a few questions about the devil...?

Question

Should a responsible and intelligent adult, teach young impressionable children to believe in a "devil"?

I mean think about it: A DEVIL. An invisible creature that nobody has ever seen. No photographs, no evidence, not one picture or 1 second of video footage.

Shouldn't we spend our time educating our children about real problems? Shouldn't we teach them that people are responsible for their own actions and that an invisible "devil" has nothing to do with the tragedy in the world?

Wouldn't it be better to TEACH our children to be kind and fair instead of scaring them into being kind and fair with an "invisible devil" that will torture them in a "hell" for millions and millions of years?

cris c: I just want to understand you. Because I don't believe in the devil, that is proof that He does exist?
Ok then, I like that logic. Now I'm going to tell you one ok? There is an invisible green duck that is responsible for the "missing socks" in the laundry. DO YOU BELIEVE IN THE DUCK??? By not believing only proves he exists...remember? Now do you see how ludicrous your argument is?

Look at the sick maniacs who gave my question a thumbs down. They actually THINK it's a good idea to teach children about invisible creatures that offer NO PROOF of their existence. How about invisible spiders that suck their blood if they don't clean their rooms? You are a SICK bunch of freaks.

DougLawerence: "as much a fact as gravity"????? ARE YOU JOKING?
If I drop a rock, it falls. If i get on the space shuttle and go to the moon I can test gravity their too. Please tell me how you can test, measure and PROVE the existence of a "devil". Are you retarded?

marquita: Or what? what's going to happen if i don't change my belief and believe what YOU believe? The "devil's" gonna get me? If you don't believe me then......an invisible bogger eating monkey is going to get you. Do you see how ridiculous it sounds?

u&me: "THER'S A DEVILE AS LIKE AS THERE IS SNAKES .. SCORPIONS .. AIDS .. CANCER". are you kidding?
No there isn't. I can show you a snake, I can show you a scorpion, I can show you the aids virus under a microscope and I have seen people with cancer (my aunt). However, I have NEVER, EVER seen a "devil" and neither have you. Don't be an Idiot.

ravencadwell: I just want to get this straight.....you believe in a "god" but not a devil? Is there a different amount of proof between the two??

Answer 1

I agree.I believe that we should teach our children responsibilty, not dumb it down with a fairy tale. Same thing goes for being a good person and contributing to society for the greater good, not to expect to recieve treasures in an afterlife that probably doesn't exist.

Answer 2

I agree with you.

but then again I'm jewish and we don't have a devil or an eternal hell.

so I guess that makes it easier.

no worrying about keeping the lies straight with santa or the easter bunny either.

edit: ha! people naturally belive in a devil? right.... I understood what they meant when my parents explained what the word "god" meant just about right away (that is, I knew what god was, just didn't have a word attached to it) but the idea of a devil? no. its really a very artificial thing.

edit to the below answers:

omfg people, you will make more money if you SELL the stuff not use it yourself. I understand its good stuff, you don't have to kill any more brain cells proving your drugs can make you halucinate.

to even ALLEDGE that god has an OPPONENT is polytheism at best, idolotry is a more honest word for it. great ALL POWERFUL god you have there that has an opponent...

medicine is work of the devil? now I get your seeing the whole devil thing much differently, but thats a bit far. why not just see god as all encompassing with certain actions that appear positive or negative instead of obfusticating everything with this nonsensical devil notion.

the closest thing I was ever taught growing up jewish, to a devil, was in a obviously fictional story (K'ton ton for those who might know it...) where there was a little mischevous creature thing that would cause problems and be the source of bad impulses, and it was (and quite accurately) depicted as something to be easily and effectively shrugged off with little effort. merely being concious of that negative impulse, and deliberately behaving good, is enough.

what I find fascinating is how you have christians arguing BOTH SIDES of this particular disagreement.

Answer 3

A responsible Christian parent should teach their children what the Bible teaches and that is that God loves all mankind.He created Adam and Eve in perfect health,put them in a beautiful garden and if they obeyed Him they would live forever.
God also created millions of spirit creatures,called angels.
God gave all his intelligent creation the gift of free will,so they could choose whether they would obey their creator or not.Unfortunately,the angel who became Satan(meaning Resister)and Devil(meaning Slanderer) chose to misuse his gift and tricked Adam and Eve into disobeying God.
Jesus testifies to Satan's existence on several occasions.The more familiar being the account of Jesus being tempted in the desert by Satan.
If you have faith in God and believe that the Bible is his inspired Word then you would believe that Satan is a very real wicked spirit being.
The Bible acts as a instruction manual.It has been preserved through the centuries so that we can learn from its pages.So we can benefit from the many life experiences recorded for our benefit.The Bible contains principles that enable us to be better parents,neighbours,
friends,marriage partners,workers,bosses and the list goes on.
All Christian parents should take time to educate their children with the teachings of the Bible.But in order to do that,the parents themselves need to be familiair with its pages.
Yes,we are responsible for our actions and the Bible teaches that "we will reap what we sow"(Gal.6:7) however,the Bible also teaches that there was no longer found any room for Satan and his demons in heaven and they were thrown down to the vicinity of the earth.(Rev.12:9).As a result the "whole world is lying in the power of the wicked one"(1John5:19).So Satan has a major influence in the world today.And we can see around us,that influence - the greed,violence,hatred,corruption.
The Bible assures us that in his due time,Jehovah will step in and rid the earth of the wickedness and restore the peace and harmony that existed prior to the rebellion in Eden.As for Satan and his demons,they too will be done away for all eternity.And obedient mankind will again be able to live just as God had originally planned - in perfect health for all eternity on a cleansed earth.(Ps37:9-11,29;Pr.2:21)
The Bible does not teach of a eternal place of torment such as Hell.

