Someone mentioned this to me the other day - I'm not religious, but I find it interesting - what do you think?
2007-09-26 01:59:32 · 33 answers · asked by Gem Gem 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
thanks to those of you who added info about the Koran etc, I was unaware of this - thank you for educating me!
2007-09-26 02:15:10 · update #1
He's a Judeo-Christian creation who has changed a bit over the years.
Most religions have some sort of duality though. In Christianity, Satan is evil, God is good. Other religions recognize polarities as well. Look at the Yin - Yang of the Chinese. Many religions don't recognize things in the same "good - bad" fashion of the Christians, but do see masculine - feminine, light - dark, above - below, life - death and such.
Christianity though, goes a bit farther than talking about polarities, tends to deal with strict absolutes. Things may be "always" wrong. Many religions don't see things the same way. Christians always associate wrong with Satan.
2007-09-26 02:19:57 · answer #1 · answered by Deirdre H 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
God created a beautiful angel. His name was Lucifer. He was one of God's highest angels, until he rebelled and in his heart felt that he would be like the most high God and exalt his throne above the stars of God. God cast him out of the Heavens to earth. ( Isaiah 14:12-15, King James Bible)
Lucifer's name changed. He is now called: Satan, that wicked one, ( 1 John 5:18 ), murderer and liar ( John 8:44 ) and many more in the Bible.
This all happened long before there were any Christians or religions. It also happened before there ever was a written Bible. It is recorded in the Bible as a record of the event, Also to help Christians to be aware of who he is. The Bible records Satan as the Devil. He is a Christian's adversary (1 Peter 5:8, King James Bible )
Satan is not just a creation of Christianity. He is a real. This world won't tell you about Satan, but God does in His Word.
2007-09-26 02:55:48 · answer #2 · answered by cubby 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Satan is mentioned in the old testament in several incidents including the book of Job. Since Christians did not write the old testament in cannot be considered a Christian invention.
2007-09-26 16:29:02 · answer #3 · answered by Edward J 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. The Bible is a book for a number of religions. The New Testament is the book for Christians. Judaism and Islam both use the Old Testament and acknowledge Satan. Some so-called Christians are really Old Testament Fundamentalists rather than real Christians who believe in the god of fairness and tolerance of the New Testament.
2007-09-26 02:06:50 · answer #4 · answered by tentofield 7 · 2⤊ 2⤋
The word 'satan' is the Hebrew transliteration of the word 'adversary.' Therefore, Satan is the one who opposes God. Satan, is the most powerful of the fallen angels. Satan, also known as Lucifer and the Devil, is said to be the one who entered the Garden of Eden and convinced Eve to disobey God. There is debate among scholars regarding the time of the fall of Satan. Some say that he fell when he moved Eve to disobey God. Others state that Satan fell sometime before that and merely manifested his adversarial nature in the Garden. Still others say that there was a great battle in heaven long before the Garden of Eden and that Satan took one third of the angels with him.
http://www.carm.org/questions/whois_satan.htm
2007-09-26 02:06:45 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
I'm a Christian and believe that Satan and other demons (fallen angels) exist. This is my belief of reality. This is not a creation of my religion. It is only explained by my religion.
One needs to be more concerned about the evil in one's own heart rather than the temptations afforded by evil spirits.
Yours in Christ Jesus, Grace
2007-09-26 02:06:57 · answer #6 · answered by Grace 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You might be interested in a Scripture place that Satan (the Adversary) has an important role. Hebrew Scriptures: Book of Job.
2007-09-26 02:08:11 · answer #7 · answered by wilsonch0 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Actually he is mentioned in the Old Testament (Pre-Christianity), when the sons of God were gathered together, and Satan also came among them, and God asked him where he had been hanging out, and he said "I have been walking up and down on the earth, going to and fro...." and then he asked God if he could test the faith of Job.
2007-09-26 02:05:37 · answer #8 · answered by Princess Picalilly 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Many religions have an evil figure: Zoroastrianism [ancient Persian religion which influenced Judaism] had Ahriman. Buddha was tempted by the demon of delusion as he sat under the bodhi tree. Islam teaches about Satan [also known as Iblis.]
As for Judaism, Satan was originally a servant of God who accused them of sins, but not an enemy who actually made them sin.
2007-09-26 02:13:59 · answer #9 · answered by Jerusalem Delivered 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The only man called "Satan" in the Bible is
"Peter", of Simon-->Peter: Matthew 16:23.
He's also notably told, in Luke 22:32:
When(not if) thou art converted(from law to grace),
then strengthen(grace) thy (scatter brained) brethren.
Satan bound & jailed a 1000 yrs in Revelation 20?
Converted Peter: be not ignorant... 1000 yrs as 1 day.
Acts 12:4 Peter bound & jailed one day: called Easter.
Which things are an "allegory" & a "mystery" to solve,
lest all perish by law instead of none perish by grace.
The GRACE of our Lord Jesus Christ with you all. Amen.
2007-09-26 02:11:31 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