Satan and the Work Denying

[JoeyKnothead]

From Post 33 here:

...satan does his work to deny the work of God.
...

For debate:

Please offer some means to confirm the statement is true and factual.

[Crazee]

It's not that Satan causes evil. It's that Satan is evil.

I think the idea of satan is negative for society because it gives the bad things we do a personality, and personalities have power.

When we seek to blame problems on someone or something else, we are doing it in an attempt to not seem at fault. This is a problem. The first step in fixing a problem is taking responsibility for it. We take responsibility by acknowledging that the negative actions we took were taken out of our own free will.

Once we know that we were the cause of our actions, we also know that we can choose not to engage in them anymore, or we can modify the actions so the negative effects are removed.

The original idea of Satan can be used constructively if he is observed purely as a tempter, and not one that can bypass the free will of an individual. That is why I think that the original of intentions of the word Satan is a way to symbolically represent one's immoral thoughts and ideas.

Jesus was tempted, Buddha was also tempted. Those that had great spiritual knowledge knew that their intellects could be used most advantageously for personal gain at the expense of others' well being if they chose to do so. Our modern society has chosen to listen to thoughts that drive us to do things that put others as well as ourselves in a state of disharmony with the universe. Effectively, Satan has led us astray, but we never have to do what Satan says, so we never should use that as an excuse for the evil deeds humanity has commited.

[Euphrates]

...
But if biblical evidence isn't good enough, I'm not sure what will suffice.

Actual would suffice.

I always find it amusing when folks must use the qualifier "biblical" whenever evidence gets mentioned.

Do you also think it's funny when people use the qualifier "scientific" whenever they mention evidence from science?

You asked for means to confirm a claim that is soaked in Christian and Jewish theology, but then you refuse to accept confirmation from the Bible (the source of such theology)? Why would you do that?

Your assumption is that evidence from the Bible isn't actual evidence.

Prove that.

[Moses Yoder]

...
But if biblical evidence isn't good enough, I'm not sure what will suffice.

Actual would suffice.

I always find it amusing when folks must use the qualifier "biblical" whenever evidence gets mentioned.

Do you also think it's funny when people use the qualifier "scientific" whenever they mention evidence from science?

You asked for means to confirm a claim that is soaked in Christian and Jewish theology, but then you refuse to accept confirmation from the Bible (the source of such theology)? Why would you do that?

Your assumption is that evidence from the Bible isn't actual evidence.

Prove that.

In the rules for this forum I think it says the Bible bears the same weight of evidence as any other book. So it bears the same amount of evidence as Thoreau's "Walden". Of course, it can then also be claimed to bear the same evidence as Darwin's "The Origin of the Species."

Actually, the more I read here, the more I wonder if I really exist.

[Mithrae]

...
But if biblical evidence isn't good enough, I'm not sure what will suffice.

Actual would suffice.

I always find it amusing when folks must use the qualifier "biblical" whenever evidence gets mentioned.

Do you also think it's funny when people use the qualifier "scientific" whenever they mention evidence from science?

You asked for means to confirm a claim that is soaked in Christian and Jewish theology, but then you refuse to accept confirmation from the Bible (the source of such theology)? Why would you do that?

Your assumption is that evidence from the Bible isn't actual evidence.

Prove that.

A week later I'm still waiting for a definition of 'natural,' so I wouldn't be holding my breath on 'actual' if I were you

Edit:
Hmm, one-liners not permitted. Though it's essentially the same as above:
Could the author of the OP please provide definitions of 'confirm' and 'factual' which aren't question-begging or circular, so we can understand the question?

[Goat]

From Post 33 here:

...satan does his work to deny the work of God.
...

For debate:

Please offer some means to confirm the statement is true and factual.

I think "deny the work of God" means to oppose God's will.

Biblically, Satan is in opposition to God. The word "satan" in Hebrew means "the opposer". When it's not used as a proper noun, the correct translation would be something like "adversary". Satan tries to get Jesus to turn away from God's plan in Matthew 4 (and Mark and Luke).

