, they honer him because without him deciving Adam and Eve humans would be limited to the Garden of Eden where they were more of a pet than a decision making human being as we are now.

Ken

 

[OldWiseGuy]

The Bible seems to indicate that Satan (as with all the angels) were created near the "beginning" of everything and that they existed well before God created Eden etc. See: Job 4:17-19; 38:4-7; Psa. 148:1-6; Isa. 14:12-15; Ezek. 28:12-19; Col. 1:16

 

[morningstar2651]

The title says it all.

Satan is portrayed as God's prosecuting attorney in Judaism.

He's portrayed as an evil god in Christianity, with powers that rival those of Jesus.

 

[jayem]

Wouldn't it be interesting if Satan was a heroic figure, and God was the evil one, but since God won, he wrote the history of their fight and gave Satan a bad rep?

An early 20th century novel by Anatole France is based on that idea. The plot of The Revolt of the Angels is that God is a malevolent tyrant, and that the "fallen" angels are the true protectors and benefactors of mankind. One of them leads a revolt to overthrow God, and establish a virtuous heavenly realm. I only read part of the book a long time ago, but it's satirical and funny--kind of like Candide.

I haven't read any of His Dark Materials, but I think that's also an allegory on the same theme.