Don't you think Satan is right?

Question

From a religious and humanistic point of view, isn't doubt better than certitude, reason better than faith, rebellion better than subservience?

Isn't freedom, justice and free thought what Satan embodies?

Answer 1

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 Gods 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’s 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

Answer 2

Yes I thnk that this is all very valid. But I aslo reconginze that it is not about being one or the other. It is about balance.. Even a person who dominates is at the mercy of the subserviant, because it is a symbiotic relationship. ONe cannot call themselves dominant unless they have a subserviant partner to make the comparison between the understanding of what it means to be dominant. It is the same with god and with the devil. Whether or not devout christians belive this or not. One can not be without the other, and so this is the balance of all things. I wish you well

Answer 3

Some people are happier in ignorance.
Some people would rather live a life where they are beholden only to a higher power and not held accountable for their own actions.

A Brave New World has interesting parallels to religion. The people are so wrapped up in their religion (soma) that they don't like it when real life intervenes. When something is unpleasant, they dive into their soma.

I see a lot of those people today. When something is unpleasant, they ignore it by saying their religion will fix it somehow.

Freedom, justice, and free thought is not for everyone, unfortunately.

Answer 4

All of the outlooks you mentioned have their time and place. I don't think Satan exists. But, I don't think God is 100% good. Or, perhaps there is more than god and they have conflicting interests.
Freedom, justice, and free thought are wonderful, but so are love and art. Beauty often lies in the irrational.

Answer 5

Absolutely right, except that I don't think it's Satan, but human intelligence.

Answer 6

Not exactly.... go read the bible some more, and not just the verses you think support your point. Satan is the face of evil, lies, deceit, and eternal hell.

Answer 7

No on all accounts. Satan uses people to do his bidding.

Answer 8

Absolutely not, Satan is the father of lies.

Answer 9

Satan is the deceiver and murderer, an enemy of God and mankind's soul I don't think that is considered 'right'

Answer 10

Satan embodies sin and death.