The Devil Vs. God?

Question

First only serious intellectual answers please.
Is it really Good vs evil...or something else? And is the Devil to be equated with God? i.e in power, absoluteness. I'd like to hear some thoughts on what other religions say of the devil...more specficially his attributes his birth his history. For Muslims i know the islamic history i'd like to hear what others have to say...and I will respond appropriately. Thank u

But it seems that many Judeo-christian beliefs potray the devil as someone who is an opposite to God, or always at war with God. In a sense that the devil is allowed to go against the will of God.

So is it safe to say that there has always been Good vs. evil? To define good one must have evil and to define evil one must have good? There is a need for both. So having said that is it also now safe to say that the Devil was delibrately created to serve the purpose as evil, so that God may test us to overcome evil and be good? So God knowingly created Satan?

Answer 1

There are no devils or gods. There are two different ways to think about good and evil.

1. Our senses of good and evil are products of our animal natures, defined by what we see as in our biological interest (beneficial to ourselves and our offspring) and what we see as a threat. This is the source of our irrational fear of strangers and of things that are foreign to us.

2. There is an absolute good and evil as well. We don't know much about this yet, because we do confound it with our biologically-derived senses of good and evil, and because our defenses of those senses have developed into religious belief systems that we're not willing to question. Some philosophers have tried to explore issues of real good and evil, and if you're really interested, study "moral philosophy". But be forewarned: it's going to conflict with your intuitions about morality and your religious assumptions.

Answer 2

Two opposing forces. God vs. Devil, Good vs Evil. These are two choices for any living human being is always challenged to pick.
If I will trace the Old Testament specially in the Book of Job, you will find that these two are both trying to find out if Job is going to turn against God after He let Satan (Devil) put miseries into the life of Job. It seems that they are not fighting against each other but rather testing the loyalty of the man whom God is very much pleased.
When the first man disobeyed God's law. He said, "Man has become like us, knowing good and evil" it immediately struck me that they were there together since the beginning.
Of course, everything that was created and was given life was God's work and whatever is God's work will surely have to return to Him because that's all His and for Him it was good. The devil on the other hand does not create, he is there to destroy that is how he is made. He is not an angel who rebelled, he exists as the other side of God. That is why we sometimes ask ourselves how come a Benevolent God would somewhat become Malevolent when people desecrate him? It is his other side who does the punishment and destruction while his good side creates, forgives and saves.
My reason to believe why the present world is in turmoil because we never really learned from all the good things He laid out and we decide to do what does not please Him at all.
When Satan told Jesus at the mountain," I will give you all authority and splendor, for it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. So, if you worship me, it will all be yours."
It again struck me to believe that he cannot own anything unless the authority is released to him and who could release it to him except God?

Answer 3

The devil is comparable to the id (our drives like sex, eating, drinking and all other earthly delights). Satan is our lower nature.
God, on the other hand, is humanity's spiritual nature. Our longing for peace, perfection and a pleasure that most of us never experience while living in this vessel.
If you'll look back into ancient religions (babylonian, egyptian) you will notice that there is a "dark god" who has been, will be or must be defeated by a "supreme god" or "sun god."
The most interesting cultures are those who don't believe in this duality. (Voudon for example)
They have a totally opposite (teehee, just wordplay) view on the world. Most Westerners cannot even fathom the lack of polarities.
Anywho good luck in your search for answers.
Great topic.

Answer 4

I cannot give you a history other than what you likely already know from any Christian viewpoint.

That said, Satan was created as a "nemesis" to God......one has to define "wrong" in their created theocracy.

The interesting thing is - the evolution of the Satan myth increased church attendance in the Middle ages.........people showed up to Church to hear the horror stories just as we went to Fri 13 or Saw II.


Human nature never changes. That is the thing I find REALLY amazing from this.

Answer 5

This type of dualism comes from Zoroastrianism. There was the good god: Ahura Mazda, and his nemesis: Angra Mainyu.

In ancient Egypt there was also order versus chaos. Ma'at, the goddess of truth and justice, helped keep the cosmos in balance. There is also Heru (Horus) versus his uncle Set. The ancient Egyptians didn't have "evil" gods though, just ones that were chaotic and troubled.

Answer 6

If you study history, Devil existed before god ! People started worshiping evil and begged for forgiveness before they started praying to a god for good to happen.

Both are myths - but I prefer the Devil !

Answer 7

the devil used to be an angel called Lucife he was a high ranking angelr, when he got tired of serving God, and decided to have power for himself, he rebeled against God along with 1/3 of the angels in heaven. When this happened God cast Lucifer into Hell along with the 1/3 of the angels. now Lucifer is called Satan and is the ruler of the demons (fallen angels). and God will finally cast satan, demons, and all sinners into the lake of fire. worse then hell. Also as stated right above me, God does allow satan to tempt people to test them in their faith. like in job. and in no way is the devils power near Gods

Answer 8

In Christianity, God allows the devil the same freedoms that He does man. We have the power to try to influence others, but our influence is much more apparent and directed. The devil could never reign over God. No, he does not have that sort of power But, his existence in the supernatural realm gives him power that man does not share.

Answer 9

the devil is supposedly the famed angel of light who was ejected from heaven for refusing to bow down to adam when god ordered him to do so. in the book of job, he is the angel who agrees to be the lying spirit who would try to get job to curse god for all the bad things that were done to him. he is also the angel who got eve to eat the apple, and to get out of the euphrates river after 12 days instead of syayig in the river for 34 days while adam was to stay 40 days as an atonment so they could return to the garden of eden.

Answer 10

attempt speaking against God to the Marines. the 1st prayer I ever discovered replaced into in Marine Corpse boot camp. expensive God , Our Father via Thy Son, pay attention the prayer of a warriors Son. supply my eyes the resourceful and prescient keen to help me exchange right into a US Marine. a comfortable hand I ask of thee, the feel of wind on land and sea and enable me on no account careless be in freedoms combat for Liberty. For justice sake a quiet heart, A US Marine could do his section for God for usa abode and Corps enable me be committed evermore. Amen. attempt being an Atheist in Boot Camp, people who don't worship God , capture it. there is not any separation between us and God. Even interior the Marine Corps Hymn The final Verse says " If the army and the army ever seems on heavens scenes , you will locate the Streets are guarded via united states of america of america Marines. i in my opinion am indignant via the reference. there are various songs with reference to the Marines and would pass on and on , yet i do no longer know a Marine Corps music that doesn't incorporate God be conscious that it is the only branch that does!!!!!!