How does satan make you do bad things?

[Zippythepinhead]

Satan can't make anyone do bad things. He can only tempt people. The choice to follow is the individual's alone.

 

[ravenscape]

I read somewhere that Mark pretty much invented the Christian version of Satan. He used Judaism as a starting place but the Satan of the New Testament is fundamentally different from the Lucifer of the Old Testament. If there's interest in Mark's influence on the Christian perspective on Satan I'll be glad to look up the text and summarize...tomorrow

My own beliefs don't include a personification of evil. But evil is nevertheless a subject I find confusing and compelling. Many Wiccans believe what others call evil is actually a bad choice in life. A choice that will come home to roost eventually. But when I think of sociopaths, people who have no sense of the humanity of others and can therefore inflict pain, suffering, terror and death without remorse my gut tells me this is more than a bad choice. It's one of the many conundrums I meditate about. :o

 

[xxdaggerxx]

Satan is nothing, he has been conqured and can do nothing with out god's permission according to his will. We sin, its our fault, no one else. Satan and his 'angels' have no real power.

 

[MormonFriend]

If there is a devil how does satan make people do bad things. Does satan talk to you and tell you to do them. Does satan possess you, if so wouldn't you have to have a weak mind for such a possessing to take place?

So could some one inform me on this matter.

peace

An example I have used when teaching youth about temptation, is the use of two large and powerful magnets. I pass the magnets around the class and tell the kids "this is a contest to see who can hold the magnets the closest, without them grabbing." Once they grab, they are too powerful for most to separate.

As each person slowly brings them together, you see their reflexes react to the first "pull" they feel. But each one of them trys to get the magnets a little closer, and wham! ... the magnets lock tight.

After they all failed the contest, I explain that the pull of the magnets they sensed the first time (and they pulled away), is exactly like temptation. There is no shame or evil in being tempted. Knowing right from wrong, we can choose to not only pull away, but to reverse our magnet (the other magnet being Satan's influence) and push or repell the temptation when it returns. But with curiosity, or if we "flirt" with evil by giving it a second chance, it locks on to us unmercifully.

Most important is that only Jesus can separate those magnets, and we must ask Him to allow His atonement into our lives. We must make a resolve and a promise that we will forsake our sins, which in the course of life may need many magnets to be separated.

Temptations then are a tool that provides spiritual exercise to develop and stregnthen our faith, and teaches us to use this other gift of free will.

 

[Im_A]

If there is a devil how does satan make people do bad things. Does satan talk to you and tell you to do them. Does satan possess you, if so wouldn't you have to have a weak mind for such a possessing to take place?

So could some one inform me on this matter.

peace

as a Christian, i do believe that there is the devil/satan/lucifer whatever the name of the fallen angel is. if one believers in angels, then the idea that the devils tempts us with sin, shouldn't be hard to accept.

but i will never say, "the devil made me do it." that's just a worthless attempt to take the blame from one-self, to make one-self feel good. being tempted is different then actually comitting the sin. so with the "mystical" part of it, yes i do believe Satan does tempt us. but for the logical rational part of it, Satan doesn't make us do a thing. we make the choice and we will be judged for our own actions accordingly.

 

[Blackmarch]

If there is a devil how does satan make people do bad things. Does satan talk to you and tell you to do them. Does satan possess you, if so wouldn't you have to have a weak mind for such a possessing to take place?

So could some one inform me on this matter.

peace

One way is that he works very hard at increasing your natural (biological) reactions that would be an impediment to your spiritual growth.
Such as when someone does something you like, he tries very hard to get you to give in to your anger, or revenge.

 

[pensive]

You know, the discussion between Shy and CrownCaster constantly reminds me of one of the problems with Christianity and Biblical interpretation. They often approach the Bible, read certain passages, learn to interpret them in certain ways, and assume that everyone else interprets them the same way. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. Truth be told, people interpret the same passages differently at times. This is especially true when talking about the interpretation of the Old Testament or Torah by both Christians and Jews. They don't read the same passages the same way. They don't apply the same shades of meaning or the same significances. The nature of Satan, as Shy rightly pointed out, is one case. (For another example of what Shy is talking about, see the Torah.org site.

At any rate, it seems rather dangerous to tell someone that they don't know their own religion unless you've intensively studied that religion yourself.

 

[Blackmarch]

At any rate, it seems rather dangerous to tell someone that they don't know their own religion unless you've intensively studied that religion yourself.

Wish more people would understand that principle.

 

[Zippythepinhead]

Wish more people would understand that principle.

Amen.

 

[Lucretius]

Can someone tell me how Satan, a supposed angel of God, turned bad? I mean, God is perfect, how can sin even exist with a perfect God? Quite contrary, God would have to be imperfect if sin is evil and God only knows good and love.

Also, why did Satan rebel against God in Heaven, where no one can die… what was the point of that?

Clear this up for me please.

