Is The Devil Good?

[Peter Parka]

If you believe the traditional view of heaven and hell, surely that would mean that the devil is good and is working for god by punishing the bad people?

 

[pjbleek]

If you believe the traditional view of heaven and hell, surely that would mean that the devil is good and is working for god by punishing the bad people?

Don't forget that the Devil was indeed an angel; but he/she was looking to be better than God.

 

[Ryder]

Ahh this reminds me of Fallen.

 

[Dana]

No because even Devil Food's Cake Sucks

 

[Zorak]

If you think in classical terms, the God of the Underworld always held an important part in the order of Deities, sometimes as high as second. Think of Anubis, Hades, Pluto etc. So it is odd that Christians are encouraged to fear and loathe the Devil.

But you raise a question Peter, that highlights one of the many glaring disrepencies in Christian religion. And it all comes back to Adam and Eve and the apple once again. Aside from the fact that an omniscient God would already know of the outcome of banning Adam or Eve to touch the trees fruit, he must have already known about the snake that would try to tempt them.

The bible tells us that this snake is Satan, so either Satan works with God in an attempt to sabotage the fledgling couple, or he works outside of God's power.
For the former, this is one of many examples of a megalomaniac, wilfully cruel God - that the New Testament thoroughly denies. (Think of the story of Cain and Abel, God would have known what would happen when he scorned Cain. Yet he did it anyway, purposefully accepting Abel's gift, and shunning Cain's) And for the latter, proof that God is not omnipotent.

Personally, I think the New Testament has warped the ancient hebrew sources for the God and the Devil. Just as the modern addition to the Bible shifted God from the maniacal and pernicious to the loving and sublime; so did it also shift the Devil from a subordinate Angel in control of an underworld, into the alegorical representation of all evil.

 

[BornReady]

If you think in classical terms, the God of the Underworld always held an important part in the order of Deities, sometimes as high as second.

:clap Good point. And the god of the underworld was not particularly evil.

The early writers of Hebrew scripture looked upon Jehovah as performing both good and evil. For example,

I am the Lord and there is none else. I form the light and create darkness. I make peace and create evil. I the Lord do all these things. - Isaiah 45

The dualism between a good God (Ahura Mazda) and evil God (Angra Manyu) comes from Zoroastrianism (~600 BCE). Around 300 BCE, the portrayal of Satan underwent a major change in Jewish writing. Jewish writers adopted the Zoroastrian/Persian dualism concept of God as wholly good and Satan as profoundly evil.

 

[Peter Parka]

:clap Good point. And the god of the underworld was not particularly evil.

The early writers of Hebrew scripture looked upon Jehovah as performing both good and evil. For example,

The dualism between a good God (Ahura Mazda) and evil God (Angra Manyu) comes from Zoroastrianism (~600 BCE). Around 300 BCE, the portrayal of Satan underwent a major change in Jewish writing. Jewish writers adopted the Zoroastrian/Persian dualism concept of God as wholly good and Satan as profoundly evil.

Arn't they the name for people who have sex with animals???

 

[BornReady]

lol Maybe I have my vocabulary confused.

 

[Minor Axis]

The bible tells us that this snake is Satan, so either Satan works with God in an attempt to sabotage the fledgling couple, or he works outside of God's power.

And God takes bets from the Devil as in the story of Job. They probably do lunch frequently discussing all things human. If you accept the power of Satin as described by the Bible, and you believe in the omnipotent God, then God must condone Satin's activities or better yet created Satin to tempt mankind.

Bottom line, the Devil (if you believe in him, which I don't) is good, testing us, and hopeful making mankind better as we learn to resist his temptations.

 

[BlackCherry]

And God takes bets from the Devil as in the story of Job. They probably do lunch frequently discussing all things human. If you accept the power of Satin as described by the Bible, and you believe in the omnipotent God, then God must condone Satin's activities or better yet created Satin to tempt mankind.

Who knew moderators has so much power! :eek

 

[Minor Axis]

LOL, yes, the ultimate moderator!

 

[iKon]

The Devil.
Satanism.


before i state this. i'm going to make myself clear. i'm an atheist.
now..

if you think deep into it. the tables turn, god being wrathful and strict. threating us with sins, and eternal dalmatian, he really possess the power to control us, subliminally that is. god, the "being" that had several wars, even wars fought today fought in his name, bloodbaths caused in his name, discrimination in his name, neglect in his name, murders in his name. people would use as an excuse for a crime "God told me to do it". jesus, god's son said "the only way you can be my disciple is if you hate everyone, including yourself, mother, father, son, daughter, etc. causing you to suffer.

the devil on the other hand is based in touch with our animal instincts. which is lustful, greedy, envious, glutenous, and destructive. allowing us to have what we want, do what we want. live our lives free and not in caged.

this making the devil good.