Satan essential to Christianity

[Billy Idol]

I'm not just saying this for the simple reason that he exists in many parts of the Bible, but because Satan is the opposite of God's good. If not for evil, what is good ? If no evil, then no good. If no good then no evil. If good, then evil. Does this make sense ?

IMO, if Satan were to be destroyed, i think that would be the end of Heaven. I don't the struggle between good and evil is meant to be won, but brought into balance.

[This message has been edited by Billy Idol (edited 01-27-2004).]

[Hexadecimal]

I think even the most oblivious of Christians know this already...

[Tyrant]

Rather than pass this off with a nonchalant response, I will actually begin research on this topic. Here we go...

Clement of Rome taught that God rules the world with a right hand and a left hand, the right Christ, the left Satan.

-CG Jung

According to the text of Jung and Christianity, by Wallace Clift, Jung stated that the image of God as seen by Christians was incorrect, because Satan was, in truth, a part of God. God, often alluded to as the "Self", was a union of two polar opposites, namely, holy and evil. He suggests that Satan is the missing arm in what would be the Holy Quaternity, but was rejected in the imperfect vision of God as totally good in favor of the Holy Trinity. Basically, it would have been the Father, the Son, the Holy Ghost, and the Unholy Demon.

What? Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?

-Job 2:10

In the Old Testament, Satan was not separate from God, but truly an appendage. As many know, the word "satan" means "adversary"; however, this was intended as the adversary to Man, not to God.

Who has only to speak to make things exist? Who commands, if not the Lord?

From where, if not from the mouth of the Most High, do evil and good come?

-Lamentations 3:37-38, The Jerusalem Bible

Behold, two Biblical books describing the same instance:

The anger of Yahweh was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them to say, Go number Israel and Judah!

-II Samuel 24:1

Satan stood up against Israel and provoked David to number Israel.

-I Chronicles 21:1

I turn to the book Good and Evil in Myth and Legend for my next source:

Satan's intention [In Genesis 9:6], using Biblical quotation to his own advantage, is to tempt Abraham to go against God's order. Yet as all Jewish writings point out, Yezer Hara, Satan, and all angelic beings, Good or Evil, are the creations of the One True God and are under his control. They are not separate demonic beings arising from some cosmic struggle with a Good God.

Interesting point I never knew about Gnosticism:

Gnosticism, which had many forms, taught that there are two gods, one Good God (the father of Jesus) and one Evil one (the creator, who is the God of the Old Testament).

In conclusion... Evil and Good have always existed, and they all come from God. One does not oppose the other, but both work simultaneously for a higher principle beyond our reckoning - God.

[Craftian]

quote:Originally posted by Tyrant:

Evil and Good have always existed, and they all come from God.

Evidence please.

[LostCause]

Satan is not gods opposite.

They exist much like light and dark exist. Technically there is no darkness, only the absence of light.

Ugh... I'm drunk...

Cheers,

Lost

[Ms. Death]

If you christian and bevile the bible it DOES say god created both god and evil.



“I am Jehovah, and there is none else; besides me there is no God. I will gird you, though you have not known me; that they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none besides me: I am Jehovah, and there is none else. I form the light, and create darkness; {bold}I make peace, and create evil.{/bold} I am Jehovah, who does all these things” (Isa. 45:5-7).

[ilbastardoh]

satan was a fabrication before christianity was invented

[Tyrant]

Evidence please.

The very foundation of the idea of cooperation and social stability rests on the exclusion of what is Wrong and an encouragement of what is Right. This foundation has been consistent for all time, for all cultures, and for every human being since the advent of humanity.

Quite a lot of sources to cite, so I'll do that another time.

[Tyrant]

Oh, and just to clarify: I mentioned the fact that it exists in every culture in any era for all humanity to point out that it was not a human invention, but rather came from a suprahuman source (i.e. God).

[Craftian]

Why is the fact that most people have the same system of morals evidence of divine intervention rather than of a genetic disposition towards actions that advance society?