2006-09-05 08:13:39 · 33 answers · asked by lonly_planet1976 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
In ancient Jewish tradition Satan is simply an angel doing the work that God assigned to Satan to do.
The word Satan means challenger. With the idea of Satan challenging us, or tempting if you will. This description sees Satan as the angel who is the embodiment of man's challenges. This idea of Satan works closely with God as an integral part of God plan for us. His job is to make choosing good over evil enough of a challenge so that it becomes clear to us that there can be only one meaningful or logical choice.
Contrast this to Christianity, which sees Satan as God's opponent. In Jewish thought, the idea that there exists anything capable of setting itself up as God's opponent would be considered polytheistic or setting up the devil to be an equally powerful polarity to god or a demigod.
Oddly, proof for The Christian satan/devil mythology is supposedly found in the ancient Jewish texts that were borrowed to create the bible. One can’t help but wonder how Christians came up with such a fantastically different interpretation of Gods assistant Satan in their theology.
Other hints about Satan’s role in human relations can be seen if you look at the name Lucifer. It meaning in the original tongue translates as Light bearer or light bringer. Essentially the bringer of enlightenment. The temptations of the Satan idea bring all of us eventually into Gods light. Hardly the Evil entity of Christian mythology.
Love and blessings
don
2006-09-09 07:08:16 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Such a mention of the ancient Greek god, Pan, hardly seems threatening. It certainly does not suggest that Pan was evil incarnate—yet by approximately 300 C.E., the demonization of Pan had begun, and it continued until the western world largely associated images of Pan with the devil. To the Greeks, Pan was a shepherd: he was half goat and half man, a thing of nature—certainly not the Antichrist or a being who was out to corrupt and steal men's souls. He was lusty; he played pipes and was therefore musical; and he was a god of nature. And though much is made in schools and textbooks of the major Olympian gods—Zeus and the gang—it is clear from archaeological evidence that Pan was the favorite god of the Greek people. "It's a fact that there are more dedications to him than to any other..." (Pitt-Kethley xi). Perhaps this is what led Christian theologians to demonize Pan; they sensed a powerful competitor for the hearts of the people. This demonization was no accident, but rather a deliberate twisting of pagan ideals as Christianity spread its influence throughout Europe. After the Council of Nicea issued the Nicene Creed and the Roman Catholic Church was established in 325 C.E., Christian theologians (beginning with Eusebius) transformed Pan from a benign nature god to Satan—the great Adversary.
Perhaps because Satin is a concept derived from history, made into mythology by story tellers, who wanted to make sure the old religions were wiped out, and Christianity prevailed. Indeed, this statement in itself looks like a contradiction when faced with quotes from the Bible. However, there are some who read the Bible as a book of history, some who read it as a book containing mythological symbols and some who believe it is a very interesting story indeed.
Story: NOUN: 1. An account or recital of an event or a series of events, either true or fictitious.
Biblical Teaching
God’s name [El Shaddai] implies strength/power.
(Gen. 17:1; Ex. 6:3; Is. 1:24; Amos 4:13; Jn. 17:11)
God says of Himself and angels declare that He is all-powerful.
(Gen. 18:14; Is. 46:10; Jer. 32:27; Lk. 1:37)
God’s power is incomparable to anything/anyone in all of creation.
(2 Cr. 20:6; Is. 40:25-26; Eph. 1:19-20)
God’s power is displayed in miracles for redemptive purposes.
(Acts 3:1-4:4; 9:32-42)
God’s power is supremely demonstrated in accomplishing and completing our redemption.
(Is. 52:10; Mt. 19:26; Jn. 5:21; Heb. 7:25; 1 Pt. 1:5; Jude 24-25)
2006-09-05 08:25:07 · answer #2 · answered by Orditz 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I asked the exact same thing last week - all I got was the run around.
