Do you believe in Satan?

[Sothron]

Just curious. I know there are a number of Christians, mostly Protestants, who believe that Satan is not real or is just a metaphor for sin. What do YOU believe?

 

[HisKid1973]

Your kidding me " right....And why the protestant dig?..Do you know ther are groups out there that think that a "born again" experience is not biblical...

 

[Sothron]

Your kidding me " right..

I had a conversation last week with a United Churches of Christ member who said that Satan and demons are not real, merely symbols of sin or sinful acts.

 

[Macrina]

An individual member of the UCC is not representative of protestantism.

 

[Sothron]

An individual member of the UCC is not representative of protestantism.

But it inspired me to look around and apparently there are enough Christians out there who believe the same to give me pause. Apparently in secular America belief in demons and angels is not dying out just among non-Christians but seeping into Christianity itself. Hence the poll. I have to wonder if any posters here at CF believe the same.

Btw, its not meant as a recrimination against Protestants but from what I read it seems more of the skeptics are Protestant than not if Christian.

 

[jsimms615]

Jesus seemed to believe he was real. That is good enough for me.

 

[RccWarrior]

Jesus seemed to believe he was real. That is good enough for me.

 

[£amb]

I too believe he is real.

 

[Oblio]

Your kidding me " right....And why the protestant dig?..

An individual member of the UCC is not representative of protestantism.

He did not say or imply that, he was identifying the background of those who believed such based on his experience.

 

[Oblio]

It' interesting that the Greek of the Lord's prayer is more accurately rendered
'... and deliver us from the evil one.'

 

[£amb]

He did not say or imply that, he was identifying the background of those who believed such based on his experience.

When I first read the OP....

Just curious. I know there are a number of Christians, mostly Protestants, who believe that Satan is not real or is just a metaphor for sin. What do YOU believe?

I too read it the way the other two had responded. It wasn't until post 5 that the OP clarified his position on the subject, and now it's understood. I think it would of been fine had it been clarified in the first post, and maybe the answers may have been different or not. Not looking for argument, but wanted to clarify that is how I first read the OP.

 

[Sothron]

I apologize if the OP seemed accusatory to all Protestants, it was not the intent.

 

[HisKid1973]

I apologize if the OP seemed accusatory to all Protestants, it was not the intent.

Thank you.. I never took offense...Just for though: Christian is a label attached to someones faith.. Not everyone who carries that has a real 'born anew" relatioship with Christ.. Also not every one who is, is instantly made mature. It is a wlk and a learning experience.. Ye there are "dead" chuches out there.. Also every one that attend a certain felowship represents that fellowship.. Usinig "protestant is broadbrushing alot of people who truely "know" Christ.. Like the name itselt is represents something negative. You could have said some christians and left it to that..Blessings in Christ..Kim

 

[Myriah]

I voted "yes", scripture and tradition. Satan though is not something that is really that clearly defined though. I don't think he goes around with a pitchfork. There are "satan" type wivestales or folklore.

 

[LittleLambofJesus]

Just curious. I know there are a number of Christians, mostly Protestants, who believe that Satan is not real or is just a metaphor for sin. What do YOU believe?

I feel like the Satan/Adversary can be either good or bad, depending on where you stand.

We view Atheists and Muslims as "Adversaries" for example , in the same way they probably view us [at least in Apologetics LOL], though neither one of us are probably "wicked".

The Devil however appears to be different it seems, and the greek word means "thru-caster" which I feel worksmore in the church of believers spreading falseness and deception among other believers.
Guess I will have to study on this.

(Young) 1 Thessalonians 2:18 wherefore we wished to come unto you, (I indeed Paul,) both once and again, and the Adversary did hinder us; .....Romans 16:20 and the God of the peace shall bruise the Adversary under your feet in swiftness;

Reve 20:7 And when the thousand years may be finished, the Adversary/satanaV <4567> shall be loosed out of his prison,
.......... 10 and the Devil/dia-boloV <1228>, who is leading them astray, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where [are] the beast and the false prophet, and they shall be tormented day and night--to the ages of the ages.

 

[Macrina]

I voted "yes", scripture and tradition. Satan though is not something that is really that clearly defined though. I don't think he goes around with a pitchfork. There are "satan" type wivestales or folklore.

Yeah, I'm not so sure about the pitchfork, either.

In think it's in Shaw's Man and Superman that the Satan character laughs at how people think what Milton wrote is actually in the Bible.

All that to say that although I believe there is a real Satan, I also believe there are a lot of ideas out there that are either misconceptions or at the very least unknowns.

 

[£amb]

I apologize if the OP seemed accusatory to all Protestants, it was not the intent.

It's okay...take a breather....

You did clarify in your later post what you wanted to know, and I'm okay with that.

 

[Tyndale]

I'm going to post the answer in cryptic.

Do you believe in Satan?

oiii3806548hjc

 

[koban4max]

If Jesus is real then Satan is real!

 

[FrauleinElsa]

I picked option #2. I believe what scripture says alone.