 

[AquaFINEa]

To be honest, to me the biblical Satan is just a scape goat, a way of blaming something else for the actions of a person. If someone cannot take responsibility for their own actions then they are decidedly cowardly. (The bible was not written by God remember)

I strongly disagree with you here. If this were the case, the Bible would not be so long in length, would it? There would not be so many verses, instilling in its Christian readers the accountability that is necessary for godly living. The convicting words exist there for a reason.
God takes into account that is is indeed our responsibility to make sure that our actions and speech align with our walk with Him. It is not through our own strength that we overcome temptations that may be a stronghold, though. It is then when we come to the Lord for strength and encouragement to press on in Him.
So, no, the devil is not a scapegoat. He is merely a part of the dark world, and represents that side which is at war with all that is good -specifically, God. He tempts people to sin and encourages them to stay this way. I believe that spiritual possession can occur, yes, but that this is ultimately in the minority. In other words, I do not believe that this happens as often as others may think that it does.
God wants us to step to the plate and be responsible in all areas of our lives. This is made quite apparent in His Word.

 

[anup_j_j]

I strongly disagree with you here. If this were the case, the Bible would not be so long in length, would it? There would not be so many verses, instilling in its Christian readers the accountability that is necessary for godly living. The convicting words exist there for a reason.
God takes into account that is is indeed our responsibility to make sure that our actions and speech align with our walk with Him. It is not through our own strength that we overcome temptations that may be a stronghold, though. It is then when we come to the Lord for strength and encouragement to press on in Him.
So, no, the devil is not a scapegoat. He is merely a part of the dark world, and represents that side which is at war with all that is good -specifically, God. He tempts people to sin and encourages them to stay this way. I believe that spiritual possession can occur, yes, but that this is ultimately in the minority. In other words, I do not believe that this happens as often as others may think that it does.
God wants us to step to the plate and be responsible in all areas of our lives. This is made quite apparent in His Word.

that sounds sensible

 

[Cassiopeia]

An example I have used when teaching youth about temptation, is the use of two large and powerful magnets. I pass the magnets around the class and tell the kids "this is a contest to see who can hold the magnets the closest, without them grabbing." Once they grab, they are too powerful for most to separate.

As each person slowly brings them together, you see their reflexes react to the first "pull" they feel. But each one of them trys to get the magnets a little closer, and wham! ... the magnets lock tight.

After they all failed the contest, I explain that the pull of the magnets they sensed the first time (and they pulled away), is exactly like temptation. There is no shame or evil in being tempted. Knowing right from wrong, we can choose to not only pull away, but to reverse our magnet (the other magnet being Satan's influence) and push or repell the temptation when it returns. But with curiosity, or if we "flirt" with evil by giving it a second chance, it locks on to us unmercifully.

Most important is that only Jesus can separate those magnets, and we must ask Him to allow His atonement into our lives. We must make a resolve and a promise that we will forsake our sins, which in the course of life may need many magnets to be separated.

Temptations then are a tool that provides spiritual exercise to develop and stregnthen our faith, and teaches us to use this other gift of free will.

Very nicely put. The question then remains...does Satan provide us with temptation or do the choices we make put us in the path of temptation? Does he run around finding ways to put obstacles in our path or are these obstacles an inherent part of our own time here on earth?

 

[vajradhara]

Namaste all,


i find it the height of hubris for a Christian to tell a Jewish adherent that they don't know their own religious tradition.

it's nigh incomprehensible... yet... there it is.

you explain that Lucifer is a much different being in the Torah.. you explain that his role is to be the prosecutor, the one who presents the charges against you to the Judge, God. you explain how Dante made up the character of Satan for his play, the famous "Inferno", and show how there are no corrolates with what most modern Christians think Satan is with anything at all in the Torah and they think that the Jews are the ones that have misunderstood.



oh, the irony.. the bitter, bitter irony.

 

[morningstar2651]

"It's not my fault, the devil made me do it!"

...take responsibility for your own actions...quit blaming the boogeyman.

 

[Lucretius]

I agree with morningstar 100%. There is no Satan... Anyone know where Satan is supposed to live? From my reading he lives in the Center of the Earth…who believes that? I hope no one here…

Point is —*Satan is just a scapegoat, some people cannot cope with the fact that, yes, they are responsible for their own actions. I ate a cookie from the cookie jar — did Satan tempt me? No. I was hungry and I wanted it. Case closed.

 

[MQTA]

wow, 3 in a row, cool.

I guess the question is, effectiveness. Real or Santa-like... those who believe sure think he's real.

I think we tend to scare ourselves pretty good, eh?

 

[vajradhara]

wow, 3 in a row, cool.

I guess the question is, effectiveness. Real or Santa-like... those who believe sure think he's real.

I think we tend to scare ourselves pretty good, eh?

well... MQTA... i happen to agree with you.

i suppose, on a subjective level, it may not even matter of Satan exists as some beings think... if they think it, then he effectively exists for them. but this does not, of course, mean that Satan objectively exists.

in any case... it may not matter all that much. if beings feel compelled by an internal impulse which they feel is contrary to their religious teachings, they have to either accept this as an aspect of personality or reject it as the influence of an evil spirit.

that is, in my view, the crux of the issue.

as Rush says so well...

blame is better to give than receive.