Satan's Story

[whag]

Has your modern education left you ignorant of all the stories involving the scheming royal vizier? Even if it has, enough time in any human organization should see the pattern repeat itself in a hundred small ways.

Satan is similar to Jafar from Alladin?

[Sparko]

Well you see whag, Satan and God were best buds until God found out that Satan was a Canadian, then he disowned him and tossed him out of the United States of Heaven. Satan then started recruiting Canadian actors and singers like Robin Thicke and exporting them to the USA. That was the beginning of the feud.

[Meh Gerbil]

Satan is similar to Jafar from Alladin?

Jafar carried a staff and has an annoying parrot as a familiar.
Satan carries a pitch fork and has Darth Executor as a familiar.

[Sparko]

Jafar carried a staff and has an annoying parrot as a familiar.
Satan carries a pitch fork and has Darth Executor as a familiar.

So they are the same after all?

[Meh Gerbil]

So they are the same after all?

Sure, if you're willing to look past the differences between a staff and a pitchfork.

[whag]

Well you see whag, Satan and God were best buds until God found out that Satan was a Canadian, then he disowned him and tossed him out of the United States of Heaven. Satan then started recruiting Canadian actors and singers like Robin Thicke and exporting them to the USA. That was the beginning of the feud.

When Satan tempted Jesus with the Kingdom of Canada, Jesus said no thanks.

[Sparko]

Sure, if you're willing to look past the differences between a staff and a pitchfork.

I always thought Darth-e WAS Satan. Live and learn, I suppose.

[showmeproof]

For anyone actually interested in studying about the origins of Satan, I recommend The Old Enemy by Niel Forsyth

[37818]

. . . judging from the scriptures offered so far, most Christians believe a myth that Satan . . ."

How do you draw your conclusion what Christians believe on the account of holy scripture to be myth. Please give a step by step explanation. Thanks.

[Manwë Súlimo]

true. judging from the scriptures offered so far, most Christians believe a myth that Satan was an angel who turned bad and recruited other angels to join him, who then became demons. is that a minimal fact that we can be certain about?

I'd agree he's a spirit that turned bad, as I don't think any Christian can believe anything starts out bad. Not even Sauron was so... As for the rest, I'm not sure. It's not something I've particularly studied.

was it just him or demons well? did he call the shots for the demons (I assume "forces of darkness" refers to Satan's army)?

One of the minimal facts that most scholars in historical Jesus studies will admit is that Jesus had a ministry of exorcisms (though some would call these exorcisms psychosomatic). As a Christian, I'd say He experienced multiple real demons, not just the satan. I'm not sure if Satan "called the shots", though it's something I'm open to as every organization needs hierarchy - I'm just not sure how confident we can be about mapping a system out that we haven't received special revelation.

for what purpose will he be unbound?

He has a part to play yet.

[Manwë Súlimo]

Oops, missed one...

are you referring to Job? I thought Job was a myth.

The early Jews always had the belief of the satan being an accuser - he even gets his name from that job description. I don't have any particular historical instance in mind.

[whag]

I'd agree he's a spirit that turned bad, as I don't think any Christian can believe anything starts out bad. Not even Sauron was so... As for the rest, I'm not sure. It's not something I've particularly studied.

in general, what do Christians believe turned some angels bad?

One of the minimal facts that most scholars in historical Jesus studies will admit is that Jesus had a ministry of exorcisms (though some would call these exorcisms psychosomatic). As a Christian, I'd say He experienced multiple real demons, not just the satan. I'm not sure if Satan "called the shots", though it's something I'm open to as every organization needs hierarchy - I'm just not sure how confident we can be about mapping a system out that we haven't received special revelation.

how would jesus distinguish between psychosomatic episodes and demonic possession. also, Jesus' reference to a house divided would indicate organization and intelligent planning. the house is the house of satan's demons. jesus' point to the pharisees is that satan wouldnt exorcize demons from human beings. it would be counterintuitive. at least that's my interpretation.

He has a part to play yet.

what part will Satan play? where is he now?

[whag]

thanks! I was gonna buy it, but it's not available digitally through google play.

[whag]

it sounds like the character of Satan has been anthropomorphized over the years. I wonder if that has been due to people needing to interpret the inner voices they hear when they feel guilty. interpreting those voices as an accusing/lying/jealous spirit could be an understandable coping mechanism. Socrates called inner voices the daemon, I believe.

[whag]

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daemo...cal_mythology)

here's a better explanation of the daemon concept in religion and philosophy.