Answer 4

Many have seen him. I know many that hvae spoken to him. He's not really unreasonable, to tell the truth, but you'd be suprised what he does in the world. His mission is not of evil per se, but to counter the creator, and the things the creator does isn't always good, and as such the devil isn't always evil, on the surface. Medicine is the work of the devil to fight the Disease from the creator to keep the balence in check, if everyone lives too long, the earth could lose its population, and then the creator has to start again, and while the world could just be hit by a meteor and end it all quickly, it ruins the whole game, imagine a game of chess with an infinite number of piece, sure the creator is all powerful, but if the world took seven of its days as per some legends, which is a lot of work, its still better to keep playing on the same board rather than wait to set the game up again.

Answer 5

As a Christian, I believe that the first thing a child should be taught is about God and how to live for Him. Satan is not really important in a Christian's life. He is repsonsible for sin in the world but then He only tempted and we made the choice to follow him and not God.

There is no place in the Bible tecahing that Satan will torture you forever in hell, hell IS the torture. He will be just as occupied as every other non-follower human.

A child should be taught the love of God not scared with some fallen angel who can't hurt them eternally, especially if they are believing and following the Word of God.

God Bless,
Jennie

Edit: I should also point out I believe in telling children about Lucifer and what he did, that IS important. Every aspect of the Bible is. But the modern day portrayal of a "devil" is completely backwards from Biblical teaching and you should NEVER use it in teaching children about God or use it to scare them to behaving!

Answer 6

Yes, absolutely, you are 100% spot on! I truly believe that in simpler times, before humans were as evolved as we are now, (which still isnt much!) we personified EVERYTHING. Look at BC, all gods are personified in some way, even if it was only a representation of the forces of nature. Forcing a mystery into a symbol or person makes it so much easier to understand and accept it. But really, in this day and age, instead of saying "buggy wuggy evils gonna getcha!" It would be much simpler to say, "well, the whole world is in a balance of good and bad" and teach truth instead of propaganda. Well done, great question

Answer 7

Kudos to you ! Raise your children to understand good and evil and teach them from your mistakes...thats how they learn best. That and a firm but loving had to the backside.

I was raised in "the Church" I was taught the devil made us bad if we allowed him to. BULL HOCKEY!

I raised my kids to treat people good, respect their elders, say yes sir/ma'am and all the polites. I also taught them to be responsible for their own actions.

My devils know I love them, but they did get their tails whipped from the time they understood the word "No" untill they all went out on their own. The are educated, responsible and respectful of others...even idiots and fanatics...productive and well adjusted adults.

I was their worst fear not the devil but the wrath of mom. Raise them the old fashioned way and you wont have all these kids out there raising cain and screaming "abuse".

BTW I will see my maker one day....I do not have to believe in the devil to reach the hereafter, I follow the way my heart is lead through "MY" personal relationship with "MY" higherpower. I do not need to advertise my faith, and at the same time jusdge someone according to theirs..its a personal private thing and should stay that way!

Answer 8

Sure thing! I suspect some have seen him but it's true about the photos as far as I know.
The Devil is a real problem and it seems you should have been better informed.
Warning of hell is very important, but being afraid of the devil is not good.

Answer 9

To know that something exsists does not mean you have to see it
It is about beliefs and in order to belive in good or god then you have to know about evil or the devil. Without one you cant have the other it a balance. You dont teach them to scare them you teach so they can make the right desions when the a rise. Me i belive a higher power that guildes you on your path but when the time comes only you can deside what path you will follow and that is what we teach our children to make the right one.

Answer 10

You are right on about this! So many people see the devil as real, an actual being. I tend to see him as a metaphor for what is bad in all of humanity.
To me it seems that so many use him as a scapegoat, a pathetic excuse to not take responsibility for their own actions. Keep in mind, Christ said we are ALL sinners. God gave us free will! Now if you make a bad decision, that's on you, not Satan (the devil or whoever)!