The Bible says that God is all knowing. This means that God knows all that happened in the past and all that will happen in the future. Therefore, God knew when he created Lucifer, that Lucifer would eventually rebel against God and cause all sorts of mischief and suffering, including the eternal damnation of many souls made in God's image. The Bible also says that God is all good. So why would a God that is all good and all knowing create the Devil?
p.s. I am not asking this question to mock fundamentalist christians. I'm not an athiest. I am an agnostic that believes in God, but who also realizes that there are many questions which none of the major religions can answer. In other words, I want people to critically think about such questions so that they will not blindly follow religious dogma.
2007-01-13 15:35:57 · 39 answers · asked by devil's advocate 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
In response to an answer: Yes, I know Satan CHOSE to rebel, but since God is all knowing, God knew Satan would chose that before he created him.
2007-01-13 15:43:27 · update #1
Miss Momma, I know the Bible says that God will win the battle against Satan in the end, but my point is that there was no need to have this fight with the devil in the first place. Think about how much human suffering has come about because of this battle with the Devil. According to the Bible, God could have created our World any way he wanted, but God CHOSE to create a world with suffering and God CHOSE to create the Devil.
2007-01-13 15:53:08 · update #2
OK, one major part of it as well that you missed was that how does something that is all good create evil? It is logically not possible. It is the same as taking a brick of pure gold and cutting it apart and having one cutting not pure gold. Well then, the fact that the cutting was not pure meant that that original brick could not be named pure.
2007-01-13 15:56:01 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Satan was created as Lucifer, an Archangel of the Cherubim class. Equal in strength and glory with Michael. You have asked a question which the Bible does not answer except to state that the ways and thoughts of God are much higher and beyond the comprehension of man. Yes God knew that Lucifer would rebel and fall. He also knew that mankind would follow suit. Yet we all know that time and eternity will ultimately prove that the Almighty God is right and so is His infallible Word. Perhaps that is why, so that all of creation will know for all of eternity that there is no other like the Almighty God and that none can rule the universe and eternity as He does.
2007-01-13 15:45:14 · answer #2 · answered by utuseclocal483 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Critical thinking is indeed all you need. Look at the example of humans. Some are very saintly like Mother Teresa, some evil. Why did God create them. God gives everyone free will so that they can choose. That He can see into the future means nothing, he does not force us to be good.
So you will even see sometimes the most evil people turn a new leaf, and become good and enter into salvation. The same with the devil, so a more valid question might be "why didn't God dispatch the devil as soon as he turned evil" ? Now you know.
What about us then ? However in the case of Satan we DO know from scripture that he hates God, covets God's throne and will never change, while devoting his energies to our dehumanization and getting us to reject God, even till the end of the Age.
That God delays judgement on human beings shows simply His infinite goodness and mercy.
Matthew 5:43
"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.'
But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you,
that YOU MAY BE CHILDREN of YOUR heavenly Father, FOR HE MAKES his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust.
2007-01-13 15:46:26 · answer #3 · answered by defOf 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Hmm. I've often pondered that same thought. I think that knowing He would create humans and that humans would have to make a choice between Him & Satan/Lucifer, He allowed all that to happen to separate the "good seed" from the "tares." Angels seem to have a free will, just like humans. As you said, Satan rebelled, just as many humans do; a third of the angels in Heaven at that time chose to follow Lucifer. On the same token, why does God create the human whom He knows will rebel? I guess someday we'll know the real answer. It's an interesting question to ponder, though. safetman59's answer is right on!
2007-01-13 15:52:28 · answer #4 · answered by LP 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Under Judaism and Christianity main lines of thought (I will refer to these religions since you used the Hebrew name of the entropy,) there is no text that would mention a clear reason for Satan's creation. If you consider that most of the passages that talk about the devil's origin are not even mentioned in the Bible and come from both christian and Jewish apocrypha, then the analysis using "official" or "trustworthy" sources are almost impossible (under religious views.)
With this in mind, the only thing left is speculation. Let's also discard the fact that Satan (like God Itself) changed its motives and relationship with other entities in different books in the Bible.
Satan as ruler of Hell, deceiver, enemy of God and humankind would make sense if God would be trying to find the purest or worthy elements of Its creation to keep and then to get rid of the rest.
If you ask me, I think the Satan's version that we have been introduced to it's very puerile and just helps to make things more confusing.
2007-01-13 16:01:49 · answer #5 · answered by Kirios Escios 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
God created Satan for the exact same reason that He created us... to worship Him. Satan like us was given free will, Satan like so many humans chose to rebel against God.
