Satan the root of all evil?
 

Christianity says Satan was a fallen angel sent down from God. Did God create Satan so that evil can exist? They say Satan has subtle influence on man's free will and actions. Do you believe this is true? How come everything that doesn't agree with Christianity's views considered satanic or influenced by the devil? Is this logical? Why can't people take responsibility for their actions?

Re: Satan the root of all evil?
 

No.

Evil is the consequence of having free will.

In otherwords, evil exists because we are free to choose it.

I personally believe that evil spirits tempt us to do things that are not in our best interest through out our lives, yes.

Could you be more specific? Because I don't see this statement as being true.

Was this rhetorical?

Re: Re: Satan the root of all evil?
 

Why do we choose it?

Why do they do this? What's point besides to bring everyone down to hell?

Anything that goes against or oppose the Christian belief system i.e. other religions, society, etc.. Satan does mean "opponent" in latin. Christianity is very counter culture. Me writing this posing these questions could be considered satanic or influenced by satan.

Sure..

Re: Re: Re: Satan the root of all evil?
 

Why do husbands choose to beat on their wives?

Why do rapists choose to rape?

Why do people choose to gossip and lie about others?


I don't have the answer.


Why do vandals tear down that which others create?


I guess you can look at it that way if you choose, but you're using a very broad brush to paint alot of people, unfairly, IMO.

For instance, I personally know no Christain that would consider your questions 'Satanic'.

Were you ever bitten by a dog?

And if so, do you now think all dogs bite?

/shrug

not that i really like CS Lewis, but "The Screwtape Letters" are a very intresting look at the question of why evil conflicts with good...and may help you find some answers on this, JP.

To borrow from Elvis Costello, there is no such thing as an original sin-there is nothing constructive, new or different about evil. It is a loss of connection from ourselves, those around us, and from God.

Re: Satan the root of all evil?
 

No! Man created the illusion of both god and satan. Man is just too dumb to know the difference between what's right and wrong, and that has nothing to do with believing in god.

the notion of satan and hell were created to try and scare people out of being 'evil', just as the notion of heaven is an incentive to encourage 'good' behavior...

besides, If that's true, then isn't god the source of all evil?

Now that's a great way of looking at it! :D
I sure am glad I don't worship anything.

I don't worship anything. I don't need some god that feels a need to make beings to worship him. That just means he has no self-confidence and that means he isn't perfect.

I would hardly agree with that statement, and this has nothing to do with my personal faith. Simply put, a careful study of scripture does not support that hypothesis. the notion of a ressurection of condemnation first surfaces in the book of Daniel, at very late addition to the jewish canon. This comes during the oppression of antichus epiphianes, when jews were being killed for practicing their faith. While not specifically our idea of "hell", this is the first step towards that idea. This was not intended to dissuade outsiders from being bad, but to reassure believers that God would still provide justice, a problem of theodicity. Similarly, heaven was not a carrot on a stick to lure in converts, but a reminder to believers who were facing death that they were the few who could remain faithful, even if it meant marytrdom. Quite simply, the cynical motives you ascribe don't fit the reality of a community fighting for its life.

Doesn't I Timothy 6:10 state "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil"?

Not that this has anything to do with the discussion, but I was reading about this at religioustolerance.org and I thought it was interesting...

Did you know that Satanists don't worship Satan as an entity? They venerate the ideas of indulgence, power, and revenge, and virility, but they're not pretending that the devil is a dude who sits on your shoulder and tells you to be mean to people.

Please look into Taoism. I found all my answers there. I have a pppointment in 10 minutes so sorry for the short post.

Has anyone ever read Memnoch the Devil? Thats almost exactly how I picture the devil.

I have read Memnoch the Devil. Ann rice did awsome with that, & I agree, that that is how the devil would be if in fact there is such a being.

As far as I'm concerned, while I believe in God, Satan is an artificial invention of humankind intended to dissociate ourselves from responsibility for our own actions.

It's just a story from the wonderful book known as the Bible. The Bible is a book rich in tradition and rich in story telling and one of the best sets of truisms and philosophies that exist today. None of it is the "word" of God, though. The God described by the bible probably doesn't exist. This is what I believe.

Bible and Torah were written for people long long time ago. However people change and advanced in so many ways since then, that this texts dont apply to our views and our complex ideas and views on things now.

i really despise the way people take christianity. I watched the Christian channel yeasterday for 10 minuts, just out of a boredom. All I got from it, was that Christains seriously believe in God as a good being that if he likes you then he will protect from Satan the evil being, which makes you do bad thing.

You cant really generlize human nature just by this two factors, like they are controling you and you have no will.

I believe in the Creator, I dont see it as a being, it has no shape, it has no sons or daugthers or prophets. There is no Satan, the only Satan you have to face is within you, your own selfish-egoistical desires that drive you and make this world for what it is. The problem with Christianity is that it tries to teach others how to become Chistian and you will be corrected, however it would be much more "logical" to try to fix yourself first.

I say try to look into Kabbalah, there is a great site there www.kabbalah.info

God is not pure goodness.

Chocolate is pure goodness...