What is your understanding of Satan?

[Stacmon]

I'm posing this question to anyone who believes in Satan, regardless of your religion (ie: Christian, Muslim, etc.). Feel free to add comments and discuss your vote!

My view and the Islamic view of Satan:

In Islam, Satan is understood to be a being that was once very pious and served God. He is not considered a fallen Angel because in Islam, Angels are understood to have no free will, so they serve God unquestioningly. Iblis (another name for Satan) refuses to bow to Adam when God commands it, claiming that he is made from fire while Adam is made from dirt (Iblis therefore feels that he's superior).

This act of pride leads to Iblis' casting out and he pleads with God to be able to mislead humanity as a respite for his banishment. God allows this, saying that the only people Satan will succeed in misleading are those that disbelieve or would have been prone to evil in any case. None of the good, God-fearing and committed people will be misled by him, so Satan will only cause the transgressions of those who would already transgress to be worse.

Satan is understood to have no power equal to God. Instead, he is able to do all that he does only because God permits it. Since God is all-powerful, there can be no one else that is as powerful or able to compete with Him in any way.

This is why I voted for Option 2: "He is an Evil being but can only do what God allows him to do."

 

[Kozmos]

One word: Amerika!

 

[Bozo Erectus]

Satan:

A convenient rug where we can sweep under all those elements of Reality we find disturbing and difficult to understand.

 

[bhsup]

The greatest of God's creations, got full of himself and did a bad thing. The source of all evil in the universe. A very real being, whose greatest trick was the convince many of mankind that he does not exist.

 

[skadistic]

One of the more interesting mythical characters. Hes the original rebel.

 

[Cheezy the Wiz]

I'm posing this question to anyone who believes in Satan, regardless of your religion (ie: Christian, Muslim, etc.). Feel free to add comments and discuss your vote!

That he is a lie created to scare people into doing what the church (any religious institution, that is) wants them to, and so that people don't have to take responsibility for their actions.

 

[Bartleby]

I don't believe in Satan.

 

[Maimonides]

The poll needs at least two more options:

-Chuck Norris is Satan.
-An agent of G-d, but not necessarily evil.

IIRC, the Satan of the Book of Job was doing G-d's bidding in tempting Job, so he wasn't necessarily evil.

 

[Panda]

I neither believe in God nor Satan. But they make up good stories.

 

[nc-1701]

They don't exist period.

 

[Stacmon]

That he is a lie created to scare people into doing what the church (any religious institution, that is) wants them to, and so that people don't have to take responsibility for their actions.

I just added the Islamic conception of Satan/Iblis to my original post.

You'll note that it is quite different from the Christian concept, and that people don't escape blame by claiming "the Devil made me do it."

 

[Stacmon]

The poll needs at least two more options:

-Chuck Norris is Satan.
-An agent of G-d, but not necessarily evil.

IIRC, the Satan of the Book of Job was doing G-d's bidding in tempting Job, so he wasn't necessarily evil.

Well I agree with you partly (on the second option, obviously ) but I think that can be lumped in with my current Option 2 (He is an Evil being but can only do what God allows him to do.) This would include being forced to do anything that God forces him to do.

 

[Gladi]

Bright day
Where is the option: I believe in God, but Satan does not exist?

 

[Stacmon]

Bright day
Where is the option: I believe in God, but Satan does not exist?

Fair point, I take it then you believe that?

 

[Cheezy the Wiz]

Fair point, I take it then you believe that?

No, he's just defending my honor.

 

[El_Machinae]

What do you mean by Satan? Is he the agent that caused us to evolve a prostate eons before stimulating it for pleasure became a source of icks for people? Is he the one that created a system of economics, as a fundamental aspect of the universe, that necessitates opportunity cost (no potential good can be done without restricting another potential good)? Is he the agent that tells people it's okay to kill others for religious purposes?

I don't believe in Satan. People need to stop blaming Satan for stuff, and maybe work with some introspection and wisdom and self-control.

 

[Perfection]

He lives on the North Pole and delivers presents on Christmas.

 

[MRM]

Bright day
Where is the option: I believe in God, but Satan does not exist?

Or the option "I believe in Satan, but God don't exist"

As an atheist I voted for the third option and mainly agree with this statement ...

What do you mean by Satan?

Good question - because I know " Satellitenanlagenen " ( equipment for satellite TV ) exists ...

 

[Jawz II]

Seems like a good guy, at least compared to all the self righteous A-holes on the oppsing side.

At least he dosent do cruel experiments on humans and still claim to be good.

 

[Stacmon]

I don't believe in Satan. People need to stop blaming Satan for stuff, and maybe work with some introspection and wisdom and self-control.

As I mentioned above, I believe what you're referring to is more the Christian understanding of Satan.

In Islam, anyone who sins, disbelieves, etc. would have done so with or without Satan. God permits Satan to mislead and prey on people because God knows that the sincere and devoted can't be swayed and that those people transgressing, would do so even without prodding from Satan.

Basically, it is never acceptable in Islam to say "the Devil made me do it." To go into rehab for 3 weeks and to come out a "new person" - Ted Haggard!