everlastingtongue

I was watching a religious program a while back just for kicks and was surprised by the frequent references to Satan. Do most Christians really believe in Satan’s existence? What role does he play? When I smoke or drink or think lewd thoughts about Catherine Bell is it Satan who is making me do these things? Who is to blame?

With all of the misery and cruelty in the world I would think that Satan really wouldn’t have anything to do – put out of business so to speak. But if he is the cause of all, or even the majority of all this, then aren’t most evildoers innocent in a way?

It’s my experience that most theists believe in God because they want to – it comforts them. What comfort can come from believing in Satan? The only purpose I can think of is to take some of the blame away from ourselves. But then doesn’t that let too many people off the hook?

Ab_Normal

Off the top of my head: by making satan responsible for everything bad, they can let their "kind and loving" god off the hook.

Soma

God is responsible to no one else. Satan need not be to let God "off the hook."

Strawberry

Then perhaps you could propose what you think Satan is "for," if you think Ab_Normal is so wrong. Are you a theist? Personally, I think Abby hit the mark here.

Soma

I KNOW Ab_Normal is wrong. He/she is proceeding from the erroneous presumption that good and evil stand above God, when in fact God is above both. Man cannot judge God, therefore God can never be evil.

Philosoft

Surely you have considered the philosophical implications of this position? Euthyphro wasn't nearly so confident about the outcome of his dilemma.

Soma

The implications do not matter so much as does objective, philosophical truth.

Personal feelings are no ground to dismiss God. God is not evil because one thinks He is.

Aethari

Beliefs in Satan with Christians are generally a pretty tricky thing to deal with, because of the wide nature of way in which believers treat our favourite Prince of the Damned Amoung fairly apathetic Christians, I doubt Satan ever truly crosses their minds. They'll defend the existence of God if pressed, since it's the foundation of their belief, but the existence/power/influence of Satan is basically irrelevant. However, with fundamentalists, you're bound to see Satan blamed for everything from wars to their pens running out of ink. It really varies too much to give a blanket answer.

However, theologically speaking, an anti-good force is necessary to preserve the stark dualism that runs through Christianity. The entire concepts of grace/faith/salvation/repentance revolve around the necessity of a "wrong choice"-- if Satan or some equally evil alternative didn't exist, there would be no evil and hence no need for an organized belief structure. If *everything* is good, religion is unnecessary.

~Aethari

Soma

Evil exists because God gave man free will.

everlastingtongue

Excellent point.