Why would a perfect God who exists outside of time and knows what has been and what will be create Satan? I won't even pretend to know the full reason why God does things the way He does. I do know that His word tell us that His ways are not like our ways... We cannot understand...
What I know and trust is that He is perfect, I do trust Him... and if He does it, it is right!!!
QUESTION: You said you are an agnostic that believes in God. As such, how do you define the character of God? Do you believe that God is perfect? Why do you think He created Satan? Please help me understand your position.
Yes, God could have created perfect little followers that do exactly what he says the way he says every time... You see I disagree with you. The battle between good and evil or God and Satan must occur....
Ok... look at it this way, if I held a gun to your head and asked you if you loved me, you would most likely answer yes. But in actuallity you don't really love me, I would be making you love me. The only way for you loving me to have any real value, to you or to me would be for you to have a choice in the matter. For you to have a choice whether to love me or something or someone else you must have options.
Perhaps God choses NOT to know things like who will rebel and who will truly worship Him. Perhaps some day when we are kneeling before Him we will understand. For now we just have to trust Him.
God created us and everything else to worship Him, but He only wants GENUINE worship, so he presented us with an option... and that option is.... I don't know.... could it be.... SATAN???
Praise Him In All You Do...
2007-01-13 15:51:52 · answer #6 · answered by safetman59 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Excellent question. My opinion? How do you know that the bible was not like the media today? Only giving half the facts of what really went on. God did not write the bible, humans did. Humans error all the time. Is it possible they left some things out? That is why we are human and lack perfection and why we are left with questions.
I got a thumbs down from who knows who. I don't care. I don't have to answer to you but I am allowed to speculate like we all have been doing on this question. I still say its a good question, I could care less about the thumbs down on my thoughts. Such a heated topic tho on religion. I still say great question but a very debatable one. Everyone has a thought or opinion, in this case and you will pick one that fits the standards of what you think. Kind of a biased question to ask when you know people have many ideas about religion and different culturals and beliefs. This vote will come down to what the asker feels and if someone comes close to their thinking. So anyone else commenting on it does not matter.
2007-01-13 15:46:30 · answer #7 · answered by hbuckmeister 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Given what we know now, it's real clear we don't know it all, after all.
There are some who believe that the concept of the "Devil and Hell" was a creation by religious leaders of that time to terrorize the masses enough to maintain the faith. It wasn't until Dante came along in the 13th century that a more vivid portrayal of Lucifer and his kingdom was conceived.
The horror and desparity of Hell was portrayed in a venue that fit the times. That is what made it so popular, if you will, to so many people, because for the first time, someone actually came up with a plausible destiny of sinners.
My argument to the whole concept of the Devil or Hell is bogus because the purpose of it makes no sense.
2007-01-13 16:32:00 · answer #8 · answered by Gnome 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, being that God knows all things he knew the capapcity for good AND the capacity for evil. He knows that about all of us. Here is our first example of "choice". Satan didn't have to go that way. Church history tells of his demise and fall. God created him to serve and lead. But Lucifer allowed the desire to want more corrupt him. The same thing happens to us in our sinful state.
The same question can be brought done to earth and say, "well if God knew Adam and Eve were going to sin...." Yes, I sure he saw the possibility of that happening. But he also saw the possibility that Adam and Eve could turn to Him before they sinned and say, "Uh Lord, there's this snake over here....and he's suggesting some really weird things..."
But they didn't. God puts it all on the line. And now in the ultimate plan to redeem that creation, He comes in the form of Jesus Christ and gives redemption full and free. All we have to do is ask for forgiveness and it's ours. Confess our sins and turn away from sin and God will forgive us immediately.
Why doesn't God offer this to Satan? I don't know. That's between God and Satan. We could speculate all we want. maybe the desire to take over God's Throne like Satan tried to do is something God absolutely will not forgive, just like blaspheming the Spirit. Matthew Chap 12 (basically calling the Spirit of God the spirit of the devil)
You ask an interesting question and it will create alot of discussion.
Hope that all helps some
Jesus Loves You
2007-01-13 15:52:18 · answer #9 · answered by revshankumc 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
God originally created Satan to be his head angel, second only to himself. At that time, he was called Lucifer. Lucifer wanted to have the head job so he went to war against God. Now to your question, God created to Satan because he wanted to show once and for all his authority, so no one again will attempt to rebel against him. Why would anyone want to? God is an awesome God, he does so many wonderful things and his love is more than anyone could ever know.
2007-01-13 15:45:41 · answer #10 · answered by ninethirteen81 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
God created a Cherabim named Lucifer to protect The Mercy Seat.
2007-01-13 15:45:58 · answer #11 · answered by Royal Racer Hell=Grave © 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