If the purpose of Hell is to punish evil, then isn't Satan a force for ultimate good?

Question

Most Christians would probably agree that the single person who most embodies God's will, at least the positive aspect of it, is that of Jesus Christ. But since all men have free will, any punishment after death is brought upon himself by each man's own actions. Satan merely does the "dirty work", providing a place and method for doing what, essentially, is a negative aspect of God's will. Is Satan ultimately evil, or ultimately good?

For those who took the time to give thoughtful answers, I am truly grateful. I had no idea that choosing a best answer would be so difficult, so I might leave it to y'all to vote.

In my own pagan worldview, I'd have to say that since all creation is infused with spirit, and each of us shares the same spirit, we all are our own goddess and god.

Moon goddess or sun god, the Holy Ghost or animal totem, demon or angel . . . all are real to the believer and false to the non-believer. Any manifestation of the spirit is nothing more than a device to help us connect to our universe.

Each of us is divine, each is profane. I know that the concept of the goddess that I invoke in prayer and ritual contains more than sufficient amounts of darkness and destruction to balance the light and nurturing she provides.

Again, thanks for the responses.

Answer 1

I don't think that Hell (or evil) is created for a purpose, rather it is a byproduct of the creation and existence of good. I see us as a created, ordered society, ordered by laws that must have cause and effect. Scripturally, to paraphase, Satan thought he saw a loophole.

The focus of Christianity for many years seems to be the avoidance of Hell. I've been thinking lately...what kind of place would Heaven be if that were the whole point, just avoiding Hell? A bunch of selfish holier than thous sitting around on clouds? No, I think that idea is a bit off.

Rather, I think the focus Jesus intended for us to have is on doing the business of the kingdom of God. What is that? He summed it up by saying for us to love the Lord our God with all we are, and to LOVE OUR NEIGHBORS AS OURSELVES.

Focus on that, and Satan is "dealt with" as a byproduct.

Answer 2

I think you have a misunderstanding concerning theology. I don't know if you have simply listened to christians who misinformed you or believed movies like South Park and Little Nicky were depicting the Biblical truth concerning the place of Hell. But it is not a christian belief that Satan created Hell or that satan runs hell. God created it, and little is known beyond that, but Satan nowhere is projected as the "boss" of Hell. So Satan neither provides a place or method for doing the negative aspect of God's will. You are free to find scripture that says otherwise. You will need some luck, however.

Answer 3

That's a very good point, I've never thought of that, but I think you're right. Satan would bring out the BEST in us, because we would have to go thru hell to be GOOD again or go back with God. You might want to read Conversations W/God by Neale Donald Walsch, it's a pretty cool book, you'll have some of your questions answered. Of course, you don't have to believe everything there is in the book but you do have to have an open-mind to read it and you seem to have a VERY open mind, so read it when you can, it's interesting.

Answer 4

My understanding of the Bible is that Satan was a chosen angel of God ......... at one point ultimately good ........ but Satan made the choice to take both himself and 1/3 of all angels with him to challenge God's authority and tempt man's fate ....... an unforgivable sin because he denied God and God's authority over all living things and the universe ....... there is nothing about Satan, or Hell, that is good.....

Answer 5

Satan is not ultimately good, nor is he ultimately evil, he is a servant of God, once the greatest of all God's angels, his envy for God's power made him start a revolt, God punished him and all other fallen angels to the underworld. Satan's punishement is to test human kind if they are loyal to God or not, and he also does the dirty work of God. He has the same good and evil as a human.

Answer 6

Nonsense. Hell is just the theists being petty and vindictive.

Here on Earth, punishment serves four main purposes -- none of which can be applicable to heaven:

1.) Deterrence -- but since people in heaven will be incapable of sinning, that was never a concern.

2.) Incapacitation -- but again, sinning is impossible in heaven, so it can't be for that reason.

3.) Retribution -- but what crime could possibly warrant infinite punishment?

4.) Rehabilitation -- but if they'll never be let out of hell, what's the point?

Hell is just a phoney-baloney scare-tactic invented to try to initimidate people into filling the collection plate, and a perverse revenge fantasy for a group of petty and small-minded people....

Answer 7

Satan is simply a pawn But if your into chess you would know a pawn can play a very big part in whether or not you win the game. Satan is not the bad guy. He is just as bad as we think we are bad. He is just as good as we think we are good.

Answer 8

That's not really accurate. God is still the judge who sends you to hell to pay for your sins. Satan is not the one to send you. Satan is "the adversary". He is man's adversary. He manipulates your free will and persuades you to act against God. Those actions deserve punishment, and it is God who punishes you.

Answer 9

One would have to argue that, being that God is all good, and God created Satan. So Satan would have to surve some purpose for God, who is good.

Messed up huh?

Answer 10

Lucifer the Devil. The Fairy tale. The Folklore. Do you think he wants you to believe there's a Devil ANY more than he wants you to believe in Jesus as God ?