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In [[Christian]] and [[Jewish]] mythology Satan is shown in opposition to [[God]] - or - more perhaps more properly - [[YHWH]]. |
In [[Christian]] and [[Jewish]] mythology Satan is shown in opposition to [[God]] - or - more perhaps more properly - [[YHWH]]. |
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| + | He is portrayed as a giant red fawn carrying a trident. in today's media. This is because Fauns were Greek spirits, and Christains denounced anything that were in other religions. The redness comes from Odin's red beard and the trident from Neptune. In older versions, he was blue to represent coldness. Neither of these are true, because he was described as being the most beautiful angel (although God might've uglified him when he rebelled) |
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In Islam, he is a djinn. |
In Islam, he is a djinn. |
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Revision as of 21:50, 6 February 2009
Satan is yet another mythical "supernatural" being. In common with all such beings he (or perhaps it) is worshiped by somebody somewhere.
The Devil is another name for Satan. A devil or a demon can mean a minor devil who rebelled with Lucifer and is condemned with Lucifer according to Christian mythology. Belief in the devil is in no way harmless. Countless innocent women have been burnt as witches because superstitous people believed they had sold their souls to the devil. This is just one example of the harm caused by belief in the devil.
Atheists feel that the existence of all supernatural beings are equally unlikely.
Satan in mythology
In Christian and Jewish mythology Satan is shown in opposition to God - or - more perhaps more properly - YHWH.
He is portrayed as a giant red fawn carrying a trident. in today's media. This is because Fauns were Greek spirits, and Christains denounced anything that were in other religions. The redness comes from Odin's red beard and the trident from Neptune. In older versions, he was blue to represent coldness. Neither of these are true, because he was described as being the most beautiful angel (although God might've uglified him when he rebelled)
In Islam, he is a djinn.
Demons
Demons in Judaeo-Christian mythology are minor devils or fallen angels. The Bible teaches that a third of the angels rebelled with Lucifer and are damned in Hell with him. This is not a harmless fairytale. It is also believed that demons can possess human beings. In the past a range of psychiatric illnesses were ascribed to demonic possession. Epilepsy and other types of brain damage could also be attributed to demonic possession as could anti social behaviour or atheism.
Patients who were already vulnerable would be told that the devil possessed them. This could easily aggravate any psychiatric illness. Bizarre and potentially traumatic rituals would be done to exorcise imagined demons. Sometimes psychiatric patients would be beaten to beat the devil out of them.
Unscientific and superstitious communities still carry out traumatic exorcisms in the 21st Century.
How is he worse then God?
In the Bible, God is shown to kill entire species, villages, and have people die and suffer. If Satan were to do the same, what difference does it make?
Obviously, Satan, like God, wants people to worship him. However, this won't happen since he isn't a god. So naturally, he decided to become one (also impossible).
Satan has done terrible things, like torture Job, but God allowed this to happen.
Modern Christian fundamentalism
Innocent actions like yoga can invite demons into your head according to some fundamentalists. [1] Once Christians start believing logic can go out of the window. [2]