But if biblical evidence isn't good enough, I'm not sure what will suffice.

Well.. not quite.. from a Hebrew , Satan means' the accuser'.. and in the book of Job, was accusing Job, .. not God. Satan, in Jewish theology , is not working in opposition to God, but rather has been given the rather nasty job of providing for bad choices... and temptation.. so that in the process of rejecting the bad choices, people can choose GOOD, and therefore lift their lives from the mundane, and lead a more sanctified life.

In the Jewish faith, Satan is one of the angels, and Judaism does not give 'free will' to the angels..

It is only when you get the pagan influence that you get the idea of the 'fallen' Satan, which opens up a whole bunch of contradictions in theology that get ignored in my opinion.

[JoeyKnothead]

From Post 2:

I saw this yesterday, but I was a bit wrapped up to respond, but here goes now...

Logically, good is defined by evil. I believe Satan to be the epitome of evil. Evil is defined by the #1 definition of dictionary.com as;

morally wrong or bad; immoral; wicked

Evil would then essentially be warring against good (moral against immoral) so logically it makes sense that Satans tries to negate or deny the work of God.

So, is this Satan an entity; conscious, deliberative, thinking, plotting?

Or is this Satan merely a concept?

Of course, I don't believe gas costs $4 a gallon either, so it's okay if you don't believe me.

When I first read that, for some reason I hadda laugh out loud. I like that you don't take things so seriously that you can't put up a funny when ya find it.

[JoeyKnothead]

From Post 5:

It's not that Satan causes evil. It's that Satan is evil.

I think the idea of satan is negative for society because it gives the bad things we do a personality, and personalities have power.

When we seek to blame problems on someone or something else, we are doing it in an attempt to not seem at fault. This is a problem. The first step in fixing a problem is taking responsibility for it. We take responsibility by acknowledging that the negative actions we took were taken out of our own free will.

Once we know that we were the cause of our actions, we also know that we can choose not to engage in them anymore, or we can modify the actions so the negative effects are removed.

The original idea of Satan can be used constructively if he is observed purely as a tempter, and not one that can bypass the free will of an individual. That is why I think that the original of intentions of the word Satan is a way to symbolically represent one's immoral thoughts and ideas.

Jesus was tempted, Buddha was also tempted. Those that had great spiritual knowledge knew that their intellects could be used most advantageously for personal gain at the expense of others' well being if they chose to do so. Our modern society has chosen to listen to thoughts that drive us to do things that put others as well as ourselves in a state of disharmony with the universe. Effectively, Satan has led us astray, but we never have to do what Satan says, so we never should use that as an excuse for the evil deeds humanity has committed.

Now that's a quality post.

I'll be tellin' all my people I'm the one that wrote it. If you tell 'em I didn't, I'll call ya a liar right to your face

Would I be correct if I said that it doesn't matter (to God?) if I consider this Satan not an entity, but a concept used to help describe and understand "evil"? Is this Satan a teaching tool, or a real entity that plots and plans?

I, personally, being not the scholar, think if the idea were presented as Satan being a concept, as opposed to an entity, "the church" would likely lose some of its "moral authority", so would prefer this Satan to be an entity, or to be at least described as such. (I say that while admitting I can be a bit paranoid and cynical, if folks didn't know)

[JoeyKnothead]

From Post 6:

I always find it amusing when folks must use the qualifier "biblical" whenever evidence gets mentioned.

Do you also think it's funny when people use the qualifier "scientific" whenever they mention evidence from science?

Not near as much.

You asked for means to confirm a claim that is soaked in Christian and Jewish theology, but then you refuse to accept confirmation from the Bible (the source of such theology)? Why would you do that?

For the same reason I don't look to the moon expecting to see a cow jumping over it.

Your assumption is that evidence from the Bible isn't actual evidence.

Prove that.

My assumption is that you can't show the claim presented in the OP to be true and factual.

I propose as my proof here your not presenting anything, biblical or not, to support the claim challenged in the OP, and your going on to request that I prove something that is not related to the challenge presented in the OP.

