Doesn't God need the devil?

Question

No devil means no hell to send the evil people to. In fact, it would probably mean no evil people. No devil means the bible would be a 2-page pamphlet. No devil means humanity can't look good by rejecting him.

If the devil didn't exist, would God have to invent him?

Sisterzeal, thanks for at least trying to answer the question honestly. But if he knows the outcome in advance, why would he still have to test things?

Answer 1

every hero needs a villian.

Answer 2

There has to be an even balance of everything. Light and dark, men and women, good and evil. Of course there is a devil. God needs him just as the devil needs God. Without one, the other would be useless. No devil no hell, so why be good. No God, no heaven so why be good. They need each other like the day needs the night.

Answer 3

First, the devil is not currently in hell and when he is sent there he will not rule. Secondly, people don't need the devil to sin. They are quite good at this on their own. Humanity never looks good in the biblical worldview. The Bible teaches that humanity can not save themselves but that God in his mercy provided a way. God is the one who ends up looking good. As for necessity, I think that in a sense all things that exist are ontological necessities. I agree with another Pope (Alexander) that this is the best of all possible worlds.

Answer 4

I think the devil's greatest trick lies in convincing a large number of people to believe that he doesnt' exist. Which in turn causes people to question if God exists.

I think that if the devil didn't exist that the world would be extremely different from the one we know today. and if the devil didn't exist I think some other form of evil would have risen in it's place (no invention necessary).

Answer 5

y is there a hell in the first place?
i thought God forgave all?
that means he should forgive even the most painful sinners, and thats including the devil himself.

we all have crazy thoughts but keep them to urself.
dont question the church. a religion is something that people believe in, not to be question. u dont have to if u want to. thank god u live in united states.

God doenst need the devil, but for every positive theres always a negative, ALWAYS. so for great good, theres a great bad as well.

Answer 6

According to the bible the omnipotent, all knowing god created Lucifer. He MUST have known how it was going to pan out and MUST have intended it.


Also Lucifer is not omnipotent and is not all knowing. But God is. So there is no scheme that Lucifer can think up that God is not aware of. No action that Lucifer can take that God can not stop with a mere thought.

So it logically follows that God allows Lucifer to commit the evil that he (allegedly) does. In fact he must actually want Lucifer to commit these acts otherwise they would be stopped.



Christians have blinkered themselves from the logical consequences of the definitions of God and The Devil that they have created.

Answer 7

I've always wondered the same thing.

Here's an extension of that... God sent the Devil to rule over hell as punishment. But the Devil likes torturing people, which is pretty much all he does in Hell. So is it really punishment?

I think God and the Devil are in cahoots.

Answer 8

The devil teaches us the difference between good and evil.

We need the devil in order to learn to worship God.

Hence, we need the devil, God does not.

Humans need the devil, need to learn and see the difference between good and evil so we may chose our actions right.

:)

Very small detail, but an important one.

Good question also.

Edit: God needed to test us, to show us our deeds when we hit heaven or hell. He knows why hes putting us there, He just needed to show us why we need to be there(heaven or hell) through our own actions.

Answer 9

White and black, yin and yang, etc Whatever. I don't ponder this question any more,nor think in terms of a god and a devil. We humans need to move beyond the duality concept, and seek to transcend our finite limits. Anyhow, that's what I believe. In time, as poet T S Eliot, scientists, and mystics suggest, we may realize that we are all parts of the Universes. In truth there are no divisions, for we are One.

Answer 10

Pondering Q----The kind I like to stir away from my mind, as
one mind circles 'round & 'round, and the coin for ever flips.
Being that the dark prince was a fallen angel, and did not want to give humans mercy "amnesty", The Bible is the greastest mystery ever told. Judas; is the one that rolls into mind from time to time, "There had to be a bad boy." I study his story and in the end he hangs him self. pondering, pondering, Bottom line I come up with, who am I do place judgement on any one! As I understand it, we are to judge the sin, not the sinner, we are all sinners from one degree or
another, How are we to know, the way God will use us. I do
believe dark thoughts are from the devil, when those a rise I think,"Devil be gone!"-----------Anyone that says they "fully"
understand God,does not understand, I like to share views,
I don't like to argue them, Agree to disagree, what works for me, may or may not work for some one else. I like the quote,
"I can answer your question, But I can't under stand it for you."
My peace and comfort , strength comes from Jesus the good shepherd, my favorite face of God/Jesus. I really enjoyed your question &etc. Blessings on your journey of enlightenment unending, God will only give me what I need to use.

Answer 11

Hell doesn't mean you go to the devil. Hell is absence of God which the devil has.