I always had a hard time wondering why Christians believe in Satan. It makes sense to believe in a higher power that does only good, it is quite another thing to voluntarily believe in a higher power that does only evil. Any personal experiences or thoughts to help clarify this uncertainty of mine?
And yes, I know the bible says Satan is real.
2007-08-31 09:02:45 · 52 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
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2007-08-31 09:05:58 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 4⤋
Why doesn't it make sense to believe in a higher power that does evil if you believe in a higher power that does good?
The origin of Satan lies in the fact that once the Hebrew god was thought of as the origin of both good and evil. Later, that idea became unacceptable, and that god was said to be only good. But the evil had to come from somewhere, hence the later concept of Satan was born.
Originally, the Hebrew term "satan" referred to an agent of God sent to test or oppose someone. Sometimes that could be a mortal person. Sometimes it was a member of the heavenly court, i.e. an angelic being.
There's a really fascinating study of this called, "An Adversary in Heaven: Satan in the Hebrew Bible" by Peggy L. Day. It's somewhat technical and academic, but still interesting. Carl Jung also wrote a work called "Answer to Job" which touches on some of this.
2007-08-31 09:06:21 · answer #2 · answered by Underground Man 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The Bible is at least 2000 years old and there have got to be some kinks and quarks in it. Satan can be taken as a metaphor for the evil inside one's self(Which I believe is the best interpretation if you are a christian). Or, In my case, I belive Satan was derived from the "Horned God" Of witchcraft. Back in the day, the Christians couln't figure out how to get the witches to submit, therefore, they made their god (He is called the horned one because a crown of antlers was placed on his head as a gift from the goddess, and he is the image of a half-man half-animal. This is to show strength and survival) the image of the devil. And what kind of person wants to worship the devil?
2007-08-31 09:21:26 · answer #3 · answered by Melynda 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You won't get any facts from the Bible. Think about it a bit. Some poor people have been brainwashed from birth to believe in Satan, I don't think that is voluntary. In what way does a belief in a higher power that does only good make sense to you anyway? Wishful thinking. Neither Satan or God make sense to me.
2007-08-31 09:12:57 · answer #4 · answered by Louise 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Funny you should mention Satan. I was just talking with him the other day. You know he feels misunderstood and it's breaking his heart.
All he wants is for people to live their lives unimpeded by the conventions of religion. He's nothing against God, except for God's willingness to allow some crazy ideas about His rules and regulations.
God does want us to have fun and enjoy ourselves. The essence of the disagreement between God and Satan is that Satan believes God should be more direct. He has a notion that God enjoys the absurdity of some of the rules the church has devised.
Satan has gotten a bad rep from religious leaders who proclaim that unless people obey their rules they will perish in the everlasting fires of hell along with Satan.
Now, Satan says -- and I don't know iof he's lying or what -- that he had a lovely condo in Sausalito, rides his kayak in San Francsco Bay, and generally minds his own business. He's a good neighbor, has helped the guy next door start his car some mornings, and walks his dog. You really wouldn't want to have a better neighbor. God's a good neighbor, too. He's just not as interested in helping his neighbor start the car.
2007-08-31 09:18:24 · answer #5 · answered by jackbutler5555 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
In practical terms - meaning irregardless of official doctrine or dogma - mainstream Protestants and Catholics more or less have abandoned belief in a literal Satan. You do raise an interesting point,however as to belief in Satan actually empowering him,in the sense of such a belief being conducive to devil-worship and acts of evil or at least sociopathic modes of behavior. Fundamentalists talk more about the devil than they do about God; it's much more of a preoccupation,and the incidence of teenagers involving themselves in Satanism - including cruelty to animals - is almost entirely confined to the so-called Bible belt.
2007-08-31 09:18:08 · answer #6 · answered by Galahad 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
julian, there are so many religions is this world and all of them believe in diffrent Gods but the only thing common in all these religions is that they teach us that satan is real and we must resist/fight his temptations.
if there was no satan then there would be no evil, u said 'It makes sense to believe in a higher power that does only good' if u believe only in the higher power that does good so then where does the evil come from? surely not from the good power,right!
2007-08-31 09:17:40 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
ok so the people that said satan is just used to scare christians are wrong.
satan is very real and very powerful.
it does not make him any more powerful to believe that he is there.
nor does it make Jesus any more of a savior just to believe in him.
satan is happy when he tempts us and we succumb to sin.
but he is angry when he tempts us and by the power of Jesus name we resist it.
even Jesus believed in satan.
in the Bible... in Matthew 4:1-11 Jesus is tempted by Satan in the desert. Jesus went out there to fast for 40 days and satan came to him. He told Jesus that if he were so hungry to change the stones into bread. But Jesus replied that "man cannot live on bread alone but by every word from the mouth of God." every word from the mouth of God is the Bible basically. and the bible says do not put God to the test. Satan tried two more times to get Jesus to fall into sin.... but he was not successful.
So believing that Satan is real is different that bowing down and worshipping him.
here is another example:
say you are a student in school.
and you have this MEAN teacher "Mr. Meany (??)"
he is horrible to you.
by just believing that he is real and he is an actual human, not some figure of imagination, does not make him any more powerful.
i hope this makes sense....
2007-08-31 09:14:01 · answer #8 · answered by Chelsea 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
most(if not all)Christians believe in Satan because we believe-as the Bible sez-that God created Satan 2 test our faith. if He didnt create Satan, then we wouldnt have ne1 trying 2 tempt us in2 doing sin. when God comes back, & all the good taken 2 Heaven & wicked (ino we're all wicked but im talkin about ppl who dont believe in God) get punished w/ the furnace thing, along w/ Satan being destroyed becuz he wont be needed ne more.
its NOT quite another thing 2 believe in Satan, if u believe in God, youre bound 2 believe in Satan-1 doing good, the other doing bad & also trying 2 tempt u 2do the same. God is testing our faith w/ the creation of Satan. only the 1z that stay faithful 2 Him will make it 2 Heaven.
2007-08-31 09:18:09 · answer #9 · answered by Tiff 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As with any belief system and even the way that our universe is constructed Satan is a balance. If you believe in good there must be evil and so forth. Light/dark, white/black, well you get the point. All religions have this balance. It is up to the individual how their beliefs are manifested.
2007-08-31 09:08:04 · answer #10 · answered by jetratkat 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
When the universe was created God made Angels, the main one being Michael. He gave a certain power to these angels, Satan wanted to be as powerful as God, so he was cast out of heaven along with others who wanted to follow his wicked ways.
Yes, he is very powerful..just look at the news around you. Child predators, killings, raping..all these things are caused by Satan.
God has also given us a free choice..evil or good..also prayer to try and stop us from doing any evil.
Hope this helps.
2007-08-31 09:13:26 · answer #11 · answered by djc1175 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