How powerful is Satan?

[warpus]

@frob: As I had hinted earlier, if you understood the claims of Mormonism you would not have said we are coming up with new theology without claiming new input. You can argue we don't actually receive it, but the fact is we do believe we do, and it is an essential part of our religion. Also, if "no new input" is allowed, then no Christian has to believe the doctrine of Original Sin anyways as it is not an original doctrine.

Can't you see that a lot of 'new doctorine' was simply invented up by theologians/popes/bishops/etc., rather than inspired by God?

Even if you believe that some of it has been inspired by God, you must see that a lot of it was just politically inspired BS.

Keeping that in mind, how do you determine how to distinguish one from the other?

 

[Eran of Arcadia]

I have no doubt that a lot of theology is the work of humans, whether they sincerely believe it or made it up to gain power (I thjink the former more often than the latter) and this applies to all religious doctrine, not just Christian doctrine. I determine correct doctrine the same way I know anything about God, through the influence of the Holy Spirit. And I can't give much more of an answer than that.

 

[MayNilad Man]

Can't you see that a lot of 'new doctorine' was simply invented up by theologians/popes/bishops/etc., rather than inspired by God?

Do you understand the process by which they do so?

Even if you believe that some of it has been inspired by God, you must see that a lot of it was just politically inspired BS.

Like?
It's hard to differentiate religion from politics, esp. after Augustine's The City Of God.

Keeping that in mind, how do you determine how to distinguish one from the other?

Reason.

 

[Pokurcz]

Well, according to Tom Waits there is no Satan, it is only God when he is drunk.

 

[El_Machinae]

I enjoy the difference between Eran's and MayNilad's answers.

 

[Eran of Arcadia]

I enjoy the difference between Eran's and MayNilad's answers.

Well, goes to show not all Christians think alike I suppose.

 

[warpus]

Reason.

I thought the Lord works in mysterious ways

 

[MayNilad Man]

I enjoy the difference between Eran's and MayNilad's answers.

I'm Catholic, he's a Mormon.

 

[Murky]

Satan is a mythological figure. He as about the same power as any other mythological figure, lots in fantasy, but none in reality.

 

[MayNilad Man]

I thought the Lord works in mysterious ways

Mysterious in the sense that we do not know how.

 

[warpus]

Mysterious in the sense that we do not know how.

So how do you justify using reason to understand him?

 

[Bill3000]

So how do you justify using reason to understand him?

Easy answer for a Catholic. [wiki]Thomism[/wiki].

 

[MayNilad Man]

So how do you justify using reason to understand him?

We have the reality which he made which is to be our basis for understanding him.

I concede that we will never fully understand God, but we may as well try, if only to be closer to him.

 

[El_Machinae]

I thought the Lord works in mysterious ways

I've asked elsewhere, but I'm still curious.

Does anybody know where this expression comes from?

 

[Eran of Arcadia]

I know it is in a hymn, and of course the idea is found in the Old Testament, if not those exact words.