You would think that 'God' would want to kill 'Satan' so that all of the people in the world would be good and free of temptation. If Satan is the cause for all evil in the world, one would think that the solution would be to rid the world of him. Simple logic - go figure. However, Christianity seems to instruct its followers to abandon logic and 'have faith'.
2006-09-05 08:18:58 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Satan is Gods son who was cast out of heaven with a third of the host of heaven, he didnt want to follow Gods plan, Jesus did though, and here we all are on yahoo answers, isnt this the best?
If God was going kill Satan, why doesnt he make me rich and then I can never want for anything I can never pay for, :-P
2006-09-05 08:17:34 · answer #4 · answered by rich2481 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He does have all power and is able to kill Satan whenever he wants to, but obviously He has a better plan.
The legal power of Satan to posess mankind, to hold our souls captive, was broken by Jesus' substitutionary sacrifice for all mankind on the cross. (Jews and Moslems - I respect you. Please note this is the main point of difference between us - and it's the most important point of all - it's crucial. Even the word "crucial" comes from the Latin for "cross").
Satan's real power is dead but like a beheaded snake, the tail is still twitching.
It is God's pleasure to allow the devil (Satan) a little while (in the context of eternity) to continue to tempt and deceive people SO THAT EVIL MAY BEAR ITS FRUIT AND BE EXPOSED FOR WHAT IT IS, FULLY (UGH!) IN THE LIGHT OF TRUTH.
So that those who hold fast to the faith in this terrible time that is coming, and almost upon us now, will be fully vindicated and hono(u)red (yeah I'm British) and able to see exposed the reality of wickedness as it really is, along with God Himself, Jesus and the angels.
This is all in Revelation somewhere, I'm not the type who is able to give a reference for everything I say.
2006-09-05 11:17:05 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't believe in any of it, but...
God created Satan, he knew his flaws, he knew that Lucifer would ultimately come to question, and then finally rebel against his wisdom - because God knows everything.
But that doesn't mean that the Christian god doesn't love the devil.
My brother has five kids, four are well behaved lovely children. The fifth is a 14 year old hellraiser who gets caught smoking dope/drinking cider, has been expelled from two schools and never believes anything you tell him unless you can prove it beyond any doubt.
He's a git - and though I shouldn't say it - he's my favourite :-)
2006-09-05 08:23:01 · answer #6 · answered by Warrior Hamster 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
God is a God of principle, but not emotions. Satan took the autority of administering this world form the hands of Adam and Eve skillfully. They willing gave it to him. Now satan has that right of Men at his disposal. That will end one day at the set time of God himself. Then God will santch the authority and throw him in to hell. Satan as well as men are spirits. They never die like the flesh of men die. Men are spirits housing in a flesh.
2006-09-05 08:50:16 · answer #7 · answered by andrew p 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Who said that God is not able? You?
Why do you think He wants to kill Satan?
God can do anything that suits Him.
Because He does allow Satan to live, I assume God desires it and so who am I to question God?
2006-09-05 08:17:24 · answer #8 · answered by steve 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
why did god make evil?? god as you are addressing the term is the universe/creator. it has created all things. as the Deists believed the universe/creator creates it and lets it evolve. the universe rarely becomes personally involved in the goings on of a planet (what they call in the bible a mansion in my father's house) I'm not Christian but that is what is inferred. if YOU do not become aware of "spiritual" forces working against you from other dimensions no one will do it for you. there is no one satan. there are a LOT of negative energies. unfortunately the religions of this world started by a myriad of demogogues that would like you to believe they are gods/god live you subject to these dark forces and often as not will not assist you either. they say they will in their religions but they will not. they say you have nothing to worry about but you do. we are on our own here. but we do have the ability to reject and destroy the satan/dark forces/energy just as we have the ability to rehect the religions that leave us as sheep on this planet.
2006-09-05 08:36:33 · answer #9 · answered by Thetruth 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He needs Satan as a scapegoat. Otherwise everyone would bl/ame all the terrible things in the world on GOD!
2006-09-05 08:16:02 · answer #10 · answered by kreevich 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