Satan in the World Today

[StuartJ]

The Devil is an actual person rather than a concept, Pope Francis has claimed. Satan is smart and should not be argued with, the Pontiff told TV2000, a Catholic broadcasting network. "This is evil, it is not a diffuse concept, it's a person," he said.

(https://www.independent.co.uk/news/worl ... 10621.html)

And according to Pastor John: "The extent of Satan’s influence is global; it covers all nations".

(https://www.desiringgod.org/interviews/ ... tive-today)

Could it be that Satan has entered the hearts of we Atheists ...?

Could it be the global influence of the smart, evil person known as Satan that drives us to battle the truth of the Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ ...?

Are we to blame ... can we shift responsibility ...?

[marco]

Could it be that Satan has entered the hearts of we Atheists ...?

We should not claim a monopoly here - he's firmly in the hearts of some of those who follow the Abrahamic God and has them mockingly scream: God is great! Theologically there is little to choose between Satan and Yahweh. In fact it's the misdeeds of the latter that are publicised in the Bible.

The dying Voltaire is alleged to have said in reply to a priest's request that he renounce Satan: "This is no time to be making eemies." Burns writes some amusing poetry about the semi-comical Satan.

Could it be the global influence of the smart, evil person known as Satan that drives us to battle the truth of the Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ ...?

I think the evengelists do a pretty good job themselves in that respect.

Are we to blame ... can we shift responsibility ...

The child's version is: "A big boy did it and ran away." Satan is a product of such thinking. We do a reasonable job of seeking out the bad people in our society without searching for bad beings in supernatural surroundings.

[Willum]

If Satan were a fraction as powerful as people claimed, we would all be in his power, period.
Fortunately, it's a fiction.

[FWI]

[Replying to post 1 by StuartJ]

No version of "God" is ever shown to exist outside the human imagination.

Nor, can science "disprove" the existence of God, even though some have tried...Hence, they (scientists) cannot disprove the existence of any celestial beings. They can only accept what is found on this earth, as related to the type of life that exists or existed in the past. So, for those who suggest that God and celestial beings don't exist, they cannot use science as their support. Thus, the continued suggestion that God and celestial being do not exist, is as you put it elsewhere: "in a state of "additive delusion." Because of, no scientific support or good, fashioned evidence. Thus, the only approach that can be used is "prove it to me." However, this suggests that it is important to do so. But, it isn't...

[DPMartin]

[Replying to post 1 by StuartJ]

well, most likely the pope speaks in terms as in the three persons of God in catholic terminology so would he say in respect to Satan's existence in the catholic view.

but blame? na, no one is making you do anything, but be where you already are in respect to the God of Jesus Christ or Satan.

[FWI]

[Replying to post 3 by Willum]

If Satan were a fraction as powerful as people claimed, we would all be in his power, period. Fortunately, it's a fiction.

Can you prove that Satan is only a fictional being? It would seem that the troubles of the world are caused by someone...The majority of humans seems to believe that these troubles comes from a non-physical force.

[Tcg]

Could it be that Satan has entered the hearts of we Atheists ...?

We atheists have no need for Satan. It is only those who want to pretend that God is good who need to find another being to blame for the horrible things humans at times face.

Satan is simply the tool used to support the claim that God isn't responsible for all that bad things that take place. God wanted everything to be great, but that pesky Satan spoiled his plan.

Could it be the global influence of the smart, evil person known as Satan that drives us to battle the truth of the Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ ...?

You've revealed another function of Satan here. He allows those who want to consider God to be good and to be real to ignore the fact that some very reasonable humans hear the story of God and can't honestly accept the story as truthful.

Satan allows those followers to think, the story is great, it's just that pesky Satan blinding the heretics (or is it infidels?) to the obvious truth we see about the good and real God.

Are we to blame ... can we shift responsibility ...?

Of course we aren't. If Satan can thwart the almighty God's plans, how could mere mortals stand a chance?

[Goat]

[Replying to post 3 by Willum]

If Satan were a fraction as powerful as people claimed, we would all be in his power, period. Fortunately, it's a fiction.

Can you prove that Satan is only a fictional being? It would seem that the troubles of the world are caused by someone...The majority of humans seems to believe that these troubles comes from a non-physical force.

In absence of being able to define what a 'celestial being' actually is, the default position is that being is conceptual in nature, rather than having an actual existence.

Can you define WHAT statan is.. not what he is supposed to do? What is the substance of satan, how does he work? Until that is accomplished, saying you can't prove he doesn't exist it the logical fallacy of 'shifting the burden of proof'

[Willum]

[Replying to post 3 by Willum]

If Satan were a fraction as powerful as people claimed, we would all be in his power, period. Fortunately, it's a fiction.

Can you prove that Satan is only a fictional being? It would seem that the troubles of the world are caused by someone...The majority of humans seems to believe that these troubles comes from a non-physical force.

Too easy.
1. He was created by God, and God doesn't exist, so he does not exist.
2. He is immortal and immortality is impossible.
3. He and demons were supposed to breed with humans to create nephilim, but interspecies breeding is impossible.
4. He cannot change his mind. That is impossible.
5. The Earth has not fallen to his persuasion, and given his alleged powers, that is also impossible.
6. The troubles of the world are caused by people.
7. Many more I haven't thought of...

[StuartJ]

In Judaism - the culture the Christianities purloined and distorted - there is no duality.

Yahweh brings good AND evil:

I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I Yahweh do ALL these things. Isiah 45:7

Christian tradition and theology changed "Satan" from an accuser appointed by God to test men's faith to God's godlike fallen opponent:
Much of the popular lore of the devil is not biblical; instead, it is a post-medieval Christian reading of the scriptures influenced by medieval and pre-medieval Christian popular mythology.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devil_in_Christianity

And when you are dealing with evidence-free popular mythology, things can be just whatever you choose them to be ...

Especially when everyone else in the congregation praises the strength of your faith for believing them.