What does "Satan" mean to you exactly?

[Thomas]

Hi Dharmaatmaa —

These questions are unanswerable to all thinking people in Christian World.

All I can say is, if that's your view, you've been looking in the wrong places. Try reading the Fathers or the Schoolmen ... I can point you to about 2,000 years' worth of answer — what we have on this board is opinion, not doctrine nor theological argument. Don't judge us all by what you read here.

A thousand and a half of years christian priests were imagining something to make people shiver. In Mediaeval epoch, people weren't educated usually. Devil was the most effecive "duck" to make fools of people.

I find this a rather staggering statement from someone who's name refers to the Hindu Tradition. The East has a tremendously rich demonology — even the non-theist Buddhist Traditions have a demonology that gives the West a run for it's money.

And satan in this sense is the opposite side (dark side, if you wish) of God.

Well in the Hebrew Scriptures Satan is the adversary but never the equal with God. In the Christian Scriptures your argument poses a dualist perspective, which is fundamentally refuted.

Hence, we can see why both satana (in Isaiah) and Jesus (in Ioannes (John)) were called "the morning star".

I would argue, theologically, that a more accurate reading of this signifies that Christ takes all fallen nature upon Himself, and heals it — even Satan could find redemption in Christ, if he sought it.

But in philosophical and metaphisical aspects satan means our dirty wishes, sexual inclinations, and so - in contraversy with Soul - solar aspect into us. I.e. spiritus and materia.

Perhaps Platonic, but not according to Christian metaphysics. The soul is good. The body is good. The human is good. But any good, other than God, is not good 'absolutely' and thus is not beyond corruption.

In Christian metaphysics, evil rises in the mind and signifies a disordering of the will, so the body in that sense is the innocent victim.

Thomas

 

[Netti-Netti]

All I can say is, if that's your view, you've been looking in the wrong places. Try reading the Fathers or the Schoolmen ... I can point you to about 2,000 years' worth of answer — what we have on this board is opinion, not doctrine nor theological argument.

What's the difference? Man-made doctrine is man-made. It would seem contrary to Jesus' message of the universal priesthood to suggest that any class of humans has special authority.

The East has a tremendously rich demonology — even the non-theist Buddhist Traditions have a demonology that gives the West a run for it's money.

A lot of this has very little to do with Buddhism. It came from the folk religions that preceded Buddhism. However, there is a supernatural dimension to Buddhism that I'm puzzled some Buddhists deny. The Buddha himself was tempted by a demon.

 

[Thomas]

I never once said evil.

But that's what satan personifies.

Passing the buck I am not talking about the bible at all... I am speaking of real life

The Bible is the Book of real life, silly ... the real life you're talking about is illusion.

We have a tendancy to pass the blame in this world (again not speaking about the bible! lol)

The Bible explains the tendency ... that's my point ... and the solution. Stop blaming others for what we do wrong, not only because that is wrong, but also because we find reason in it to not do what we know we should.

And I guess in the story, of adam and eve it is a perfect example of my point... We instantly look for others to blame.....

Yes we do. But Adam and Eve says 'don't kid yourself, it's your problem!'

What better then a mythical red demon with pointy pointy horns ...

Well hang on a minute. I see a sweet. My mate says 'nick it, no-one's looking!' So I do. is that wrong? Yes. Is it my fault? Yes. Does that mean my friend does not exist then? No.

I'm not trying to change your opinion, I'm just offering the view that your opinion is based on a false assumption.

Thomas

 

[Thomas]

Hi Netti-Netti —

What's the difference? Man-made doctrine is man-made. It would seem contrary to Jesus' message of the universal priesthood to suggest that any class of humans has special authority.

I suggest your doctrine of 'universal priesthood' is according to a man-made interpretation.

Matthew 13:11
"Who answered and said to them: Because to you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven: but to them it is not given."
Likewise, his commission to baptise was given to the Twelve, not to everybody.

Ephesians 3:7
"Of which I am made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God, which is given to me according to the operation of his power"

Then Romans 12, and Hebrews, generally.

A lot of this has very little to do with Buddhism. It came from the folk religions that preceded Buddhism. However, there is a supernatural dimension to Buddhism that I'm puzzled some Buddhists deny. The Buddha himself was tempted by a demon.

There you go then.

Thomas

 

[mee]

What does "Satan" mean to you exactly?

opposition to Gods original purpose for the earth, and there is plenty of it around if people allow themselves to be influenced by that opposition

 

[17th Angel]

But that's what satan personifies

To you.

Well hang on a minute. I see a sweet. My mate says 'nick it, no-one's looking!' So I do. is that wrong? Yes. Is it my fault? Yes. Does that mean my friend does not exist then? No.

What the hell has that got to do with satan? lol..... Confused.com..... I didn't claim your friend did not exist... I claim satan does not exist.... You, and your buddy stealing sweets is just you and your buddy, I don't get your point?

 

[mee]

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Satan is a powerful spirit creature, originally created by God as an angel, a spirit son with access to Jehovah’s heavenly court. (Job 1:6)


However, Satan exercised his free will in opposition to God; with cunning he led Eve and, through her, Adam into disobedience and death. (2 Corinthians 11:3)

So he became Satan, meaning "Adversary"—a rebel, a demon, a manslayer, and a liar. (John 8:44)

How appropriate is Paul’s expression that "Satan himself keeps transforming himself into an angel of light," when in actual fact he is a ‘world ruler of this darkness’! (2 Corinthians 6:14; 11:14; Ephesians 6:12)

By enticing other angels to rebel, he led them out of God’s light into his own darkness.

He became "the ruler of the demons." Jesus also identified him as "the ruler of this world."

Obviously, in order to be a ruler, he has to exist as a created spirit person.—Matthew 9:34; 12:24-28; John 16:11.​