[JoeyKnothead]

From Post 8:

A week later I'm still waiting for a definition of 'natural,' so I wouldn't be holding my breath on 'actual' if I were you

The shrooms came in, shoot me. So's ya know, there's a PM function on this site, where if ya think someone is missing something, ya can given 'em a heads up to let 'em know you requested info or such.

I'll be there here directly.

Edit:
...
Could the author of the OP please provide definitions of 'confirm' and 'factual' which aren't question-begging or circular, so we can understand the question?

Sure...

1: to give approval to : ratify <confirm a treaty>
2: to make firm or firmer : strengthen <confirm one's resolve>
3: to administer the rite of confirmation to
4: to give new assurance of the validity of : remove doubt about by authoritative act or indisputable fact <confirm a rumor> <confirm an order>

For me, and that's just me now, I'd say if someone could present confirmation that fits definition 4, I'd hafta change my thinking on this whole deal.

1: of or relating to facts <a factual error>
2: restricted to or based on fact <a factual statement>

A'ight then, have at 'er.

[Crazee]

From Post 5:

It's not that Satan causes evil. It's that Satan is evil.

I think the idea of satan is negative for society because it gives the bad things we do a personality, and personalities have power.

When we seek to blame problems on someone or something else, we are doing it in an attempt to not seem at fault. This is a problem. The first step in fixing a problem is taking responsibility for it. We take responsibility by acknowledging that the negative actions we took were taken out of our own free will.

Once we know that we were the cause of our actions, we also know that we can choose not to engage in them anymore, or we can modify the actions so the negative effects are removed.

The original idea of Satan can be used constructively if he is observed purely as a tempter, and not one that can bypass the free will of an individual. That is why I think that the original of intentions of the word Satan is a way to symbolically represent one's immoral thoughts and ideas.

Jesus was tempted, Buddha was also tempted. Those that had great spiritual knowledge knew that their intellects could be used most advantageously for personal gain at the expense of others' well being if they chose to do so. Our modern society has chosen to listen to thoughts that drive us to do things that put others as well as ourselves in a state of disharmony with the universe. Effectively, Satan has led us astray, but we never have to do what Satan says, so we never should use that as an excuse for the evil deeds humanity has committed.

Now that's a quality post.

I'll be tellin' all my people I'm the one that wrote it. If you tell 'em I didn't, I'll call ya a liar right to your face

Knowledge is free
I am you, you are me
All part of the same society

Would I be correct if I said that it doesn't matter (to God?) if I consider this Satan not an entity, but a concept used to help describe and understand "evil"?

I would say that is correct. The thing is that a concept can become an entity to people if they choose to imagine it that way.

Is this Satan a teaching tool, or a real entity that plots and plans?

Satan should be a teaching tool, though I know it isn't always used that way.

When a human causes hurt on others, in the end they are hurting themselves as well. We will always receive in return levels of positive or negative energy that are similar to those we give out. I think satan may have been meant as a teaching tool by Jesus to cast off our evil thoughts because he knew that in the end those thoughts would inherently do us harm.

I, personally, being not the scholar, think if the idea were presented as Satan being a concept, as opposed to an entity, "the church" would likely lose some of its "moral authority", so would prefer this Satan to be an entity, or to be at least described as such. (I say that while admitting I can be a bit paranoid and cynical, if folks didn't know)

The church likely would lose some of its power. The power of the concept of Satan comes from the ability to foster an 'us vs them' mentality. When there is a 'them' that is causing harm and we need to be protected from, we tend to give our supposed protectors a lot of money. The church is sometimes markets itself as a way to save your soul from satan so that one may spend eternity in heaven as opposed to hell.

When there is no 'them' and we realize that everyone is an 'us', then we live much more cooperatively in our environment. The church is an organization with a portion leaders that are addicted to power. In a communal, cooperative society, there is no place for people like them, and they know it. What they don't know is that in this hypothetical society, they would still be much happier than they are now.