Does the devil make people do things?

Answer 1

I don't believe so. I don't believe in an entity called the devil.

People's own motives and intentions make them do things.

Answer 2

I don't think the devil makes people do things. We make our own choices. We can be tempted by the Devil to do something wrong, but at the end of the day we are the ones who made the decision, whether it be good or bad.

Answer 3

Actually neither God nor the devil can make you do anything. Satan can however tempt us through lies, circumstances, and trouble. Satan appeals to our human nature oftentimes. There is demonic possession, but for the most part, Satan strongly suggests things to us. The reason why someone would say Satan made them do something is that his appeals seem truthful and make sense.

Answer 4

Yes, if people don't know how he influences them.
Think: when a soldier joins the military what does he need to do? Doesn't he need to know his enemy so as to be prepared how to fight him? It's the same with Satan. If you don't know how he works and aren't equipped to fight him you are and will be affected. He's invisible, strong, watches our every move, knowing our weaknesses, and wants all people to turn away from the True God who's name is JEHOVAH. Read Psalms 83:18 and Revelation 12:9 & 12 in the King James Bible.

Answer 5

The Bible is the chief source of evidence. There he is repeatedly referred to by name (Satan 52 times, Devil 33 times). Eyewitness testimony as to Satan’s existence is also recorded there. Who was the eyewitness? Jesus Christ, who lived in heaven before coming to earth, repeatedly spoke of that wicked one by name.—Luke 22:31; 10:18; Matt. 25:41.

What the Bible says about Satan the Devil makes sense. The evil that mankind experiences is far out of proportion to the malice of the humans involved. The Bible’s explanation of Satan’s origin and his activities makes clear why, despite the desire of the majority to live in peace, mankind has been plagued with hatred, violence, and war for thousands of years and why this has reached such a level that it now threatens to destroy all mankind.

If there really were no Devil, accepting what the Bible says about him would not bring lasting benefits to a person. In many instances, however, persons who formerly dabbled in the occult or who belonged to groups practicing spiritism report that they were at that time greatly distressed because of hearing “voices” from unseen sources, being “possessed” by superhuman beings, etc. Genuine relief was gained when they learned what the Bible says about Satan and his demons, applied the Bible’s counsel to shun spiritistic practices, and sought Jehovah’s help in prayer.

Believing that Satan exists does not mean accepting the idea that he has horns, a pointed tail, and a pitchfork and that he roasts people in a fiery hell. The Bible gives no such description of Satan. That is the product of the minds of medieval artists who were influenced by representations of the mythological Greek god Pan and by the Inferno written by the Italian poet Dante Alighieri. Instead of teaching a fiery hell, the Bible clearly says that “the dead . . . are conscious of nothing at all.”—Eccl. 9:5.

Is Satan perhaps only the evil within people?

Job 1:6-12 and 2:1-7 tell about conversations between Jehovah God and Satan. If Satan were the evil in a person, the evil in this case would have to be in Jehovah. But that is in complete disagreement with what the Bible tells us about Jehovah as being One “in whom there is no unrighteousness.” (Ps. 92:15; Rev. 4:8) It is noteworthy that the Hebrew text uses the expression has·Sa·tan′ (the Satan) in the accounts in Job, showing that reference is being made to the one who is outstandingly the resister of God.

Luke 4:1-13 reports that the Devil endeavored to tempt Jesus to do his bidding. The account relates statements made by the Devil and answers given by Jesus. Was Jesus there being tempted by evil within himself? Such a view does not harmonize with the Bible’s description of Jesus as being sinless. (Heb. 7:26; 1 Pet. 2:22) Although at John 6:70 the Greek word di·a′bo·los′ is used to describe a bad quality that had developed in Judas Iscariot, in Luke 4:3 the expression ho di·a′bo·los (the Devil) is used, thus designating a particular person.

Is blaming the Devil just a device used in an effort to escape from responsibility for bad conditions?

Some people blame the Devil for what they themselves do. In contrast, the Bible shows that humans often bear much of the blame for the badness they experience, whether at the hands of other humans or as a result of their own conduct. (Eccl. 8:9; Gal. 6:7) Yet, the Bible does not leave us ignorant of the existence and devices of the superhuman foe who has brought so much grief to mankind. It shows how we can get out from under his control.

Answer 6

Some things and times yes. The majority of times he does not need to put in a special appearance. Humans do just fine on their own. Our selfish natures make evil just as well.

Answer 7

No. There is no devil. People do things because they choose to do them, then cannot accept responsibility for having done them, so invent a "devil" who drove them to it.

Answer 8

I think it can happen, pin pointing what he does and doesn't do can be tricky because we have free will.
Example:9/11 -A Devil act-at least I believe so.

Answer 9

Sure, if you are weak & allow him/his powers to engage you. People can only do what you allow them to do! The same for the devil &energy!

Answer 10

No. The only people who blame the devil as a scapegoat are people who can't take responsibility for their own actions.

Answer 11

Since "he" doesn't exist, of course not.

But he's a convenient imaginary scapegoat that misbehaving "christians" blame for their own actions.